Good afternoon Hockey fans,
Hope you are all doing well. There is a ton of news in the hockey world and we want to share some of the information that has taken place in the past few weeks.
- The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a two-year, $11.750 million dollar contract extension (with an AAV of $5.875MM cap hit). Gavrikov, 27, was traded to the LA Kings at the Trade Deadline from the Columbus Blue Jackets, and he had an immediate impact for the team, playing 20 games and putting up 3 goals and 6 assists in the regular season. They had to move out both Cal Petersen and Sean Walker in a three-way trade to make cap room for Gavrikov. It seems like GM Rob Blake isn’t done yet as they still have to get their goalie situation figured out.
- The Three-way trade that LA was part of, was between them, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blue Jackets acquired defenceman Ivan Provorov, who first was sent through Los Angeles so the Kings could retain $2.025 million of his $6.75 million AAV. Therefore, Columbus ends up with Provorov on its roster at reduced cost and shore up their blue line. Provorov, 26, played around 23 minutes each game and had 6 goals and 21 assists this past season. They also traded for Damon Severson (from the New Jersey Devils) after a sign and trade, for a 3rd-round pick, (80th overall). Severson, 28, signed for 8-year, $50 million contract (with an AAV of $6.25) and has put up 58 goals and 205 assists for 263 points with 388 penalty minutes in 647 career appearances. They are really pushing to make a big impact next season and still have their 3rd pick in the first round in this upcoming draft that is very deep.
- The 3rd team in this deal was the Philadelphia Flyers, who got Los Angeles 1st round pick (at 22nd overall) and two second-round picks for the 2024 draft, as well as prospect Helge Grans and veteran depth defenseman Sean Walker and goalie Cal Petersen (giving them a plethora of goalies) and this will only add fire to the speculation that Carter Hart may be traded, after it got out that Daniel Briere is looking at his entire roster and all options for any of his players (including Tony DeAngelo & Travis Konecny). They did also bring in Patrick Sharp to be a special adviser to hockey operations, as well as the organization hiring Keith Jones to be the next President of Hockey Operations. This is adding more experience and leadership to the core. Will they continue to make more moves?
- It was also announced today that Peter Laviolette will be the 37th Head Coach for the New York Rangers team (after they let in team history. Laviolette has coached several teams in the Metropolitan division and has achieved a 752-503-25-150 record (very impressive). He also coached Team USA at the World Championship in 2004, 2005 and 2014 and has represented his country in four Olympic Games, first as a player (1988, 1994), then as a head coach at the 2006 Torino Games, and as an assistant at the 2014 Sochi Games.
- Also Congratulations to the Vegas Golden Knights for winning their first ever Stanley Cup, 6 years in their existence.
Thoughts?
Pawel the ‘Cat’
