As NHL free agency began Tuesday, the Blue Jackets secured another long-term deal with one of their defensemen, signing Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract extension worth $59.5 million. “Ivan Provorov is the consummate pro and has been an important player during his two seasons in Columbus,

The Columbus Blue Jackets re-signed defenseman Ivan Provorov to a seven-year contract extension worth $8.5 million per year. Provorov, 28, played all 82 games for the Blue Jackets last season despite a thumb injury. Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell praised has Provorov's toughness and professionalism.