When Vladislav Gavrikov inked a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Rangers as a free agent last summer, the veteran defenseman cited the club’s ability to compete for a Stanley Cup, an expanded role next to Adam Fox and his familiarity with two Russian Blueshirts as what drew him to New York.
Two months into the season, however, Fox was put on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The Rangers star blueliner was ultimately limited to 55 games.
The team was second-to-last in the Metropolitan Division at that time before they made themselves comfortable in the basement of the Eastern Conference for the remainder of the season.
And two days before the trade deadline, the Rangers shipped off one of his two compatriots — Artemi Panarin — to Los Angeles.
