When the muchu2011maligned Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury entered NHL free agency, it was imperative that he signed a topu2011flight, stayu2011atu2011home defenseman to flank his top gun, Adam Fox. Seven years and $49 million later, the Rangers got their man in Vladislav Gavrikov—a player not known for his offense, but for his stalwart defensive play, the exact type of presence the Rangers have been missing on their top pair since Ryan Lindgren was a somewhat healthy consistent player.
Lindgren was a horse for the Rangers, but let’s be honest: he was a stallion who ran too many races for a fledgling Blueshirts defense, and it eventually took its toll.