NHL trade rumors: NY Rangers, UFA Gavrikov have "mutual interest" but D-man's $7-8M AAV demand draws certain concerns

The New York Rangers are heavily linked to LA Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov as a top free-agent target ahead of the NHL free agency period starting July 1.

According to reports, there's a strong mutual interest, with Gavrikov reportedly having the Rangers on a short list of preferred destinations if he does not re-sign with the Kings.

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The 29-year-old had a career year last term, recording 5 goals and 30 points in 82 games, with a +26 rating and averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. His shutdown presence and two-way play make him a desirable addition for the Rangers, who missed the playoffs after winning the President’s Trophy last year.

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However, signing Gavrikov comes with challenges. He is projected to have a seven-year contract at around $8 million per season, which would strain the Rangers’ $13.1 million in cap space, especially with other pending free agents.

To accommodate Gavrikov, the Rangers may need to trade restricted free agent K’Andre Miller, who has drawn significant trade interest. Speculation suggests that moving Miller could clear space and allow Gavrikov to slot in as the top left-side defenseman.

The Blueshirts' interest aligns with their ongoing roster retooling under GM Chris Drury, who has already traded players like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba to free up cap space and reshape the blue line.

However, concerns exist about the risks of a long-term, high-value contract for Gavrikov, given his age and the Rangers' existing long-term defensive commitments.

New York Rangers trade Chris Kreider to Anaheim Ducks

Chris Kreider, who was the longest-tenured player on the Rangers, was traded to the Anaheim Ducks two weeks ago.

As part of the trade, the Rangers received forward prospect Carey Terrance and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. In exchange, New York sent Kreider and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to Anaheim.

Kreider was drafted with the 19th overall pick by the Rangers in the 2009 NHL draft. He racked up 30 points through 22 goals and eight assists in 66 regular-season games.

Also Read: New York Rangers NHL Mock Draft 2025: Predicting Blueshirts' picks and potential steals

About the author

Abhishek is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda with over 2 years of sports reporting experience and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delhi. He became a fan of ice hockey after watching NHL fight videos on YouTube, which led to him professionally writing about the sport and his continued interest in all things hockey.

A fan of the Boston Bruins, Abhishek considers their incredible comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 playoffs as the most iconic moment in the NHL. His admiration for the six-time Stanley Cup winners also comes from the team’s storied history, distinctive black and gold uniform and their success in the sport. His all-time favorite NHL players are Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, for their ability to perform at the highest level consistently.

Abhishek ensures his reporting is fair and balanced by being well-researched in his details, which he expects to be relevant, up-to-date and in line with ethical standards. His specialties are doing detailed match analysis and covering fan reactions.

Abhishek enjoys music, traveling and going on walks with his three German Shepherds in his free time, along with learning about horticulture.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta