NHL Insider: Gavrikov Pondering His Rangers Future

New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov comes out of the tunnel before a game

The New York Rangers are ready to pull the trigger on a retool. Several players will likely be heading out the door when NHL rosters are unfrozen and we get closer to the March 6th trade deadline. Depending on how much is torn down, it sounds like top-pairing defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov will start to ponder his own future in New York.

Former Ranger and current NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp said on the DFO Rundown that the Russian d-man might not want to stick around for a retool.

I'm hearing that Gavrikov (is wondering) 'Where's the direction of this team (going)?' This isn't necessarily what he signed up for, you know what I mean?... They sent that letter out... But now you have some players who may have to reevaluate some things as well.

GM Chris Drury sent out "The Letter 2.0," as some are calling it, about a month ago, stating that in the midst of another disappointing season, he would not be standing pat, and would be turning a fair chunk of the roster over. But he vowed that it wasn't a "rebuild", but rather "a retool built around our core players and prospects."

Is the 30-year-old Gavrikov one of those core players? Drury just signed him to a seven-year, $49 million free agent deal this past offseason. Is either side regretting it now?

The 6'3" blueliner has 21 points in 57 games, with a career-high 24:04 of ice time per night. He does have a career-worst -13 plus/minus rating, but that's largely a function of the Rangers' overall poor team performance this season.

The Blueshirts are dead last in the Eastern Conference at 22-29-6, and 30th overall.