March 5, 2025 | 7:08pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

BLUE JACKETS ARE NOT TRADING PROVOROV, SAYS GM

Ivan Provorov, defenceman

The Columbus Blue Jackets have taken defenceman Ivan Provorov off the market and have informed him and his agent that they will not be trading him by Friday’s 3pm ET trade deadline.

In an interview on Sportsnet The Fan 590 on Wednesday, Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell confirmed that Provorov won’t be going anywhere, despite being eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Waddell and Provorov’s agent Mark Gandler have continued negotiations but remain far on a new deal. As Waddell explained, he isn’t overly concerned about it at this point in time.

“We just have a difference of opinion right now on term and dollars, which is normal. But we totally agreed yesterday to put the talks – I told him I'm not going to try him,” Waddell said.

Provorov has generated a ton of interest, but the Blue Jackets remain in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference playoff race and Waddell has been looking to add a mid-six forward to his group.

“What these guys have gone through this year, and how they’ve stuck together, I can’t even comprehend how they’ve done it all year long with all the injuries and everything we’ve had. For me to rip out a key player of our locker room right now, I just don’t feel good doing it. I told his agent yesterday I’m not going to trade him,” Waddell stated.

“This will go into the summertime, as I fully expect it to, but we’re still very hopefully we’ll get Provy signed.”