Summer Spotlight: Vladislav Gavrikov

Number:44
Birth date:Nov. 21, 1995 (age 26)
Birthplace:Yaroslavl, Russia
Height, Weight:6-3, 213
Stats:80 GP, 5-28-33
Contract:Signed through 2022-23 season (One year remaining before UFA status)

Vladislav Gavrikov has never seemed out of place on the Blue Jackets blue line, but he sure did look more comfortable this year than any season before.
His easygoing manner and deadpan sense of humor made him a pretty quick hit among teammates and the Blue Jackets fan base, but it also belied the fierce competitor he is in his own defensive zone. From pretty much the day he showed up, the KHL veteran and Olympic gold medalist was a solid player defensively and nailed down a regular spot on the CBJ defensive corps.
This year, though, he showed more on the offensive side, setting career highs in assists and points while also notching a career-best 22:17 per night. Add in his 138 shot blocks and 124 hits -- also big improvements on previous numbers -- and Gavrikov was more of a do-it-all player than ever before.
Maybe that's not a surprise, though, as comfort can certainly go a long way both on and off the ice.
"The first year I was not shy, but kind of shy, because I changed like pretty much everything for myself like in country, language and the team, the new league, new partners a bunch of stuff around," he said. "It's nice to find out the details like that. So, I feel more comfortable in the locker room on and off the ice. I feel more comfortable right now compared to like three years ago."

Top Moment of 2021-22

One could argue it was anytime Gavrikov showed up on the Nationwide Arena scoreboard for another installment of 5th Line Help Line in one of the top in-arena bits of the season, but we'll go with his performance in the Nov. 22 game at Buffalo. Gavrikov had his only two-goal game in the contest, including the game winner in the 7-4 victory, and also finished plus-3 to push the Jackets to the victory.

A Gavrikov Highlight

Stat to Know

We don't usually go with zero as a player's notable stat, but how about this -- zero of Gavrikov's 33 points on the year came on the power play. As a shutdown defender, he's utilized much more in 5-on-5 and penalty kill roles, but Gavrikov still racked up a career-best 33 points a year ago (32 at even strength, one on the PK). It was a notable jump in offensive production for a player who had just 30 points in 124 games in his first two NHL seasons.

2022-23 Expectations

On any NHL team, there are very few spots you can seemingly write in pen going into a season, but putting Gavrikov as the anchor on the second defensive pair is one of them for the Blue Jackets. He's a dogged defender with some offense in him and he's capable of logging big minutes, so Gavrikov will be expected to be the team's No. 2 left-shot defenseman behind alternate captain Zach Werenski.