Ivan Provorov

But overall, that's my kind of, one of my bigger questions.

If we take the Fantilli thing out of the equation, one of the bigger questions is going to be, well, if Severson can't go and Favreau can't go, who do you play with Zach Wierenski to start the season? because you can put Provorov there.

I don't like Gorinsky-Provorov as a pairing.

You can put Matejchuk-Gorinsky there.

I think that's a pretty good pairing.

But then you're like, okay, well, then you do Provorov-Gabranson as a second pairing, and that feels very bad.

Matejchuk-Gabranson also feels very bad.

Like, the problem is really playing Gabranson above the third pairing, right? But what are your top four is out? The guy that you could use to plug that hole in your top four is out.

It's not Marchenko because he was asked about Marchenko's trade rumors and he said he's had no problems with Marchenko entering camp, so it's not Marchenko.

Okay, so Nishushkin and Provorov?

I mean, I don't know.

Why are we singling out the Russians? I'm not in this one.

Dante Fabro is questionable.

Ivan Provorov and Charlie Ellick have been carrying the load, but when you lose those top four defenders, your gap control suffers.

Pittsburgh will exploit those seams.

And let's not forget Adam Fantilli is out too.

If he can stabilize the second line, it frees up the top unit to breathe.

What about the defense? With Favreau day-to-day and the others out, who is starting? It's got to be Provorov and Ellick, right?

Likely, Ivan Provorov is the anchor.

He's experienced, he's steady.

When you have 10 centers fighting for roster spots, losing one of those top-tier options changes the line matching entirely.

Eric Gudbranson and Ivan Provorov are going to have to carry more minutes on the blue line.

They need to be physical in their own zone.

Let's talk about the goalie situation.

He needs to be patient.

Let's talk about the defensive pairings.

With Fabbro and Bozo out, who is pairing with Ivan Provorov.

And who is with Eric Gudbranson.

Right now, we've got Wierenski penciled in to play with Severson or Favreau, depending on how they shake things out.

Ivan Provorov with Denton Matejchuk.

Both those guys could be high 20s, low 30s in terms of production.

And then Severson likely with good Branson or Jay Christensen, Carson Sousey might have to play more if these guys are hurt.

the veteran rules.

So again, the Blue Jackets veterans last night would have been Olivier, Garland, Matejčuk, Provorov, Dante Favreau, Colin White, Jack Greaves, and I believe Phoenix Copley qualifies as well.

So there's your eight veterans, two of which were goalies and four of which were defensemen.

So there was two veterans, I believe.

And that's kind of a good thing.

One last guy I want to talk about in terms of guys that stood out, Dmitry Patechuk.

Between him and Dmitry Patechuk, far and away the best defenseman on the ice, which again, he was, after Favreau left the lineup, it was White, Provorov, Buckberger and Rashad, so two rookies, uh, a, a veteran AHL guy, I assume, and then Provorov, who is fine.

Uh, but Desmond Ashok was head and shoulders above all of them.

Exactly.

Look at Ivan Provorov.

He's been quiet so far, but against a team like Buffalo, you need Provorov to carry the puck through the neutral zone cleanly.

If he doesn't, Wierenski has to bail him out.