The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract worth $8.5 million per season, according to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
The deal keeps another big name off Tuesday’s unrestricted free agent market.
Provorov posted seven goals and 26 assists in 82 games last season. Columbus acquired the 28-year-old from the Philadelphia Flyers in a three-team trade in 2023.
The Russian defenseman has been incredibly durable throughout his nine-year NHL career. He’s missed just three total games while averaging 23:46 of ice time per contest.
Columbus also kept defenseman Dante Fabbro off the free agent market by signing him to a four-year, $16.5 million contract on Sunday.
The Blue Jackets now have their top four defensemen locked in. Provorov and Fabbro join Damon Severson and Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski under contract.
With Provorov and Aaron Ekblad signing new deals Monday, the list of pending unrestricted free agent defensemen has thinned considerably.
Vladislav Gavrikov and Dmitry Orlov now headline the remaining available defensemen heading into Tuesday’s free agency period.
