Ivan Provorov a Russian Factor in the 2015 NHL Draft

by

by Eldon MacDonald (edited by @ChrisRalphTHW)

NHL Draft War Room: Ivan Provorov

Ranked #12 – March 2015 War Room Rankings

Ivan Provorov
Ivan Provorov amongst the top defenseman available for the 2015 NHL entry draft. (Photo: Dan and Margaret Hickling)
  • Hashtag: #MrNHLReady
  • Team: #9, Brandon, WHL
  • Position: Defense
  • Shoots: Left
  • Height: 6’0
  • Weight: 200 lb.
  • Born: Yaroslavl, Russia, 13-Jan-97
  • Twitter: @IvanProvorov 

Stats


 

Other Rankings

  • 5 – McKeens – Top 30, Mar-15
  • 5 – TSN – Craig Button – Top 100, Mar-15
  • 6 – SN – Damien Cox, Mar-15 – Top 30
  • 6 – THW – Christopher Ralph, Top 30, Mid, Feb-15
  • 7 – HP – Top 60, Feb-15
  • 9 – ISS – Top 30, Mar-15
  • 10 – FC – Top 30, Mar-15
  • 11 – NHL Combined – Top 305, Mid, Jan-15
  • 12 – TSN – Bob McKenzie’s Poll of NHL Scouts – Top 60 – Mid, Jan-15
  • 15 – THN – Ryan Kennedy – Top 30, Jan-15

From THW’s Draft War Room: “Mr. NHL Ready”

Eldon MacDonald, THW:  A few words on Ivan Provorov:

Mr. NHL Ready: Does you team want a solid NHL-ready defenseman with no glaring weaknesses – excellent on offense and defense, compete, poise, skills? If you team is lucky enough to have Ivan Provorov on the board when it picks, he is your man.

Five Reasons Why Ivan Provorov Could Play in the NHL Next Year

  • Solidness – Displays that I am in the right place, I am the right guy and I know what I have to do and I can do it in all situations – just the guy the coach wants out there.
  • Mental Game – Has that calmness that is almost precious when things get kind of hairy; is able to read the opposition and constantly adjust his game accordingly.
  • Two Way Game – Offense, defense, PK, powerplay, last minute – he is the guy you want out there.
  • Poise – Calm under pressure, nothing seems to faze him. Does not wilt, no matter what the situation.
  • No Glaring Weaknesses – Simple, when you think of Ivan Provorov’s weaknesses, nothing comes up.

Offense

  • Shooting – Solid shot, knows when to use it, gets it on net.
  • Passing – Knows how to pass, knows who to pass to and knows when to pass.
  • Skating – Speed, agility, balance, acceleration. Solid and NHL ready but does not have that “wow you” breakaway speed that a few of the smaller offensive defensemen have.
  • Transitional game – Can make the breakout pass or skate it out. Known for his dekes and head fakes to gain every advantage.
  • Vision – Has an eye for the game, knows where everybody is.

https://twitter.com/DubFromAbove/status/578006272785588225

Defense

  • Physicality and compete – Ivan has a high compete level and has shown a willingness to use his body to come up with the puck or prevent it from going into the net.
  • Positioning – Tilts the ice in his favour. Does not give up an inch.
  • Defensive reads – Excellent, knows when to push for a turnover, when to back-off and let the play come to him.
  • Active stick – Ivan makes up for his ordinary size by using a very long stick and knowing how to use it.

Awards and Achievements

  • 2011-12: AYHL Bantam Major Champion – Wilkes Barre
  • 2012-13: AYHL 16U National Champion – Wilkes Barre
  • 2014-15: Crash Conditioning Defenseman of the Month (FC Hockey) – Oct-14
  • 2014-15: IIHF U20 Tournament – Team Russia – Silver Medal
  • 2014-15: Selected for BMO NHL/CHL Top Prospects Game

Improvements to make: Ivan Provorov is not a player defined by his weaknesses. In fact, he is solid in every aspect of the game. The only item that may keep him from being picked in the top ten is his lack of “wow factor”.

NHL Projection: Ivan Provorov should develop into that big minute-eating defenseman who plays in all situations, 5 on 5 against the opposition’s best line, the PK and the powerplay, likely as the setup guy. That sounds like a first-pairing guy to me.

Draft placement: This is where it gets interesting and where there is a divergence of opinion. The big three defenseman are: Noah Hanifin, a solid but not flashy prospect with the size, toolset and game that most have projected as the number three guy in the draft. There is also Zachary Werenski, Noah Hanifin’s former defense partner and road roommate. Zachary is very raw in his defensive game but probably has the most offensive upside of the three and has a similar size to Hanifin. So where does Mr. NHL Ready, Ivan Provorov fit in? The current rankings mainly have him in the 5 to 12 range. However, I think what counts is what the team wanting to pick a defenseman is looking for. Size, skills, solidness – solid, NHL ready, all situation guy with skill, compete and poise? Noah Hanifin. Potential as a big-man top power play producer? Zachary Werenski. The guy who will look good on your team next year? Ivan Provorov.  Who is number one, who is number two and who is number three? We’ll know come June.

Editor’s Notebook:

From my live viewing of Provorov, I noted his great stickwork and the use of his stick like a lightsabre on defense. He told me earlier this season he patterns his game after Niklas Lidstrom, but he is realistic about the potential comparison. When I’ve seen him he has been Lidstrom-esque. Ivan Provorov is not just a great potential name of a Bond villain, but a Russian Factor in the 2015 NHL draft. And I mean that in a positive way. Provorov came to North America a while back. He wants to play in the best league in the world and I don’t see this guy bolting overseas anytime soon to earn rubles.

This was just one of his highlights from most recent viewing:

Quotable

  • Quote 1: TSN.ca – Craig Button, TSN Director of Scouting and a former NHL GM, “While the debate will rage, I see Ivan as the best and most complete defenceman in the draft. His command of all the situations in the game allows him to contribute and make an impact regardless of what’s confronting him. Ivan can make the game look effortless with a brilliant understanding of what’s unfolding in front of him either from a defensive or offensive standpoint. His skating, quickness and balance, pinpoint passing, poise under pressure and a great competitive determination align to make him a defenceman who can influence the play and the outcomes in a consistent and positive manner.”
  • Quote 2: NHL.com – John Williams of NHL Central Scouting, “He’s very composed with the puck, has excellent vision and knows where everybody is on the ice. He has good hockey IQ and takes advantage when he sees an opening both offensively and defensively. He will play a physical game and can separate the man from the puck.”
  • Quote 3: Future Considerations.ca – Zenon Herasymiuk, Future Considerations head WHL scout, “Ivan Provorov is a pro-style defenseman that shows a high level of poise and precision in his ability to transition the puck. He plays a well-rounded and mature game, and his ability think and create in all aspects of the game has scouts buzzing about his NHL potential.”
  • Quote 4: USA Today.com – Kyle Woodlief of Redline Report, “Leading Brandon’s killer power play with impressive quarterbacking skills. Elite talent also looks more comfortable in own zone with every viewing.”

Interviews

Profiles

  • Profile 1: NHL.com – Mike G. Morreale – 12-Mar-15
  • Profile 2: Dobber.com – Brendan Ross – 11-Feb-15
  • Profile 3: Westman Journal – Chase Ruttig – 27-Nov-14
  • Profile 4: RiderTownUSA.com – Jeff Johnson – 14-Sep-14
  • Profile 5: Winnipeg Free Press – Rob Henderson – 31-Aug-14

Videos

https://twitter.com/DubFromAbove/status/578018357984800768

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