5 Commerce Touchdown Spots for Blue Jackets Defenseman Ivan Provorov Amid NHL Rumors

The Columbus
Blue Jackets have been aggressive in latest weeks, staying inside
vary of the ultimate wild-card berth within the Eastern Conference.
However, one in all their top-four defensemen has drawn loads of
curiosity as a commerce candidate.

Ivan Provorov is
a left-shot blueliner within the ultimate season of his six-year contract
and is eligible to grow to be an unrestricted free agent in July. The
27-year-old carries a median annual worth of $6.75 million however the
Blue Jackets solely carry $4.725 million with the Los Angeles Kings
selecting up the rest.

On Nov. 21,
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun suggested Provorov could be the highest defenseman
out there by the March 7 NHL commerce deadline. The Athletic’s Chris
Johnston has Provorov sitting atop his NHL Trade Board whereas Each day
Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli has him at No. 4 on his Nov. 20 listing of Trade
Targets.

A nine-season NHL veteran, the 6’3″, 201-pound Provorov is a sturdy, strong-skating, puck-moving rearguard who can log over 23 minutes per sport and play left or proper protection. He’d be a strong match for a playoff contender in search of dependable top-four blue-line depth. The Blue Jackets’ share of his cap hit makes him an inexpensive protection choice.

The Blue Jackets
will desire a cheap return for Provorov. Johnston believes he
might fetch them a first-round decide in return. They are not in any
rush to maneuver him however LeBrun believes it is solely a matter of time.

Listed here are 5 potential touchdown spots for Provorov. Be happy to precise your
ideas on this subject within the app feedback under.

Since 2020-21,
the Carolina Hurricanes have been among the many NHL’s prime groups,
ending first of their division and second general within the Japanese Convention thrice. In addition they reached the convention
finals in 2023 however have been swept by the Florida Panthers.

Beneath group proprietor Tom Dundon, the Hurricanes
have been identified for daring strikes. These
embody the additions of present roster gamers Brent Burns and
Jesperi Kotkaniemi and their acquisition of winger Jake Guentzel on the March 2024
commerce deadline.

Regardless of their strong regular-season performances and notable additions, the
Hurricanes have come up brief of their quest for the Stanley Cup. Final summer season, veteran defenseman Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce departed by way of free company, weakening their blue-line depth.

The Hurricanes
are jockeying for first place within the Eastern Conference
with the New Jersey Devils and Washington
Capitals. Dundon and first-year normal supervisor Eric Tulsky might
have a look at Ivan Provorov to enhance their second-pairing protection depth and enhance their probabilities of profitable the Stanley Cup subsequent spring.

With $5.7 million in projected commerce deadline salary-cap space, the Hurricanes can afford
Provorov’s cap hit. They’ve all their first-round picks plus an
further third-rounder within the 2025 draft to attract on for commerce bait.

Following
back-to-back appearances within the Western Convention Ultimate, the Dallas
Stars might be all-in for a run on the Stanley Cup this season.
Common supervisor Jim Nill might have an eye fixed on Ivan Provorov to
present an additional measure of puck-moving talent amongst his top-four
defense pairings.

Including Provorov
would give Nill some choices on his protection. The veteran blueliner
might be used on the left aspect on the primary or second pairing or
switched to the correct aspect on the second pairing.

The Stars
possess an excellent combination of established veterans led by Jamie Benn,
Tyler Seguin, and Matt Duchene, and younger expertise approaching their
enjoying primes like Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt
Johnston. Nonetheless, Benn and Duchene are UFA-eligible next summer,
which might make this season their finest likelihood at profitable the Cup.

Nill has his first-rounders for the following three drafts. Along with his membership in “win-now” mode, he might be keen to half with a kind of picks to spice up his blueline for a Cup run together with maybe a prospect.

The Stars can
afford to tackle Provorov’s contract as they carry a projected commerce
deadline cap area of $6.6 million.

Winners of the
Presidents’ Trophy for 2023-24, the New York Rangers have been amongst
the NHL’s finest groups lately. They have been to the Japanese
Convention Finals twice within the last three seasons and might be busy
main as much as the March 2025 commerce deadline discovering methods to shore up
their roster to chase the Stanley Cup subsequent spring.

