Gavrikov’s Second Season with Rangers | New York Rangers News

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On September 7th, Vladislav Gavrikov is heading into his second year with the New York Rangers, and the team's blue line looks a lot different this season. Last year, he played all 82 games, putting up 14 goals and 21 assists. He's currently in year two of a seven-year deal, worth $49 million with a cap hit of $7 million. With new defensive additions like Marcus Pedersen and Sean Dursey, the Rangers have more depth on the back end.

This should allow Gavrikov to focus more on his lockdown defensive style, potentially pairing up with Adam Fox, though the coach might mix things up. Last season, Gavrikov's penalty kill numbers weren't his best, with a career-worst expected goals against Per 60 Minutes.

This is a big change from his time with the Kings, where he was one of the league's best in that category. The Rangers' penalty kill unit also struggled last year, failing to reach 80% for the first time in years. Gavrikov is expected to be a key player in turning that around and getting them back to the top. Preseason games are just around the corner, kicking off September 21st against the New Jersey Devils, followed by games against the Islanders. The regular season then starts September 29th in Boston. Team coverage, powered by AI. This is New York Rangers News Today.