The Columbus Blue Jackets announced they’re re-signing defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract worth $8.5 million per season.
The deal keeps another big name off the open market ahead of Tuesday’s free agency period.
Provorov, 28, recorded seven goals and 26 assists in 82 games last season. Columbus acquired the defenseman 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 open market by signing him to a four-year, $16.5-million contract on Sunday. The moves lock in the Blue Jackets’ top four on defense.
Fabbro and Provorov will join Damon Severson and Norris Trophy finalist Zach Werenski as Columbus’s core defensive group.
With Provorov and Aaron Ekblad signing deals Monday, the list of available pending unrestricted free agent defensemen is getting shorter.
Vladislav Gavrikov and Dmitry Orlov now headline the remaining defensemen expected to hit the open market Tuesday.
