The Kings are not rushing the situation with Gavrikov’s contract – Fourth period

The Los Angeles Kings are off to a strong start to the 2024-25 regular season with a 3-1-2 record, playing one more game on the road Tuesday night in Vegas before finally opening at home against San Jose on Thursday.

With captain Anze Kopitar leading the Kings’ offensive attack, the team has faced several obstacles on defense and in goal early in the season: a long-term injury to Drew Doughty on the blue line and a short-term injury to goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

As the team focuses on the season and finishing in the top three in the Pacific Division, management will be keeping an eye on two key players who are currently out of contract.

Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and forward Tanner Jeanneau are eligible to become unrestricted free agents next July.

Gavrikov, 28, is in the final year of a two-year, $11.75 million contract and has a full no-motion clause as part of his deal.

Jeannot, acquired in the offseason from the Tampa Bay Lightning, is in the final year of a two-year, $5.33 million contract. His deal for the 27-year-old includes 16 non-trade teams.

Contract negotiations with both players have not yet officially begun, and as for Gavrikov, those negotiations are not expected to begin until the end of the season, as Kings general manager Rob Blake hinted at before the start of the new campaign.

Gavrikov has expressed his desire to remain in Los Angeles, and his next contract requirements will depend on whether the Kings aggressively try to sign him to a long-term extension.

With an average annual salary of $5.825 million, Gavrikov is earning $5.25 million in actual total salary this season – $775,000 in base salary and $4.475 million paid in signing bonus. Depending on the term, he could get a deal in the same area of ​​AAV he earns on his current contract.

In his first six games with the Kings, Gavrikov recorded three assists while averaging 24:18 playing time per game.