This summer, Spencer Lazary and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st.
Today, we talk about 9-year vet Ivan Provorov.
Target: Ivan Provorov - D - Age: 28 - 9 Years Experience
Provorov was traded to Columbus on June 6, 2023, from the Philadelphia Flyers. All he has done since joining the CBJ is play in every game and be a solid defenseman. Aside from being a reliable defenseman, his greatest attribute is his durability. In six of his nine NHL seasons, he's played all 82 games, which is today's NHL is very tough to do.
Stats
Playing in all 82 games last season, Provorov scored 7 goals, totaled 33 points, and had a plus-11 rating. He also chipped in 3 power-play points and 3 shorthanded points while playing 23:21 minutes a game. He only took 100 shots last season, which is a career low, but the CBJ don't need Provorov's offense as much as they need his defense. His shots on goal have dropped every year he's been a Jacket, but that's not a bad thing. Provorov has 65 points in 164 games with Columbus. He has an 82-game average of 33 points.
Ivan Provorov has played in 22 career playoff games and has 11 points.
Previous Salary
Provorov signed a 6-year, $40,500,000 contract with a cap hit of $6,750,000 per season in 2019 while with Philadelphia. The Jackets, per the trade that brought him to Columbus, only paid $4,725,000 of the annual salary. Contract experts put his next salary at around $6.4 millon per season.
Realistic Chances Of A Signing: Warm
GM Don Waddell has stated publicly that he wants to get a deal done with Provorov this summer. Waddell even held on to him at the trade deadline in hopes that he could sign him in the summer. Provorov has also stated that he wants to remain in Columbus as well. Some experts have said that Provorov will want around $8 million per season, but other experts have him between 6 and 7 million per season.
If Waddell and Provorov can meet somewhere in the middle this could be a situation where Ivan can retire as a Blue Jacket. He's going to want a long term deal, but will Waddell want to give him that? He's 28 now, so a 7-year deal would end at around 35 yerars of age, and with his durability, he should be able to play well into his 30's and stay healthy.
The new father-to-be wants to stay in Columbus, and in my opinion, should be here long term. Plus, who doesn't want more Drake The PupStar content.
Let us know what you think below.
Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!
Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story.
2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agent Targets: Nikolaj Ehlers
This summer, <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/author/spencer-lazary">Spencer Lazary</a> and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st.
Blue Jackets Get The 14th Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
The 2025 NHL Draft Lottery is now in the books, and the Columbus Blue Jackets, they fell one spot to the 14th overall selection. They entered the night slotted in the 13th spot going into the Draft Lottery.
Potential Goalie Trade Targets For The Blue Jackets This Offseason
In my previous article, I looked at how the Columbus Blue Jackets could target a few goaltenders to help overhaul their crease ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.