LA Kings replace Vladislav Gavrikov with Ivan Provorov
At this point, while it is not a guarantee, it seems likely that Vladislav Gavrikov will not be returning to Los Angeles next season. The negotiations have dragged on for too long, and the market is really heating up for Gavrikov that he will be able to earn more in free agency than returning to the Kings.
To replace him, I have the Kings signing Ivan Provorov to a six-year deal with an AAV of $7 million. The 28-year-old has played in 696 career NHL games, including three consecutive seasons without missing a game. He is not necessarily an offensive defenseman, but does contribute some with around 30 points a season while averaging around 23 minutes of ice time per game.
While it may be surprising to see the Kings offer such a contract, especially if Gavrikov were to leave, I expect it will be slightly less and those savings help this offseason plan come together.
LA Kings sign Nicklaus Perbix to a one-year deal to replace Jordan Spence
To complete the defense, the Kings have to find value, and they do so with a one-year deal with Nicklaus Perbix for $2 million. Perbix was a sixth-round pick by the Lightning in the 2017 NHL Draft and has been a full-time NHL player for the past three seasons, with 220 regular-season games.
He is not necessarily a player that is going to make big plays but is steady and an excellent fit for that third pair. He has averaged about 15 minutes per game of ice time and that is probably all the Kings need for this spot.