Age: 24
Stats: 69 GP, 5-13-18, +1, 4.3 PS
Coming into the season: Gavrikov's résumé showed a player who could be able to slot into NHL hockey without much trouble. He earned a gold medal playing for the Russian squad at the 2018 Winter Olympics and was a decorated player in the KHL for SKA St. Petersburg, one of the traditional powers in his native Russia. In his previous two seasons in the KHL, Gavrikov combined for 10 goals, 34 points and a ridiculous plus-69 rating in 110 games for SKA, then made his Columbus debut with two appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring vs. Boston.
Why he showed he's a building block:Gavrikov was a healthy scratch in the first game of the season, then you couldn't take him out of the lineup after that as he proved to be a shutdown defender who comprised half of one of the better defensive pairs in the league along with David Savard.
For much of the season, that pair was one of the best in the league when it came to preventing both chances and goals, as their advanced stats were fantastic on the defensive side and Gavrikov was plus-18 in a 23-game stretch from early December through mid-January.
The numbers fell off a bit down the stretch as the pairing saw bigger minutes after the injury to Seth Jones, but on the whole, Gavrikov showed he has the chops to be a strong defensive player in the NHL for years to come. He is in the top five on the team in shot blocks and hits, and head coach John Tortorella was impressed with his savvy for the game as well as his ability to negate opposing attacks.
"If he gets his tentacles (on you), he's like an octopus," Tortorella said. "If he gets you, it's tough to get away from him. He's all arms and he's strong and he's ugly as sin at times, but he doesn't get beat.
"You know, the definition for him for me is he's a hockey player. I think that's the way he acts. I think there's no frills. At times he's ugly, but I think he just finds a way to be effective all the time."
Tortorella also expressed admiration throughout the year for Gavrikov's sneaky-good offensive skills as well, as evidenced by his five goals and 18 points. He'll never be Jones or Zach Werenski when it comes to driving offensive play, but he showed a willingness to go forward in the attack when it presented itself and has good hands for someone who is billed largely as a stay-at-home defenseman.
What to expect going forward: Given Gavrikov's relative youth, it's easy to see how he can be a key piece of the Blue Jackets' defensive rotation for a long time. He's expressed an admiration for the city and his no-frills game is an easy one when it comes to fitting into a defensive unit. Gavrikov keeps it simple and makes the plays that are available, making him a strong presence on the defensive side of the ice and someone who can contribute some the other way, as well.
