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Flyers rookies skate on Tuesday; Provorov wants to stay

Many Flyers fans want the team to continue injecting young defensemen into the lineup. Last Nov. 14, after an injury to Mark Streit, Shayne Gostisbehere was promoted from the AHL's Phantoms, and he jump-started the team. Gostisbehere scored 17 goals - a rookie record for a Flyers defenseman - and finished second in the race for rookie of the year.

Many Flyers fans want the team to continue injecting young defensemen into the lineup.

Last Nov. 14, after an injury to Mark Streit, Shayne Gostisbehere was promoted from the AHL's Phantoms, and he jump-started the team. Gostisbehere scored 17 goals - a rookie record for a Flyers defenseman - and finished second in the race for rookie of the year.

Now it could be Ivan Provorov's turn to be a rookie defenseman in the spotlight. But first he must prove to cautious general manager Ron Hextall and his staff that he deserves a roster spot.

Provorov, selected seventh overall in the 2015 draft, will get that chance starting Tuesday at 10 a.m., when the Flyers have their first on-ice session during rookie camp at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

The Flyers rookies will face the New York Islanders' prospects in a game Wednesday in East Meadow, N.Y.

In a recent philly.com poll, fans were asked if they thought Provorov was ready to join the Flyers. Out of nearly 3,000 responders, only 4 percent said no.

Told about the poll after he reported for testing Sunday at the Flyers' practice facility in Voorhees, Provorov smiled.

"It's great to see the support from the fan base; you appreciate that stuff," he said. "But for me, the main focus is to come here, play as hard as I can, and try to earn a spot."

Provorov, 19, who some scouts thought was NHL-ready last year, was asked whether he would be disappointed if he was sent back to his junior team in Brandon.

"I'm trying to take it one day at a time," he said. "I had a really good summer. I got bigger, stronger - lots of all-around workouts - and I'm just really excited to be here. I'm ready to go."

If Provorov has a good camp, there's a chance a defenseman such as Andrew MacDonald or Brandon Manning could start the season in the AHL.

"I can't predict," Hextall said last week. "We're going to put the best team on the ice. That's our job."

Added Hextall: "Kids are going to come in. Veterans are going to come in. I don't know what type of shape guys are in and how they're going to play. But I know this: We're going to put the best team on the ice that we can for opening night. Whatever that may be, I don't know. We'll see how it works out."

Veteran camp opens Friday. Defenseman Radko Gudas has been skating but unable to fire hard shots because of an injured right wrist. Gudas expects to be ready for the start of the season Oct. 14 in Los Angeles.

Injuries could affect the opening-night roster, Hextall acknowledged.

"You try to go in with an idea, but the reality is that your ideas change as camp goes on," Hextall said.

Breakaways

Hextall said he doesn't have a "concrete plan" on whether he will negotiate with goalies Steve Mason or Michal Neuvirth during the season. Both can be unrestricted free agents in July. "We'll see how things go. We have the utmost confidence in both guys," he said. . . . After veteran camp starts Friday, the Flyers will play exhibition games on three straight nights, starting Monday with split-squad matchups in New Jersey and New York against the Islanders.

scarchidi@phillynews.com

@BroadStBull