Gavrikov Stays Put as Rangers Rebuild

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The New York Rangers have been busy shaking things up, trading away players like Artemi Panarin and Carson Sousi. They're looking to bring in draft picks and younger talent, a bit of a pivot from what they expected at the start of this season. There were some chatter about defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov potentially being on the move, maybe even heading back to a previous team. He signed a big seven-year deal with the Rangers last summer, so the idea of him leaving so soon seemed a little wild. But according to reports, Gavrikov hasn't actually asked for a trade. Plus, considering he just signed that long-term contract and had a career-high 14 goals this past season, it's tough to see the Rangers wanting to move him. He was a solid contributor, especially offensively, second only to Adam Fox among their defensemen.
The Rangers are still looking to bolster their defense, particularly with players who can move the puck well. The free agent market isn't looking great for that, and they've been exploring trade options. For now, it seems Gavrikov is staying put. The focus is more on other players who might be on the move, like Braden Schneider, who is due for a new contract.
It looks like the top defensive pairing of Gavrikov and Fox will be back next season.