Does the Rangers’ Vladislav Gavrikov want out of New York? What could be the Canucks’ and Penguins’ plans for the trade deadline? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
COULD VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV REQUEST A TRADE?
DAILY FACEOFF: NHL analyst Mike Rupp recently said he’d heard rumors that Vladislav Gavrikov isn’t happy with the direction of the struggling New York Rangers.
Gavrikov signed a seven-year, $49 million contract last summer with the Rangers. However, Rupp said he’d heard that this isn’t what the 30-year-old defenseman signed up for, especially now that his friend Artemi Panarin has been traded.
New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Rupp cautioned that he doesn’t know if there’s any truth to those rumors about Gavrikov. Nevertheless, the club’s decision to stage what they intend to be a quick rebuild has raised speculation about which players they could move. It’s also generated questions about which players are willing to be part of that rebuild.
Teams are probably calling the Rangers to find out which players they’re willing to move. Some of them could be asking about Gavrikov’s availability. However, he has a full no-movement clause, giving him full control over his situation, including preferred trade destinations.
THE LATEST ON THE CANUCKS’ AND PENGUINS’ TRADE DEADLINE PLANS
THE ATHLETIC: Thomas Drance looked at the priority items that the Vancouver Canucks must address at the March 6 trade deadline.
Moving Evander Kane is one of them. The 34-year-old winger is due to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He has struggled this season, and there isn’t much of a market for him currently, although that might change as the trade deadline approaches. His agent has been permitted to speak with other clubs about a trade.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane’s struggles could also be due to the club he’s playing with this season. He’s proven to be a solid postseason performer, which could make him an affordable depth acquisition for a contender if the Canucks retain half of his $5.125 million cap hit.
Drance also recommended the Canucks get whatever the market will pay for UFA-eligible depth centers Teddy Blueger and David Kampf.
Meanwhile, Drance’s colleague Josh Yohe looked at players and assets likely to be moved by the Pittsburgh Penguins by the trade deadline.
With the Penguins sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, Yohe believes they’ll be buyers at the deadline, but doesn’t expect many roster players to be moved. Struggling veterans Kevin Hayes and Ryan Graves seem the most likely trade candidates.
General manager Kyle Dubas prefers to use draft picks to acquire younger talent. If he makes a move, it’ll likely be for something comparable to his acquisition of Egor Chinahkov from the Columbus Blue Jackets.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe’s article came out before Penguins captain Sidney Crosby suffered a lower-body injury at the Olympics. The severity of that injury could affect Dubas’ plans for the trade deadline.
If Crosby isn’t seriously injured, Dubas could stick to the plan of acquiring young players. He’s got two second-round picks and two third-rounders in each of the next three drafts, and two fifth-round picks in 2028 to draw on for trade chips.