After missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, the Pittsburgh Penguins will certainly be a team to watch this summer. When looking at their current group, the left side of their defense is one of the main areas that they should look to improve.

Due to this, in a recent article for The Athletic that discussed one pending free agent that each team should target, Josh Yohe argued that the Penguins should pursue Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

Gavrikov would be a major pickup for the Penguins if signed, as he is easily one of the best defensemen who can hit the market on July 1. The 29-year-old blueliner is a big and dependable shutdown defenseman who would easily become the Penguins' top left-shot blueliner if signed.

Gavrikov is coming off a strong season with the Kings, posting five goals, 30 points, 140 blocks, and a plus-26 rating. With numbers like these, he would have the potential to be a great fit on the Penguins' top pairing if signed. Furthermore, he would also be a clear option for Pittsburgh's penalty kill, which certainly adds to his appeal. 

Nevertheless, with the Penguins needing help on their blueline, it would make a lot of sense for them to make a push for Gavrikov. It will be intriguing to see if they do just that, if he becomes available on July 1 from here. 

Big Update On Evgeni Malkin's Penguins Future Revealed <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6411170/2025/06/16/penguins-evgeni-malkin-retirement-nhl/">According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe</a>, Evgeni Malkin will play his final season as a member of the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins </a>in 2025-26 because the team is not expected to offer No. 71 a new contract once his deal comes to an end after next season.

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