The 2025 NHL offseason is off and running with the free agent market opening on July 1.
With that being said, this year’s offseason market has plenty of big names fans would love to have on their teams. One of those names is Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.
In CBS Sports’ free agency predictions, Chris Bengel predicted that Gavrikov would stay put in LA and sign an extension with the Kings.
Gavrikov has spent the past two seasons with the Kings after the franchise acquired him from the Blue Jackets at the 2023 trade deadline. The 29-year old has developed into a very strong two-way defenseman over his career, but still isn’t ever going to blow anyone away from an offensive standpoint. Gavrikov is incredibly durable as he’s logged at least 72 games in each of the past four seasons,” Bengel said.
“It’s likely that the Kings are going to do everything in their power to convince Gavrikov to remain in Los Angeles. After all, Gavrikov did have the second-highest point total (30) of his entire career this past season.”
Gavrikov put up 30 points in the regular season with five goals and 25 assists and assisted on two goals in the playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers. Gavrikov proved to be an important piece to the Kings as they finished second in the Pacific division before losing to the Oilers in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
If Gavrikov stayed in LA, he would be much needed, especially in the case of the Kings facing the Oilers next postseason as well.
