Kings will lose Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency
While Mitch Marner is the biggest free agent in the entire NHL, the Kings top free agent this offseason has to be Vladislav Gavrikov. He is a player that was a key part of a very successful defensive effort this past season in Los Angeles.
Gavrikov will generate plenty of interest in free agency at a position that doesn't have many top-tier players this summer. That is why I believe the Kings will see Gavrikov leave in free agency as a team will be willing to offer a contract that Los Angeles is not comfortable matching with their salary cap situation.
In the end, if the Kings were to lose Gavrikov, they would have no one to blame but themselves. This has been a topic of discussion going all the way back to March when Rob Blake appeared confident a deal would get done.
The longer Gavrikov went without a new contract, and the closer he got to free agency, only increased the chances of him leaving for a new team this summer.