Controversial Former Flyers Defenseman Returns
Ivan Provorov made an unceremonious exit from the Flyers organization in 2023. He's set to make his return to Philadelphia with the Blue Jackets tonight.
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports - Controversial Former Flyers Defenseman ReturnsThe Philadelphia Flyers had a chaotic 2022-2023 season, prompting them to initiate the now-famous "rebuild" that has been producing better playing quality and better results than fans anticipated. Part of that rebuild, naturally, included trading some players away. One of whom was defenseman Ivan Provorov.
Provorov had been heralded as one of the top defenseman in the Flyers organization, but his final season in orange and black saw a worrying drop-off. He scored just six goals, his lowest tally since his rookie season in 2016-17, and totaling 27 points across 82 games, his lowest amount since 2019. To further rub salt in the wound, he also displayed the worst possession stats of his entire career that season.
Aside from the lackluster statistics, Provorov courted widespread controversy when he refused to participate in the Flyers' Pride Night, where players wore jerseys with rainbow numbers and nameplates and adorned their sticks with rainbow tape to show support for the LGBTQIA+ community. He cited his devotion to his Russian Orthodox religion as the reason for his decision, saying, "I respect everyone. I respect everybody's choices. My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion."
He was then traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a three-team deal, but has yet to really get going for his new team. He has only scored twice in 38 games this season, but has registered 15 assists.
Provorov's return to Philadelphia also comes after he directed blame for his 2023 decline in form to the Flyers' playing style, and relishing in a fresh start with the Blue Jackets.
"Overall, the last three years, the way the team played over there is just not really my game," he said. "It was a lot of rimming, throwing the puck away. For a player that...I consider myself that can make plays and can contribute and play with the puck...that felt like it was making my game worse. To be on a team that can make plays and is allowed to make plays, it's been really refreshing. I can actually play my game."
"It is what it is," he added. "At the end of the day I can't take those three years back. Overall, I think a lot of people didn't really like the way the last three years went over there."
It's safe to say that after all the drama following his exit, the former Flyers defenseman will not be given a warm welcome at his old stomping grounds.