NHL Trade Grades: Flyers deal Ivan Provorov to Blue Jackets

The Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings got NHL trade season rolling early with a big deal moving Ivan Provorov to CBJ.

Why wait for the Stanley Cup Finals to end when you can start trading now?

The Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, and Philadelphia Flyers started the NHL offseason with a significant three-team trade.

The Flyers traded a top asset in defenseman Ivan Provorov for a first-round pick and promising prospect, Helge Grans. It signals a rebuilding approach by their new GM, Danny Briere.

Here’s a look at the full trade.

Additional details include that the Flyers can choose whether the second-round pick from Columbus is in 2024 or 2025, while the Kings will pay 30% of Provorov’s $6.75 million cap hit.

How did each of these three NHL teams make out in this deal, though? Let’s take a look.

NHL Trade Grades: Flyers get big assets with Provorov’s value declining

Philadelphia GM Danny Briere’s first trade involved moving Provorov for draft picks. Though a starting-caliber goaltender, Cal Petersen will be a lucrative backup for Carter Hart or a trade acquisition for another team. The 27-year-old goaltender is a reclamation project for the Flyers.

Walker is a serviceable depth defenseman. Grans (35th pick in 2020) is a 21-year-old defensive prospect. The Flyers also received valuable draft capital, including No. 22 this year and two second-rounders.

The success of the trade will depend on how well Petersen performs and on how effectively Briere utilizes these picks. Provorov’s declining play caused his trade value to plummet.

The Flyers can afford the $5 million Petersen cap hit since they gained assets they can use.

Grade: A

NHL Trade Grades: Kings free up financial flexibility

The Kings signed Cal Petersen to a three-year, $15 million contract extension in September 2021. They hoped he would eventually become starting goalie for the aging Jonathan Quick. However, Petersen struggled in the role during the past season, prompting the Kings to bring up Pheonix Copley from the AHL to save their season.

The team also traded Quick (Flipped to Vegas) to Columbus for Jonas Korpisalo at the trade deadline. Petersen was then sent down to the AHL to try and regain his form. But it didn’t work out.

To free up salary and add financial flexibility, the Kings traded Petersen’s contract, took on 30% of Provorov’s contract, and acquired Kevin Connauton and Hayden Hodgson. They aren’t expected to be significant contributors to the team. The Kings also parted with prospect Helge Grans, defenseman Sean Walker, and a second-round pick.

Despite the steep cost, the move allowed the team to extend 27-year-old defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov(two years, $5.875 million).

The Kings could add another goaltender to back up Copley. Overall, though, Los Angeles accomplished their goal of shedding Petersen’s contract and creating more cap space. It’ll be intriguing to see where they go from here.

Grade: B-

NHL Trade Grades: Blue Jackets make low-cost gamble on Provorov

The Blue Jackets acquired Provorov for $4.725 million over two years. The trade included draft picks from the Kings. Provorov has been a reliable top-four blueliner for the Flyers. He will
replace the loss of Vladislav Gavrikov to the Kings at the trade deadline, and deepen the Blue Jackets’ blueline.

Provorov, 26, was drafted seventh overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. Since debuting in 2016-17, he led all Philly blueliners in games played, goals, assists, points, and average time on ice. However, the Flyers have surrendered 55 percent of their tallies over the past three seasons,with him on the ice at even-strength. It’s good for the third-worst mark among 10 Flyers defensemen logging at least 500 minutes over that span.

Provorov isn’t the Norris Trophy threat many had envisioned. But the cost of acquiring him was low for the Blue Jackets.

Grade: D+