Columbus Blue Jackets Hoping To Re-Sign Defenseman Long-Term

According to Aaron Portzline, the Blue Jackets "would like to get" Vladislav Gavrikov signed to a long-term deal.

Gavrikov is entering the final season of his contract and will be due for a notable raise from his current $2.8 million cap hit. The 26-year-old has emerged into of the best defenseman on the Blue Jackets and seems to get better every season he plays. During this past campaign, he scored five goals and recorded a career-high 33 points.

The Blue Jackets have made it clear this offseason that they are aiming to be competitive. They won the Johnny Gaudreau sweepstakes and locked up Patrik Laine. Now, this summer would be a slam dunk for them if Gavrikov gets extended before the start of the 2022-23 season.