The New York Rangers missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025, and now General Manager Chris Drury is expected to make changes. According to a report by Arthur Staple from The Athletic, the Rangers are one of several teams looking to change their roster before the new season. Other teams mentioned are the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth.
One player the Rangers are watching is Vladislav Gavrikov, a defenseman who played for the Los Angeles Kings this past season. Gavrikov will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds, and he shoots left. He has built a reputation as a strong defensive player who can handle a lot of minutes.
- The Rangers are targeting free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov after missing the 2025 playoffs and trading Ryan Lindgren in March.
- With only $8.4 million in cap space, New York must trade or release players like K’Andre Miller to afford Gavrikov’s expected $6.5–$7.5 million salary.
- Only Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin are considered untouchable, meaning major roster changes are likely ahead of July 1 free agency.
Gavrikov Had a Strong Season with the Kings
In the 2024–25 season, Gavrikov played 82 games and finished with five goals and 25 assists, totaling 30 points – only three points below his career high. He was especially good in the defensive zone. He had a plus-26 rating, which is the best of his career. His previous best was plus-12 during the 2022–23 season.
Gavrikov also averaged 23 minutes and 5 seconds of ice time per game, which was the most he has ever played in a season. He led the Kings in blocked shots with 140 and took just 28 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he played six games, added two assists, and averaged 21 minutes per game, even though the Kings were knocked out in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers.
Rangers Need Cap Space to Make a Move
Right now, the Rangers have around $8.4 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. Gavrikov is coming off a two-year, $11.75 million contract, which had an average cap hit of $5.875 million per season. Based on his strong season, he is expected to ask for a raise in free agency, possibly between $6.5 million and $7.5 million per year.
That means the Rangers would need to free up more space to afford him. At the same time, they still need to sign several restricted free agents, including Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, K’Andre Miller, and Zac Jones. Cuylle is likely the team’s top priority.
To create room for a player like Gavrikov, the Rangers may need to let some of these RFAs go or trade current players.
Miller, Kreider, and Zibanejad Could Be On the Move
Staple reported that the only players who are “untouchable” on the Rangers roster are Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin, meaning all other players could be available in trades.
K’Andre Miller may be one of the most likely players to move. He is 25 years old and is coming off a contract that had a cap hit of $3.872 million. Although the Rangers hoped he would grow into a top-pair defenseman, that hasn’t happened yet. Reports say the team may be ready to trade him now to avoid losing him for nothing later; it could also give them the cap space to bring in Gavrikov.
Another player to watch is Chris Kreider, who scored 22 goals and 30 points last season. He missed 14 games and said on breakup day that he might need hand surgery this offseason. Kreider has a 15-team no-trade clause, which limits where he can be traded.
Mika Zibanejad is also a name in trade rumors. He has a full no-move clause and has said he wants to stay in New York. Still, Chris Drury has worked around such contract clauses in the past, so it’s not impossible that he could be moved if the right deal comes along.
Rangers Looking for a New Partner for Adam Fox
Back in March, the Rangers traded Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche, and they haven’t found a permanent replacement to play on the top pair with Adam Fox. Gavrikov could be a good fit in that spot. He is known for being reliable on defense and has played top-four and even top-pair minutes before. His style of play could work well under the team’s new head coach, Mike Sullivan, who is known for coaching teams with strong defensive systems.
Kings May Try to Re-Sign Gavrikov Before July 1
The Los Angeles Kings, who traded for Gavrikov from Columbus during the 2022–23 season, would prefer to keep him. He was drafted 159th overall in 2015 by the Columbus Blue Jackets and has played 435 career NHL games between the Blue Jackets and Kings. In that time, he has scored 29 goals and 135 points.
Gavrikov has said he is open to signing a longer deal with the Kings, but the team’s new leadership, now run by Ken Holland, may have different plans. If no deal is made by July 1, Gavrikov will likely receive offers from several teams.
Other than the Rangers, teams that could be interested include the Buffalo Sabres, Seattle Kraken, and Utah Mammoth. These teams, like New York, are expected to be active in the offseason.
