After some hard thought, the Columbus Blue Jackets decided to pull the trigger. They have traded shutdown defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to the Los Angeles Kings for goaltender Jonathan Quick, and a first-round pick. This is a great deal for both sides as they get exactly what they came for in return.
With LA/CLB working on a Korpisalo/Gavrikov deal, word is one of the pieces in return will be Jonathan Quick. Loved watching him during his fantastic run with the Kings, backbone of their two Stanley Cup championships. A first-round pick will also be involved.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 1, 2023
Vladislav Gavrikov Gets Traded by Columbus
Vladislav Gavrikov has been involved in a trade. After the possibility of wanting to keep him into the future, Columbus opted to move on. Gavrikov is the perfect pickup due to his contract. He is a pending UFA at season’s end. However, he does carry a team-friendly $2.8 million dollars. Depth is important down the stretch, which is exactly what this move signals. Overall, the Vladislav Gavrikov trade is worth it.
How Gavrikov Impacts His New Team
Vladislav Gavrikov is your typical defensive defenceman. His efficiency on the back end is magnificent, and he has some offensive upside. Gavrikov is not known for his goal-scoring but has no issues being a playmaker. He is the perfect bottom-pair shutdown defenceman, and his impact will be felt in the lineup. This was a great trade, and maybe an extension follows through.
How This Impacts Columbus
Things have gone wrong for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. After spending $80 million dollars in the offseason, this was a season to forget. Poor structure and plagues by injuries led to a poor season. The Vladislav Gavrikov trade is the cherry on top of it all. For a team in the race for Connor Bedard, making this move made sense in the long run. They can build for the future. In addition, they have core pieces in place with Johnny Gaudreau and Zach Werenski. Ideally, they’d want to keep the 27-year-old shutdown defenceman, but an offer like that benefits the future more than the now.
Photo credits: Steven Bisig – USA TODAY Sports
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