Credit © Jessica Alcheh-Imagn ImagesIn the recent 32 Thoughts Podcast with Elliotte Friedman, Friedman does a quick segment on the Los Angeles Kings, amongst ever team before the trade deadline and where they stand. The first real tidbit is not trade discussion but rather, a possible extension.
Vladislav Gavrikov came over in the trade to Columbus in the Joonas Korpisalo, and Jonathan Quick swap in 2022-23. Gavrikov would sign a two-year extension in the offseason, with Koprisalo heading to the Ottawa Senators.
During his time in LA, Gavrikov has been as good as a top four defender the organization could ask for. Initially, a great pairing formed in the concept of Matt Roy and Gavrikov, but in his contract year, he has shown immense value playing his offside with the injury to Drew Doughty. Mikey Anderson and Gavrikov were the pseudo top pair for the club and have been a go-to shutdown pairing even with Doughty back, despite the up and down time on ice adjustments for the franchise icon.
Friedman talks about some ambiguity but does say he's heard that the Kings have approached Gavrikov about a seven-year extension. That type of deal could dilute the value on the back end of the contract, making it a holistic-esque bargain instead of a two-year extension in the $8.5-9+ million-dollar average. That would bring Gavrikov into his 37-year-old season as a top defenseman for the club with the current lack of left-handed or right-handed depth in the prospect pool behind Jordan Spence and Brandt Clarke.
With that being said, the top four, or at least the top three would be set for at least til 2027-28. Doughty is a lock to play top four, if not 1D minutes until he's knocking the door of 40. Anderson is likely a type of the player to play the rest of his career due to his skill and overall value to the club. Then there's Joel Edmundson who is signed until 2027-28, who of which the front office trusts and is standing by. With Gavrikov into the fold, it's an assumption that only one spot would be available to crack the top four in Clarke and Spence.
Both players have great potential and are still in the pubescence of their careers. With Clarke having the higher ceiling, does that mean that Spence could be levied as a trade chip, with Jacob Moverare acting as a stop gap for the third defensive pair? Or does the organization think Moverare can handle tougher minutes paired up with Doughty?
It's difficult to read the room in El Segundo, with a front office that has not made itself available as per tradition right around the halfway mark. But from the sources that be, specifically Friedman, it looks to be that the front office is comfortable going past the season to negotiate the next steps for Gavrikov and his extension. Gavrikov being a necessary piece in place, it becomes a little clearer that the Kings could trade from the right side.
Not explicitly stated, but if the Kings are shopping for scoring by leveraging someone on their right side, it would have to be Spence? But doesn't Spence help the team more now than with Clarke?
It'll be an interesting week with the clock ticking ever louder towards March 7th.