Rangers' Vladislav Gavrikov Finding New Offensive Dimension Alongside Adam Fox

Defensive-minded Gavrikov has exceeded expectations in his first season with the Rangers, forming a strong pairing with star blueliner Fox.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game or match, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the New York Rangers and their opponent.The Rangers' defensive pairing of Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for the team.NYC Today

Vladislav Gavrikov has been a pleasant surprise for the New York Rangers this season, emerging as a strong defensive partner for star defenseman Adam Fox. While Gavrikov's core competency is his stout defensive play, he has also found an unexpected offensive dimension to his game, already surpassing his previous career highs in goals and points. Head coach Mike Sullivan praised Gavrikov's ability to complement Fox's skills, saying the pairing has been one of the team's few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign.

Why it matters

The Rangers made a concerted effort to find a defensive-minded partner for Fox, who is one of the league's elite offensive defensemen. Gavrikov has proven to be an ideal match, providing stability in the defensive zone while also chipping in offensively more than expected. Their strong underlying numbers suggest the pairing has been a rare success story for the Rangers this season.

The details

Gavrikov has 14 goals and 18 assists in 76 games so far this season, more than doubling his previous career high in goals. Sullivan said the team has 'discovered a different dimension' to Gavrikov's game, noting that his defensive reliability was the main reason the Rangers signed him, but his unexpected offensive production has been a bonus. The Gavrikov-Fox pairing has been one of the most effective in the NHL this season, ranking fourth in expected goals percentage and third in expected goals against among defensive pairs with at least 700 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time.

  • Gavrikov was acquired by the Rangers prior to the 2025-26 season.
  • Fox has missed 27 games due to injury this season.

The players

Vladislav Gavrikov

A 30-year-old defenseman in his first season with the New York Rangers, known for his strong defensive play and reliability.

Adam Fox

One of the NHL's elite offensive defensemen, playing in his fourth season with the Rangers.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the New York Rangers, praising the Gavrikov-Fox pairing as one of the team's few bright spots this season.

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What they’re saying

“I just think we've discovered a different dimension to his game. Vladi's core competency is his ability to defend. He's hard to play against and that was what attracted us to him in the first place. The other element is, with respect to his defensive game, there's some predictability around his game. So we thought he'd be a really good partner for Foxy, which has turned out he has been.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, New York Rangers

“When he defends hard for us and adds the offensive dimension to his game, he's even more effective as far as helping us win. I think he's had a terrific year for us. He's a real competitive guy. He's been a great pair for Foxy, and he's helped us on both sides of the puck.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, New York Rangers

What’s next

The Rangers will look to continue building on the strong partnership between Gavrikov and Fox as they aim to turn around their disappointing season and make a push for the playoffs.

The takeaway

The Gavrikov-Fox pairing has been a rare bright spot for the Rangers this season, with Gavrikov exceeding expectations by adding an unexpected offensive dimension to his game while maintaining his strong defensive play. Their complementary skills have made them one of the most effective defensive pairings in the NHL.