The Shocking Price to Acquire Ivan Provorov is Revealed by Pierre Lebrun

Ivan Provorov should be one of the top rental defensemen available at this season's NHL trade deadline.

Per league sources, teams have already shown significant interest in the Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner.

But for now, it would appear the Blue Jackets aren't ready to entertain offers just yet.

They'd like to get a further look at their roster before shifting into seller mode.

Still, with Columbus out of playoff contention, eventually, the team will need to take care of some asset management ahead of the March 7 deadline.

Provorov is a pending UFA who will likely be dealt at the right time, and the asking price could be a first-round pick.

That price coming earlier in the New Year may see Columbus not wait until the deadline, just like the Winnipeg Jets made the move for Sean Monahan from Montreal last season well in advance of the deadline.

Timing is critical, as the Jackets must balance waiting for the market to develop without risking too long a delay.

Provorov, a top-four defenseman averaging nearly 24 minutes per game, will undoubtedly attract offers.

However, whether Columbus secures their desired first-round pick remains uncertain.

It was a mixed market for defensemen last year. Sean Walker and Noah Hanifin brought first-round picks, while Chris Tanev did not.

The Flames turned down a first-rounder offer from Colorado for Tanev since it required them to take Ryan Johansen's contract in return.

Calgary opted for a different package from the Stars.

A bidder willing to give up a first-round pick for Provorov in January or February could get the Jackets to pull the trigger.

His $6.75 mil cap hit, already reduced to $4.725 mil by retained salary in a previous trade, also makes him more attractive as the deadline nears.