The Columbus Blue Jackets have endeavored to add 2015 draft pick Vladislav Gavrikov to the fold for the upcoming season, but the Russian defenseman has signed a new contract in his home country.
Gavrikov's KHL rights were traded today from Lokomotiv Yaroslavl from SKA Saint Petersburg, and his new Russian squad released a statement that said the blueliner had signed a two-year deal with the team.
According to the translated press release, Gavrikov said, "Here I have a great opportunity to play and grow as a hockey player. I have a great desire to play in the team, to prove (myself) at the club under the direction of Oleg Znarok (and) get the chance to perform at the Olympic Games."
The statement also says that financial compensation is headed from SKA to Lokomotiv as part of the deal, and it says "the clubs work together to prevent the outflow of young players across the ocean that seems particularly important in view of the upcoming Olympic Games."
Gavrikov, 21, was drafted 159th overall in the 2015 entry draft and was captain of the Russian team at the 2015 World Junior Championships. He spent the last two years with Lokomotiv and had six goals and eight assists in 96 games with a plus-25 rating while also playing in this summer's IIHF World Championships.
Blue Jackets brass praised him after the season, with general manager Jarmo Kekalainen saying he believed Gavrikov could step into the lineup if he came to Columbus for the upcoming campaign. According to Columbus Dispatch writer Aaron Portzline, Gavrikov was expected to arrive in Columbus yesterday to visit with the front office.
But with a contract apparently now signed in Russia, it appears unlikely he'll be donning union blue during the upcoming campaign.
