The Columbus Blue Jackets have been competitive in recent weeks, staying within range of the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. Nevertheless, one of their top-four defensemen has drawn plenty of interest as a trade candidate.

Ivan Provorov is a left-shot blueliner in the final season of his six-year contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July. The 27-year-old carries an average annual value of $6.75 million but the Blue Jackets only carry $4.725 million with the Los Angeles Kings picking up the remainder.

On Nov. 21, TSN's Pierre LeBrun suggested Provorov would be the top defenseman available by the March 7 NHL trade deadline. The Athletic's Chris Johnston has Provorov sitting atop his NHL Trade Board while Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli has him at No. 4 on his Nov. 20 list of Trade Targets.

A nine-season NHL veteran, the 6'3", 201-pound Provorov is a durable, strong-skating, puck-moving rearguard who can log over 23 minutes per game and play left or right defense. He'd be a solid fit for a playoff contender seeking reliable top-four blue-line depth. The Blue Jackets' share of his cap hit makes him an affordable defense option.

The Blue Jackets will want a reasonable return for Provorov. Johnston believes he could fetch them a first-round pick in return. They aren't in any rush to move him but LeBrun believes it's only a matter of time.

Here are five potential landing spots for Provorov. Feel free to express your thoughts on this topic in the app comments below.

Carolina Hurricanes

Since 2020-21, the Carolina Hurricanes have been among the NHL's top teams, finishing first in their division and second overall in the Eastern Conference three times. They also reached the conference finals in 2023 but were swept by the Florida Panthers.

Under team owner Tom Dundon, the Hurricanes have been known for bold moves. Those include the additions of current roster players Brent Burns and Jesperi Kotkaniemi and their acquisition of winger Jake Guentzel at the March 2024 trade deadline.

Despite their solid regular-season performances and notable additions, the Hurricanes have come up short in their quest for the Stanley Cup. Last summer, veteran defenseman Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce departed via free agency, weakening their blue-line depth.

The Hurricanes are jockeying for first place in the Eastern Conference with the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals. Dundon and first-year general manager Eric Tulsky could look at Ivan Provorov to improve their second-pairing defense depth and boost their chances of winning the Stanley Cup next spring.

With $5.7 million in projected trade deadline salary-cap space, the Hurricanes can afford Provorov's cap hit. They have all their first-round picks plus an extra third-rounder in the 2025 draft to draw on for trade bait.

Dallas Stars

Following back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars could be all-in for a run at the Stanley Cup this season. General manager Jim Nill could have an eye on Ivan Provorov to provide an extra measure of puck-moving skill among his top-four defense pairings.

Adding Provorov would give Nill some options on his defense. The veteran blueliner could be used on the left side on the first or second pairing or switched to the right side on the second pairing.

The Stars possess a good mixture of established veterans led by Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Matt Duchene, and young talent approaching their playing primes like Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, and Wyatt Johnston. However, Benn and Duchene are UFA-eligible next summer, which could make this season their best chance at winning the Cup.

Nill has his first-rounders for the next three drafts. With his club in "win-now" mode, he could be willing to part with one of those picks to boost his blueline for a Cup run along with perhaps a prospect.

The Stars can afford to take on Provorov's contract as they carry a projected trade deadline cap space of $6.6 million.

New York Rangers

Winners of the Presidents' Trophy for 2023-24, the New York Rangers have been among the NHL's best teams in recent years. They've been to the Eastern Conference Finals twice in the last three seasons and could be busy leading up to the March 2025 trade deadline finding ways to shore up their roster to chase the Stanley Cup next spring.

Rangers general manager Chris Drury has an additional incentive to swing a deal. Core players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and team captain Jacob Trouba are aging and could be reaching their "best-before" dates. This season could be the last opportunity for this group to pursue hockey's holy grail before changes must be made.

Recent reports indicate Drury has informed his peers around that league that he's willing to entertain trade offers for veterans like Kreider and Trouba. Given their expensive contracts, no-trade clauses, and current value to the Rangers, he seems to be trying to motivate those players to elevate their play rather than making a serious attempt to trade them.

Another factor to consider is Igor Shesterkin's contract situation. The 28-year-old goaltender is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is seeking top dollar to stay in New York. A Cup run next spring could make it more enticing for him to remain in the Big Apple.

The Rangers have $2.8 million in projected trade deadline cap space. They also have their first-rounders for the next three years but lack picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds in the 2025 draft. However, Drury could include a young forward like 2019 second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko ($2.4 million cap hit) in a package deal with a prospect for Ivan Provorov.

Vegas Golden Knights

Since joining the NHL in 2017-18, the Vegas Golden Knights have a record of success few clubs during this period have equaled. They won the Stanley Cup in 2023, reached the Cup Final in 2018, the Western Conference Final in 2020, and the Semifinal during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

The Golden Knights front office possesses a perpetual "go-for-it" mentality, leading to several bold moves since their expansion draft in 2017. Their most recent major additions occurred before last season's trade deadline, bringing in defenseman Noah Hanifin and center Tomáš Hertl.

Sitting third overall in the Western Conference, the Golden Knights are again in the thick of the playoff chase. General manager Kelly McCrimmon could be sniffing around for another big trade deadline deal.

Ivan Provorov could be a tempting target for the Golden Knights. While their top four defense is solid with Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Hanifin, bringing in Provorov's size and puck-moving skills could make their blueline the best in the 2025 postseason, giving them a big edge over their opponents.

The Golden Knights have $5.3 million in projected cap space to acquire Provorov, though they could see if the Blue Jackets might retain some of their share of his cap hit. They've already traded away their first-rounders in 2025 and 2026 but it wouldn't be surprising if they packaged their 2027 first-round pick with other picks or a prospect.

Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets sit atop the NHL's overall standings. As of Nov. 29, they're off to a red-hot start, with a record of 18 wins and five losses for 36 points.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has to be pleased with his club's performance thus far. Should they maintain this pace, he could attempt to add more depth to his roster by the trade deadline to improve his team's chances at a Stanley Cup run next spring.

The Jets' performance was strong last season as they finished second overall in the Western Conference with 110 points. However, they had a disappointing postseason as they were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche from the opening round.

Since reaching the Western Conference Final in 2018, the Jets have advanced only once past the opening round. Cheveldayoff could be determined to avoid that fate again.

Cheveldayoff could have an eye on Provorov to improve his defense corps. The Blue Jackets blueliner's skills and experience would make him a good fit alongside Neal Pionk on their second defense pairing.

The Jets' projected trade deadline cap space is $11.9 million, more than enough to acquire Provorov's salary. They also have their first-round picks in the next three drafts and could use one in a trade package with a lower pick or a prospect.

Stats and standings (as of Nov. 29, 2024) via NHL.com. Salary info via PuckPedia. Line combinations via Daily Faceoff.