The New York Rangers will have a chance to set a new precedent for a contract for a defensive-minded defenseman.
The Daily Faceoff's Mark Larkin predicts they will sign Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings.
Gavrikov was projected by The Athletic's James Mirtle to get a seven-year deal for $8.5 million per year, which would shatter any previous payments to low-scoring defensemen.
It's not clear whether Larkin agrees with that exact valuation, but he sees Gavrikov as a logical Rangers target.
"(Aaron) Ekblad might feel like the bigger star and thus the top UFA defenseman available, but Gavrikov is probably the best," Larkin writes. "While he’ll never be much of an offensive threat, he has emerged as one of the game’s elite shutdown stoppers at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. Particularly because Ryan Lindgren’s game eroded leading up to trading him, the Blueshirts badly need a long-term replacement to play on Adam Fox’s left side."
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The 29-year old Gavrikov averaged 23:05 in ice time in 2024-25, a career high.
He put up five goals and 25 assists in 82 games in 2024-25.
In 435 career games, Gavrikov has 29 goals and 106 assists.
He'll turn 30 on Nov. 21. It'd certainly be a heavy investment in the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Russian defenseman.
But if there's a bidding war for Gavrikov in this market, someone is going to have to pay over the top. Maybe it'll be the Rangers.
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