(Photo: Kevin Durso/Sports Talk Philly)
By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Entering training camp, everyone was talking about Ivan Provorov. And for good reason. Of any of the top prospects, the 19-year-old defenseman who was the 2015 first-round pick of the Flyers had the highest odds of making the team.
But what the Flyers have proven, even over just three preseason games on two nights, is how deep they are defensively in their organization.
It does start with Provorov, who is certainly getting a good, long look in his first two games. After playing 28:48 in his preseason debut in New Jersey on Monday, Provorov played 21:43 in Tuesday's 4-0 win over the Islanders at home.
The Flyers are clearly testing Provorov's stamina and seeing how he handles the workload of back-to-back games on consecutive nights. The 19-year-old seemed to pass the early test.
"I thought he did a pretty good job," head coach Dave Hakstol said. "I think there was for sure there was probably some little signs of fatigue that creeps in but that’s to be expected. I think overall he answered the bell and I thought he competed hard tonight. I thought sometimes you see some of the fatigue in some of the sharp details. Which he is a detailed player in all regards. Which sometimes when you see a little bit of fatigue seep in those details, you can struggle with those a little bit. But overall pretty good."
But past Provorov, the Flyers have a host of young defenseman that are continuing the journey from draft pick to NHL defenseman. One already made the transition last season. Shayne Gostisbehere's spot is more than safe after a tremendous rookie season in 2015-16.
Travis Sanheim is another prospect getting a good long look. Sanheim, a 2014 first-round pick, is a little farther along in his journey than some of the other prospects, as he'll likely start the season in the AHL instead of having the only options be the NHL or juniors.
Sanheim has looked like a different player throughout camp this season, going back as far as development camp. He put on size and strength, has shown more determination and physicality in his own zone and is certainly not nearly as nervous to join the play on offense.
"I think last year was definitely a learning trip for me and I didn’t have the camp that I wanted to," Sanheim said. "I came in this year a little more motivated and excited to get things going and hopefully starting my pro career this year. I think I had a good camp so far and hopefully I can build off of it."
For the past several seasons, the Flyers young group of defensemen have essentially been the Fab Five — the grouping of Provorov, Gostisbehere, Sanheim, Sam Morin and Robert Hagg. There's a sixth name to add to the list.
While Provorov was the leader in ice time in New Jersey, Philippe Myers was a close second with 25:07. He led the way on Tuesday night with 22:39 of ice time.
Myers, also a 19-year-old, was not drafted and signed with the Flyers as an undrafted free agent. Over the last season, he emerged as an excellent defenseman, helping to lead his junior team, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the Memorial Cup Final.
Just two years ago, Myers wasn't even on the map. Now, he's a legitimate part of the Flyers future.
"After not getting drafted, it was a realization for me that I needed to work harder, including in the gym, and that gave me extra confidence that I had worked harder in the gym," Myers said. "Coming into camp I showed them that and I earned myself a contract. From there I just kept working harder and my confidence kept going up."
They are three defenseman getting a long look from the Flyers, and while it's possible that all three could be in different leagues come Oct. 14 — Provorov in the NHL, Sanheim in the AHL, Myers in the QMJHL — the Flyers continue to establish one of the better prospect pools on the blue line in the league.
And Flyers fans are certainly seeing a lot of those prospects early in the preseason.
