There is still a long way to go in this NHL season, but we are learning one important thing very early. The importance of Ivan Provorov to the Columbus Blue Jackets is enormous. We are seeing a different team with him in the lineup.
The Jackets, of course, started this season slowly. They went 5-7-0 in the month of October, leaving them dead last in the Eastern Conference and well off of the playoff pace being set across the league.
While their play wasn't always bad, consistency was a big problem throughout much of that first month. But their last two games have looked really good. I might use the word "rejuvenated" here, because this looks like an entirely different team.
The only thing that changed is Ivan Provorov.
Nothing has changed in this team's overall structure, or in the way they do things. There is no magical offensive scheme. No big changes in defensive zone structure, or how they play in the neutral zone. The only thing that is different from last week, is the return of #9 on defense.
Provorov suffered a lower body injury while blocking a shot late in the preseason. For the first time in his career, he would be held out of an NHL lineup due to injury. Even with an apparent broken bone, he was desperate to play; but the Blue Jackets figured it would be better to let him fully recover.
The result was a slow start that left many of us wondering where this team was heading this year. However, once he got back into the lineup, it did not take long for his presence to be felt.
On Saturday night in Dallas, Ivan made his season debut, playing 19:31. He did not show up on the scoresheet, but the Blue Jackets were right in that game against the Stars, holding their own against an elite team despite being down 2-0 after the first period.
In fact, they took a lot of the play to the Stars on that night. I think a big part of that was due to a more balanced rotation on the blue line. Adding Provorov to the lineup gave the Blue Jackets a key ingredient that had been missing.
While he doesn't post the elite offensive numbers of a Zach Werenski, or bring the play driving metrics of a Damon Severson; Provorov is a must have for this team. They need a guy that can come out and play 20 minutes in any situation, against any competition, and just hold his own.
He has done that and more. Last night against the Colorado Avalanche, he scored his first goal of the season. But, he also made some stellar defensive plays, including breaking up a 2-on-1 in the second period.
Most importantly, he helps this team get out of their own end, which was a big area of struggle throughout the first month of the season. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as a big surprise that this team has played arguably its best two games of the season since #9 returned to the lineup.
Many people aren't in love with his contract, but in a rising cap world, I think he's actually going to become a bit of a bargain. The Blue Jackets are simply a better team with him in the lineup. There are worse things you can have than a talented top-4 guy that can play 20 minutes consistently, each and every night.
Lets hope the team can continue to take bigger strides now that they have their blue line fully intact.
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