Trusted Pundit Suggests Rangers’ Gavrikov Could Consider Trade Opportunity

The New York Rangers are attempting to return to the playoffs this season, and despite some significant changes in the offseason, they appear poised to turn things around finally.

With the additions of Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, and Joonas Korpisalo, among others, the Rangers have a solid-looking team on paper, but they just have to put it all together on the ice.

Gavrikov Could Be Open to Trade, Report Claims

Unfortunately, a recent report indicates one of their key players might actually not believe in the direction the team is going and could consider a trade, and that player is Vladislav Gavrikov.

On the Rangers Recon podcast, Arthur Staple stated, “There are still whispers that Gavrikov is not super happy with the direction of the Rangers…If things go bad, is he going to be a guy in Drury’s office saying ‘I think I’d like to go somewhere else’?”

Gavrikov, who is 30 years old, played all 82 games with the Rangers last season, scoring 14 goals and adding 21 assists for 35 points. Through 517 games in his career, split between the Rangers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Los Angeles Kings, he has scored 43 goals and added 127 assists.

His offensive production doesn’t jump out, but he is a strong, defensive-minded defender who fits perfectly alongside Adam Fox on the Rangers’ first pairing. Any team would love to bring him in, so the Rangers are likely hoping Gavrikov never asks for a trade.

What Teams Could Be Interested in Gavrikov?

There are no indications that any trade involving Gavrikov is close, but if he becomes available, plenty of teams would express interest in acquiring him.

The Anaheim Ducks have the weakest defensive depth in the NHL, and seem like the team that needs Gavrikov the most. Unfortunately, Gavrikov has a no-movement clause (NMC), and the Ducks’ lack of cap space needed to take on his full contract makes that unlikely.

Gavrikov waiving his NMC would be contingent on his joining a contending team, so that likely takes the Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and Detroit Red Wings out of contention, despite their need for defensive depth.

The Boston Bruins make sense as a fit for Gavrikov. They could move out Mason Lohrei as part of the trade return for him, and they would have the cap space to take him on, while also having the extra assets to convince the Rangers to make a move, all while adding a new partner for Charlie McAvoy.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are an interesting fit. They need to add a top-pairing left-shot defender, and Gavrikov could be the perfect addition for them. It has been made clear that the Penguins want to try to push for a playoff spot this season, rather than sell assets and embrace a rebuild. They do have the assets to make a move, and it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t be open to being traded there.

Lastly, the Seattle Kraken make a lot of sense. They are another team that has been trying to add a big-name free agent or superstar for a little while, and adding Gavrikov could be the big-name player they’ve been looking for.

They have made it clear they want to contend this season, and considering they are a team desperate to add depth on their blue line, it would make a lot of sense, assuming Gavriov would be open to waiving his NMC for the Kraken.

We’ll see what happens, but the Gavrikov situation will be one to watch as the season moves along.

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