It has never been more evident how much Ivan Provorov means to the Columbus Blue Jackets
In the Columbus Blue Jackets final preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings, Ivan Provorov blocked a shot and sustained a lower-body injury. Provorov was expected to miss 4-6 weeks and is now considered week-to-week. Provorov’s absence has created issues at both ends of the ice for the Blue Jackets, who desperately need him back on the ice.
When healthy, Ivan Provorov gives the Blue Jackets heavy minutes; he’s a workhorse. Provorov plays hard on both ends of the ice and boosts both the offense and defense.
With Provorov out of the lineup, the Blue Jackets have had to alter their defensive pairings. Missing the stability, the Blue Jackets defense has been mushy, and the offense on the whole has suffered.
Zach Werenski has been forced to play outrageous minutes while others have seen their ice time increase, and for some, that is not a good thing. The depth issue has been glaring.
Without Provorov, the defense has been forced to shuffle players around Werenski, and they lack a minute-eating player who can seamlessly play the top line of the second line.
With Provorov playing heavy minutes and in every situation on the ice, it gives the team a different dimension. His puck handling gives the Blue Jackets the ability to bring the puck through the neutral zone with little issue.
Provorov plays the second power-play unit and is really good in transition. Paired with Denton Mateychuk on the second pairing, the duo have been really solid. Last season they had a 64.78% goal-sharing and outscored opponents 17-7.
Head coach Rick Bowness has stated that it is unfair to judge the team until one of it’s most important pieces returns from injury.
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