It doesn’t look good for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season after a forced quick attempt at a rebuild. They sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and are going to be sellers at the trade deadline. More so than just looking to move their pending UFAs, other players have been named as options to move.
According to Darren Dreger, general manager of the Blue Jackets, Jarmo Kekalainen is willing to listen to trade offers for defenseman Ivan Provorov, who has another year left on his deal after this season. Provorov was acquired in the offseason from the Philadelphia Flyers in an attempt to not only stabilize the back-end, but have someone who can stay healthy as that was a big problem last season. While it isn’t the problem this season, there is a lack of space and unhappy players because of the lack of ice time or opportunity on a team at the bottom of the standings. Moving Provorov and others should be a positive step to actually rebuilding properly. These are three destinations where he is most likely to end up by the trade deadline.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs aren’t in a great position to be big players at the deadline, but they should still add a piece or two since there is a strong chance they make the playoffs. Each and every season the Maple Leafs have their elite stars on the team should be reason enough to try to win. They have the talent to carry them to victories, and if the rest of the team steps up at the same time, it’s a recipe for success.
That being said, Toronto is still looking around at defensemen this season. One of the targets should be Provorov. Acquiring him would feel similar to when the team acquired Jake McCabe from the Chicago Blackhawks since he wasn’t just a rental and could be on a lower salary. The Maple Leafs really need value contracts next season, and Provorov would give them a boost this season and next before becoming a UFA.
Dallas Stars
The biggest need for the Dallas Stars this season is a defenseman. Every other area seems stable and productive. As Ryan Suter gets older and the right side isn’t exactly the strongest, Provorov could be the addition that bolsters that. The Stars are a strong contender for the Stanley Cup this season and a team not many people are talking about. While Nils Lundkvist looks like he could be a good piece in the future, he hasn’t been played that much this season and an addition like Provorov would be better in the starting six for a run this season. The Stars are in their Cup window and should pay to upgrade any areas that might hurt them in the playoffs if they aren’t addressed.
Arizona Coyotes
The Arizona Coyotes are in the mix for the playoffs in the West and management has shown that they want to be competitive. This meant adding a good amount of pieces in the offseason, and since the team is still within striking distance of the playoffs, could mean adding instead of selling, or both adding and selling like the Vancouver Canucks did last season.
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The Coyotes have a ton of draft picks they have acquired over the past few seasons to use to make their team better. While they did bring in some younger and free agent defensemen, not all of them are going to return next season and that is where the team is lacking. Whether they be UFAs or RFAs, not one of the defenseman on the NHL roster is under contract for next season yet. Provorov could also be seen as a veteran presence for a younger group and he could be a nice piece to help push the team forward in the direction they want to go.
