The Columbus Blue Jackets will be without two pieces of their blueline early this season as both Ivan Provorov and Damon Severson have been ruled to week-to-week with injuries.
Provorov is dealing with a lower-body injury, while Severson has a shoulder injury.
Per The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, Provorov has never missed a game due to injury in his 778-game career in the NHL.
He’s only missed three games due to COVID-19 protocols during the 2021-22 when he was with the Flyers.
“He’s heartbroken,” Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness said of Provorov. “Absolutely heartbroken.”
The 29-year-old scored nine goals with 31 points in 82 games last season for Columbus while averaging 24:49 of ice time.
Severson, 32, had eight goals and 32 points in 71 games with the Blue Jackets last season.
He remains signed through the 2030-31 season at a cap hit of $6.25 million, while Provorov is signed through 2031-32 at a cap hit of $8.5 million.
Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk are the top pairing ahead of tonight’s game against the Buffalo Sabres with new additions Emil Andrae and Carson Soucy as the second pair. Jake Christiansen and Erik Gudbranson make up the third pair.
