Vladislav Gavrikov on his time with the LA Kings and contract goals

In a conversation with pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) Vladislav Gavrikov, the LA Kings defenseman spoke about his experience in the City of Angels, his on-ice partnership with Mikey Anderson, and his thoughts on his upcoming contract.

When asked how he’s enjoyed his time in Los Angeles, Gavrikov didn’t hesitate to share his positive impressions. “It’s been good. I mean, city is good, everybody made us feel welcome—the whole organization, starting with the players, the staff, basically everyone here, so it’s been good,” he said. Highlighting the warm reception he and his family have received, a key factor for any player adjusting to a new team and environment.

On the ice, Gavrikov has found himself adapting to a new role, playing on the right side alongside teammate Mikey Anderson. It’s a shift from his usual position, but one he’s embraced. “Yeah, I didn’t play on the right side the last few years, but now basically the full season I’m on the right. It’s been good—we try to do our best to give ourselves a chance to win every single night. Good chemistry with him, great player, hard worker, very similar to me,” he explained.

The pairing has clicked, especially considering the Kings’ admiration for a heavier defensive style game. According to MoneyPuck.com, among NHL defensive pairs with at least 200 minutes together, the Anderson-Gavrikov duo is 11th in expected goals against per hour at 1.92. Also, their expected goal share of 56.4% during 5v5 play ranks 19th in the NHL.

Looking ahead, contract talks loom large for the 29-year-old blueliner, who will hit free agency this summer. When I asked how important a long-term deal is for his next contract, Gavrikov’s response reflected both personal and professional priorities. “That would be good for my family, to be settled in one place and have some sort of no-trade list, or something like that. I’ve never had a contract longer than three years—going to be kind of new for me, so that’s something that I’m looking forward to doing,” he said. Stability for his family and a sense of security weigh heavily as he approaches this pivotal moment in his career.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, a seven-year deal is on the table for the Kings defenseman. That’s a little too long for my taste. But of course it all depends on that yearly cap hit.

AFP Analytics projects a five-year contract for Gavrikov at around $5.4 million. I’d consider that on the lower end. Five years probably elevates that per year cap hit closer to $6-$7 million, but if LA Kings general manager Rob Blake does decide to go with seven years, an AAV closer to $5 million could be considered good value for the versatile defender. From all indications, after my conversation with Vlad, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a new deal announced soon.