If you had to pick the Flyers' top two-way defenseman so far in preseason, it probably would not come as a shock it’s a veteran newcomer.
Evgeny Medvedev has impressed in two exhibition games with a goal and an assist.
He has an excellent shot from the point. Even more, his shot is dead-on. The puck finds the net consistently. It doesn’t spray around like so many of the Flyers' point shots last season.
Then again, the 33-year-old has spent the last 12 years playing in Russia, so it’s really not that much of a surprise he has a refined game.
“We've seen a confident player,” coach Dave Hakstol said. “He's an intelligent young man and he's got excellent hockey sense.
“He's got good playmaking ability, real good poise on the ice. He’s got an escape ability to him, [he can] elude forechecks and make plays that push the puck up ice.”
As for transitioning from the larger, wider ice rinks in Europe to the smaller surface here, it hasn’t been an issue.
NHL
“The beginning was important,” Medvedev said through a translator after Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Rangers. “The second game, the second day on the road was harder, but I am adjusting and he likes what’s coming out of it.”
He said the biggest surprise is the number of fans packed into larger arenas in the U.S.
“Much bigger buildings,” he said. “In Russia, there is no such thing.”
Most arenas in Russia hold between 7,000 and 12,000 — not 17,000 or more like North America.
Medvedev can actually speak some English right now, but until he is comfortable, he's using a translator. A tutor visits Skate Zone three times a week and spends an hour or more giving him lessons.
Outside the rink, Medvedev is watching television and using the Internet to improve his English.
“His English is better than my Russian,” goalie Steve Mason said.
Asked whether Medvedev thinks he’s going to be a very good NHL player, he replied, “I don’t want to be left behind. I want to be the one on top.”
Medvedev worked the second-unit power play against the Rangers. His goal was on the power play, too. He also worked the penalty kill units and logged 21:52 overall in ice time.
Rookie partner Ivan Provorov, who was sent back to his junior club Wednesday (see story), worked 21:25 while Mark Streit led the defense with 22:10.
Quotable
The mandatory 3-on-3 after Tuesday’s game was dreadful as both teams had tired legs and slogged their way through five minutes.
“I like the idea of it," Hakstol said. "There wasn’t a ton of excitement with it (Tuesday). Obviously, we went onto a 4-on-3 penalty kill but I liked the way the guys worked to survive that on tired legs after five hard days.”
Loose pucks
The Flyers are 2-1 in preseason. … Wednesday was an off day. … Through three games, R.J. Umberger leads the Flyers with three points (all assists). … Ten Flyers have two points, including newcomer Sam Gagner, who picked up both in the win over the Rangers with a goal and an assist. Gagner is adjusting to life on left wing after moving from right wing in camp. … The Flyers' power play is 5 for 11.