Ivan Provorov and the Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed to terms on a seven-year contract extension carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $8.5 million per season.
Provorov was set to become one of the most sought-after defensemen on the free agency market on Tuesday, July 1st.
It is not confirmed if there are any trade or movement clauses in Provorov’s new contract.
The 28-year-old defender posted 33 points (7G, 26A) in the 2024-25 season with Columbus. He was wrapped up in trade rumours at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, and any further speculation regarding Provorov on the move can be put to rest with his new contract.
The former seventh-overall draft selection was traded to Columbus from Philadelphia after seven seasons with the Flyers. Since his NHL debut in 2016-17, Provorov has enjoyed steady seasons, posting career highs of 41 points (17G, 24A) and a low of just 26 points (7G, 19A). He’s managed to keep himself in the low 30s for scoring, and that consistency, including his constant availability from year to year, makes this contract a bargain.
Provorov has posted 282 points (77G, 205A) in 696 career NHL games and has only missed 16 games due to injury/illness. The Yaroslavl, Russian-born defender has seven complete NHL seasons under his belt to date.
The Blue Jackets tried to bring in a player to fill their left side, such as Noah Dobson and Rasmus Andersson, but after deals failed to materialize, the Blue Jackets returned to their pending UFA, Ivan Provorov.
Some may view the deal as a slight overpay, while others may think it’s great value. Any way that you look at it, the Blue Jackets were looking to keep their left side intact, and a player of Ivan Provorov’s calibre wasn’t available on the free agency market, or at least it isn’t shaping up to be that way.
Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell keeps veteran leadership on the team’s blueline and looks to build around younger stars like Adam Fantilli and Denton Mateychuk.
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