The Columbus Blue Jackets are quietly becoming one of the most interesting teams in the NHL this season. Despite the tragic offseason death of Johnny Gaudreau and shoulder injuries that have sidelined Boone Jenner and Erik Gudbranson, coach Dean Evason’s team has remained competitive in a very tough Metropolitan Division.
If the team remains competitive, it could force first-year general manager Don Waddell to make some hard choices. One tough decision will be whether to trade veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov. A pending unrestricted free agent, Provorov is second on the team in playing time, averaging about 23 and a half minutes a game, and is fourth with 83 blocked shots.
Still, NHLRumors.com ranked Provorov as its No. 5 trade target for this season. So BetOhio.com, your best source for Ohio sports betting analysis, has put together exclusive odds based on teams that might have an interest in shoring up their blueliner corps before the March 7 trade deadline.
Ivan Provorov Trade Odds
Team | Odds | Percent Chance |
Ottawa Senators | +850 | 10.5% |
Tampa Bay Lightning | +1000 | 9.1% |
Pittsburgh Penguins | +1050 | 8.7% |
Winnipeg Jets | +1900 | 5.0% |
The Field/ Stay With Blue Jackets | -200 | 66.7% |
A reminder, these odds are for infotainment purposes only. You will not find these at any licensed betting operator, such as bet365 Ohio Sportsbook.
The Blue Jackets have continued to exceed expectations this season. Before the first puck dropped, their odds to make the playoffs at BetMGM Ohio Sportsbook were +1400, the second-longest of the NHL teams. Their initial season points total was set at 65.5. They’re just seven points from topping that, and BetMGM has since updated the total to 86.5.
Evanson’s team held a wild card spot through this past Monday before a two-game losing streak knocked them out. Still, they’re only two points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the top wild card spot.
However, the Jackets are now dealing with a couple of key injuries to defenseman Zach Werenski, their leading scorer with 57 points (17 goals, 40 assists), and right wing Kirill Marchenko, who leads the team with 21 goals and ranks second with 34 assists and 55 points.
Werenski should be back soon, either by this weekend or in a couple of weeks, after the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off break. Marchenko, though, suffered a broken jaw this past weekend and is not expected to return until mid-March – after the trading deadline. Jenner, a 20-goal scorer at center, has not played this season because of a shoulder injury, but could be back this month.
This leaves Columbus with a big decision. Do they go all in and fight for a wild card spot now in a very crowded Eastern Conference race, where six teams or more are battling it out for two wild card berths? Or do they look to trade Provorov?
If Columbus deals him, we have the Ottawa Senators as the favorites with a 10.5% chance, which would be expressed as +850 odds with Ohio sports betting apps. We have Tampa Bay Lightning next at +1000 odds and the Pittsburgh Penguins at +1050.
Blue Jackets Still Stanley Cup Playoff Underdogs
However, even though they’re just two points away from being in a Wild Card spot, there’s still a lot of hockey left to play in this regular season before the playoffs begin in April. That’s why oddsmakers at DraftKings Ohio Sportsbook have Columbus’ odds to make the playoffs at +360.
That's far better than the +1100 on that prop in early December.
In their last two games before the league resets for a couple of weeks to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Blue Jackets welcome the Utah Hockey Club to Columbus tonight (7 p.m. Eastern) and host the New York Rangers on Saturday night (also at 7). After the 4 Nations tournament, Columbus has two more home games, Feb. 22 against the Chicago Blackhawks and Feb. 25 against the Dallas Stars. The Jackets travel to Detroit on Feb. 27, then welcome the Red Wings to Ohio Stadium for an outdoor Stadium Series game on March 1.
BetOhio.com is your source for analysis and insights on what’s happening with Ohio’s top teams, such as the Blue Jackets, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. We also offer the best Ohio sports betting promos and the latest reviews on sportsbooks available in the Buckeye State.
USA Today photo by David Kirouac
