The Columbus Blue Jackets face a pressing decision regarding defenseman Ivan Provorov as the trade deadline approaches. Having exchanged contract offers in January that failed to bring them closer, the team now has crucial games to assess their playoff viability. The looming question is whether they can let Provorov, a key asset, depart for nothing when free agency opens on July 1st. If the Blue Jackets deem their playoff chances legitimate, they may need to consider offers that include a first-round pick to avoid losing him without compensation.

Meanwhile, Seth Jones of the Chicago Blackhawks is also in trade discussions, but given his hefty $9.5 million cap hit and mixed evaluations around the league, a deal seems unlikely. Teams are viewing him more as a second-pairing defenseman, which complicates Chicago's plans. With five years remaining on his contract, retaining salary could be necessary to attract interest. Additionally, the Blackhawks are monitoring their salary cap floor, with around $36 million in projected space, and may seek to add a top-tier forward, but the challenge remains in offloading Jones’ contract.