It didn't take all that long for former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to find his way with the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference early this regular season. The Rangers and general manager Chris Drury signed Gavrikov to a seven-year contract this past offseason in the summer, worth $49 million ($7 million in average annual value).
Former Los Angeles Kings blue-liner Vladislav Gavrikov finding more success at home with the Rangers this fall in the past couple of weeks in November
This isn't very surprising to fans of the Kings that Gavrikov has quickly found his way playing for the Rangers in the Eastern Conference this fall early in the regular season. He's playing for a team that needed help on the blue line on defense this past summer and going into the 2025-26 campaign in the Metro Division.
What is a bit surprising is how the Rangers have produced defensive results on that side of the ice so similar to the Kings this fall early in the regular season. The Rangers and Kings both rank in the top 10 in the league in the NHL in goals allowed and in the bottom 10 in goals scored offensively.
The Kings and Rangers are tied at the bottom of the NHL standings in home wins early this regular season. Both teams have just two wins on home ice this fall.
LA and new general manager Ken Holland didn't have an offer that enticed Gavrikov this past offseason in the summer of 2025. He ended up signing with the Rangers in the East for seven years in the Metro Division.
Gavrikov has helped the Rangers find more success in the win column and in the standings in the East this fall on home ice in the past week or so. He registered a season-high two points for the second game in a row to help the Rangers pick up their second home win earlier this week on Monday (Nov. 24) at MSG against the St. Louis Blues.
After registering four total points in just the past two games for the Rangers in the East, Gavrikov ranks second among the team's defensemen in total points and goals scored. He's played well over 25 shifts in the Rangers' two wins in the East at home this regular season this fall.