The Blue Jackets defense showed signs of improvement over the course of the 2024-25 season. However, it was still a weakness of the team by season’s end. Many fans were expecting upgrades to the defense through trades and/or free agency. However, the availability of defenseman was at a premium and general manager Don Waddell opted to resign his UFA defenseman with the hopes that a healthy, in-tact defense would result in improved defensive numbers.
Thus, the team re-signed Dante Fabbro and Ivan Provorov. Along with Zach Werenski and Denton Mateychuk, these men will round out the top 4 on the CBJ defense.