Rangers normal supervisor Chris Drury has a further incentive to swing a deal. Core gamers like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and group captain Jacob Trouba are getting older and might be reaching their “best-before” dates. This season might be the final alternative for this group to pursue hockey’s holy grail earlier than modifications have to be made.

Recent reports point out Drury has knowledgeable his friends round that league that he is keen to entertain commerce affords for veterans like Kreider and Trouba. Given their costly contracts, no-trade clauses, and present worth to the Rangers, he appears to be attempting to encourage these gamers to raise their play quite than making a severe try and commerce them.

One other issue
to think about is Igor Shesterkin’s contract situation. The 28-year-old
goaltender is slated to grow to be an unrestricted free agent subsequent summer season
and is in search of prime greenback to remain in New York. A Cup run subsequent spring
might make it extra attractive for him to stay within the Massive Apple.

The Rangers have $2.8 million in projected commerce deadline
cap area. In addition they have their first-rounders for the following three years however lack picks within the second, third, and fourth rounds within the 2025 draft. Nonetheless, Drury might embody a younger ahead like 2019 second-overall decide Kaapo Kakko ($2.4 million cap hit) in a bundle take care of a prospect for Ivan Provorov.

Since becoming a member of
the NHL in 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights have a file of success
few golf equipment throughout this era have equaled. They gained the Stanley Cup
in 2023, reached the Cup Ultimate in 2018, the Western Convention Ultimate
in 2020, and the Semifinal throughout the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

The Golden Knights entrance workplace possesses a perpetual “go-for-it” mentality, resulting in a number of bold moves since their enlargement draft in 2017. Their most up-to-date main additions occurred earlier than final season’s commerce deadline, bringing in defenseman Noah Hanifin and middle Tomáš Hertl.

Sitting third
general within the Western Conference, the Golden Knights are once more
within the thick of the playoff chase. Common supervisor Kelly McCrimmon
might be sniffing round for one more huge commerce deadline deal.

Ivan Provorov
might be a tempting goal for the Golden Knights. Whereas their top
four defense is strong with Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and
Hanifin, bringing in Provorov’s dimension and puck-moving abilities might
make their blueline the most effective within the 2025 postseason, giving them an enormous edge over their opponents.

The Golden
Knights have $5.3 million in projected cap space to accumulate Provorov,
although they might see if the Blue Jackets would possibly retain a few of their
share of his cap hit. They’ve already traded away their
first-rounders in 2025 and 2026 however it would not be stunning in the event that they
packaged their 2027 first-round decide with different picks or a prospect.

The Winnipeg
Jets sit atop the NHL’s general standings. As of Nov. 29, they’re off to a
red-hot begin, with a file of 18 wins and 5 losses for 36 factors.

Common supervisor
Kevin Cheveldayoff must be happy together with his membership’s efficiency thus
far. Ought to they preserve this tempo, he might try so as to add extra
depth to his roster by the commerce deadline to enhance his group’s
probabilities at a Stanley Cup run subsequent spring.

The Jets’ efficiency was sturdy final season as they completed second overall within the Western
Convention with 110 factors. Nonetheless, that they had a disappointing postseason as they have been
eradicated by the Colorado Avalanche from the opening spherical.

Since reaching
the Western Convention Ultimate in 2018, the Jets have superior only once previous the opening spherical.
Cheveldayoff might be decided to keep away from that destiny once more.

Cheveldayoff
might have an eye fixed on Provorov to enhance his protection corps. The Blue
Jackets blueliner’s abilities and expertise would make him an excellent match alongside Neal Pionk on their second defense pairing.

The Jets’ projected commerce deadline cap space is $11.9 million, greater than sufficient
to accumulate Provorov’s wage. In addition they have their first-round picks within the subsequent three drafts and will use one in a commerce bundle with a decrease decide or
a prospect.

Stats and standings (as of Nov. 29, 2024) by way of NHL.com. Wage information by way of PuckPedia. Line combos by way of Daily Faceoff.