The New York Rangers are hanging in on a very close race for the Metropolitan Division. At 15-12-2 for 32 points, they have amassed five wins in their last six games. This all comes following the devastating injury to star defenseman Adam Fox, which has sparked an offensive revolution from the most unlikely of places.
Let's talk about who has started to help out on the offensive end, giving the Rangers a new competitive edge.
Gavrikov, the offensive defenseman?
Vladislav Gavrikov, who was one of theinternal D-men that had to step up when Fox went down to injury, has added a brand new part to his game. His career, up to this point before joining Rangers, had been labeled as a defensive-first defender. He always had offensive ability, moving the puck up the ice, etc., but now, he has added more to that.
Gavrikov has become a marksman from the blueline, and the Rangers needed it badly. Just 29 games into the 2025-26 season, No. 44 has tied a single-season career-high in goals with six. He has three of those six in his last five games, and each has been more important than the last.
Worth so much more than $7 million AAV
Adding this new part to his game proves the Rangers got an absolute steal for him in the offseason. His offensive awakening shoots his value up by a ton, and the fact that he is doing it without his regular defensive partner, and a Norris Trophy winner at that, in Adam Fox, means Gavrikov is a truly elite player.
At $7 million AAV, Gavrikov has proven he is worth so much more than that. Whilst Fox continues to be out, the pressure is even higher now for Gavrikov to continue to contribute on all ends of the ice.
Can he keep it up?