Detroit Red Wings urged to target star Los Angeles Kings defenseman
Photo credit: LA Hockey Now
The Detroit Red Wings need help on their blue line, and they've been urged by a top analyst to target Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency.
Perhaps the biggest need for the Detroit Red Wings to address this summer is beefing up their blue line, which struggled mightily in their recently completed season.
The Red Wings not only failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the 9th straight year, but they also flirted with having one of the worst penalty kills in NHL history for several months.
There are also too many pieces on the blue line who are not part of the long-term future of the club, and who hinder the club more than help it in the eyes of fans.
Analyst Max Bultman of The Athletic has identified a key summer target for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. He's picked Vladislav Gavrikov, who is currently playing in the postseason against the Edmonton Oilers for the Los Angeles Kings.
«This year, the Red Wings got by with a top pair of Ben Chiarot and Moritz Seider, and a second pair of Simon Edvinsson with a combination of Albert Johansson and Jeff Petry. That was passable on a fair number of nights, but adding another top-four D, ideally of the shutdown variety, would better maximize what Detroit has - whether it means freeing up Edvinsson and Seider to play together or finding a new partner for Seider and slotting Chiarot more favorably on the third pair.
Bultman then added:
And unlike the forwards, there does seem to be one potential slam-dunk fit for Detroit on the defense market. Vladislav Gavrikov put up some of the most impressive defensive numbers in the NHL this season and has familiarity with McLellan and Yawney from their time together with the Los Angeles Kings.
Gavrikov is playing on an expiring contract with an AAV (average annual value) of $5,875,000.
Picking him up in free agency would also present the opportunity to buy out the final year of the underperforming Justin Holl's deal while also allowing Jeff Petry to seek other opportunities.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 27 | 103 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings urged to target star Los Angeles Kings defenseman Would you like to see the Red Wings go after Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 77.7 % |
| No | 23 | 22.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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