October 24, 2024 | 2:04pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

TEAMS CALLING COLUMBUS ABOUT PROVOROV

Ivan Provorov, defenceman

The Columbus Blue Jackets are not itching to pull the trigger on any trades this early in the season, but that hasn’t stopped other clubs from poking around and asking about veteran defenceman Ivan Provorov.

Provorov, 27, is in the final year of a six-year, $40.5 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He is a prime candidate to be moved later this season and comes with a $4.725 million cap hit this season, as a portion of his original contract is being paid out by the Los Angeles Kings.

Several teams have inquired about Provorov’s availability, with the Utah Hockey Club being one of those teams, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

As TFP reported on Wednesday, Utah GM Bill Armstrong is not itching to make a move just yet following the long-term injuries to defencemen Sean Durzi and John Marino, but he is doing his due diligence and seeing what options may become available to him later in the season.

On Thursday afternoon’s edition of “Early Trading,” LeBrun reported Provorov is one of the defencemen Armstrong has “checked on.”

“Provorov is going to be in high demand closer to (the) March 7th trade deadline,” LeBrun said. “My sense, though, is that the Blue Jackets may not be ready at this point to deal him.”

Provorov does not own any no-trade protection as part of his contract and Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell will surely try to maximize a return later in the season, unless a team steps up now with a big offer.

In his first six games of the season with the Blue Jackets thus far, Provorov has registered two assists. He picked up five goals and 27 assists for 32 points in 82 games with Columbus last season.