Provorov had a decent first season with the Blue Jackets. He was a mainstay on the 2nd pairing and played on both the penalty kill and power play. He finished second in scoring for a defenseman (32 points) and improved the Blue Jackets transition game. However, there were moments where he had lapses in his defensive game, and he struggled with consistency in the defensive end.
One positive thing for Provorov is that he played in all 82 games for the Blue Jackets. With the rash of injuries that the team has experienced over the past two seasons, having a player play in all 82 games was a breath of fresh air.
Expect Provorov to anchor the second pairing for the Blue Jackets this season. In an ideal situation, he would be on the third pairing. However, with all of the young players who could be on the defense, I expect Provorov to play higher in the lineup.
He will be on the second penalty kill unit and the second power play unit unless one of the young players (i.e. David Jiricek or Denton Mateychuk) takes that spot from him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Provorov is paired with one of the up-and-coming defensemen. His steady play could be beneficial to their transition to NHL hockey. He will need to be a mentor and role model to the young players if this team wants to see improved defensive play.
Provorov is signed through the 2024-2025 season at $4.725 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. I expect this season to be Provorov’s last season in Columbus.
The team has many good young prospects on defense and will be looking to strengthen that position through new acquisitions. He will be a prime trade candidate at the trade deadline this season. If, by some miracle, the Blue Jackets find themselves in a playoff race around the trade deadline, the CBJ could opt to keep him for a playoff run but would then let him walk away in free agency.
One bold prediction: Ivan Provorov will finish this season with a positive plus/minus.
This one may be a stretch but is possible. Provorov improved his plus/minus over the past 2 seasons from -17 to -11. With the structure that Coach Dean Evason will be bringing in, I expect Provorov will be put in more advantageous situations. He may not be asked to carry as much of the load and may have more opportunities to score. I think that can increase his -11 statistic from this past season and could even get it into positive territory.
Provorov will likely be one of the workhorses for the CBJ defense this season. His experience will be key in helping a young and fragile defense elevate to a steady team defense.