NHL Free Agency 2025: Which 10 Blockbuster Contracts Are Redefining the Game?
But even with that in mind, this was a shrewd bet for the Rangers to make for a couple of reasons.
First, they caught a break on this deal with a $7 million cap hit that looks rather reasonable in a skyrocketing cap world. Gavrikov is a better player than Ivan Provorov, who commanded an $8.5 million AAV on his Blue Jackets extension. Gavrikov is an extremely reliable defensive defenseman who should thrive either playing next to Adam Fox on the first pair or anchoring a shutdown second pair.
Secondly, landing Gavrikov is what allowed the Rangers to cash in K’Andre Miller for a lucrative haul. Miller should shine in Carolina and potentially has a higher ceiling than Gavrikov, but the latter is far steadier with a higher floor.
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