With the Flyers' main camp opening Friday, all eyes will be on Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov, as their quest to make the orange and black begins and the countdown to hysteria starts ticking until the time comes to decide if they're ready for the next level.
Flyers general manager Ron Hextall faces a difficult decision with Konecny and Provorov, both of whom head a farm system that carries genuine excitement.
Are Konecny and Provorov ready to play in the NHL?
That is a question that has been discussed time and time again on social media, in bars, at picnics and other social gatherings. Everyone wants to know if they’re ready, and everyone appears to have the opinion the Flyers have to bring them up now, not later.
It’s easy to get caught up in Shayne Gostisbehere’s mythological rookie campaign last season and come to that conclusion. Gostisbehere injected much-needed young blood into the Flyers’ blue line and provided an offensive element they desperately needed.
The easy call from the wild is to bring the kids up. We can examine the junior numbers — they're great — and proclaim Konecny and Provorov are ready for the NHL. We can say there is nothing left for them to learn playing against teenagers — there might not be.
They'e all valid arguments and the beauty of this is, we'll find out soon. But what's the flip side? If there's nothing left to learn against teens, why send them back to junior? Can it stunt their development to return to a league they'll continue to dominate?
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These are all the types of questions Hextall and his staff will ask over the next few weeks leading up to the Flyers' season opener Oct. 14 in Los Angeles. But it boils down to one simple question: Are they better than what's already here? The answer is we'll see.
Konecny and Provorov have to earn their stripes in camp, and with the World Cup of Hockey, they'll have ample opportunity to showcase their abilities than normal circumstances.
If we've learned anything from the Hextall era, it's that he does not hand out roster spots to kids, no matter their allure, no matter outside pressure. Hextall has, however, made it clear on numerous occasions he'll pave way for a kid if he deems them ready.
Hextall has stocked up on bottom-six forwards for what should be a healthy competition for third- and-fourth line roles, and on defense, the Flyers have seven defensemen under contract with Moorestown, New Jersey, native T.J. Brennan also vying for a spot in camp.
Both Konecny and Provorov could fill immediate needs on the Flyers. They're desperate for scoring and have holes at wing, which clears a path for Konecny. Provorov's smooth skating, creativity, puck moving and adept defensive play can upgrade the blue line, too.
We have to remember their roles play a factor into the equation. It's hard to see Hextall keeping either Konecny or Provorov unless they show they can play in a significant role.
If Konecny doesn't show he's capable of playing in a top-six role, it would better serve his development to spend another season in Sarnia with more opportunity and playing time.
The same thinking can be applied to Provorov, who has to show he's capable of being in the top six every night, as Hextall isn't going to keep him around to be a healthy scratch.
While the Flyers are desperate for immediate scoring, Provorov's path to the Flyers may be easier because of the salary cap. There may be seven NHL defensemen in camp, but the status of Andrew MacDonald remains unknown. Hextall may waive him to save cap space.
Should the Flyers waive MacDonald, it's hard to see a scenario in which Provorov does not make the team. You have to believe the 19-year-old will outplay Brandon Manning in camp.
With Provorov, it may come down to the MacDonald decision. When MacDonald came back up last season, he played well and served as a mentor to Gostisbehere. MacDonald is an NHL defenseman, but his contract is so ludicrous it's hard to keep him around.
The Flyers have a projected $1.038 million in cap space, according to generalfanager.com. Hextall likes to have about $2 million in cushion, so waiving MacDonald is a legit option.
But let's discuss Konecny. Is it possible he can snag a top-six role? You would think so. Michael Raffl is a fine player, but he fits better on the third line with less pressure to consistently produce offensively. Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn could use more skill.
Konecny, who has added eight pounds to his frame since last summer, torched the Ontario Hockey League for 101 points last season between the Ottawa 67's and Sarnia Sting. Size will always be against Konecny, who checks in at 5-foot-10, 184 pounds, but in today's NHL, where speed and skill are valued, that shouldn't hold him back. Sarnia general manager Nick Sinclair recently called him the "cornerstone of our offense" and a "big heartbeat in our dressing room." If Konecny returns to the Sting, Sinclair said, he has the "potential to be the best player in the CHL."
"Every time the puck hits his stick, he's a threat to do something offensively," Sinclair told ontariohockeyleague.com. "Competes as hard if not harder than anyone in our league, which is something that trickles down to the rest of our guys. … He's a player that can do almost everything."
Which brings us to the argument of Konecny and Provorov being too good for junior. Hextall doesn't buy that argument. At development camp, Hextall used Sidney Crosby as an example.
As a 19-year-old in 2006-07 and in his second NHL season, Crosby registered 120 points and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player.
"Sidney Crosby comes in 10, 12 years ago and wins the MVP," Hextall said in July during developement camp. "Well is he now 'too good for the NHL?' Or does he try to go back and win the MVP again, score more, win the Stanley Cup? What is 'too good for a league?' I don’t understand that argument.”
Listen to Hextall and the door remains open for Konecny and Provorov to return to junior. In fact, the bet should be on them heading back to junior because of Hextall's philosophy.
And it's not the end of the world, either, if they do spend another season in the CHL.
Konecny knows it.
"You can always improve on everything," he said in July. "Your speed, how quick you get off your shot. Everything happens faster at the next level. [You] have to make sure you're eating properly, training. You can do everything [to get better]. It doesn't matter where you are, you can always improve your game. I would definitely be able to improve myself."