Rangers hoping that Vladislav Gavrikov can help Adam Fox regain his form

GREENBURGH — When Vladislav Gavrikov was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings at the NHL trade deadline in 2023, he was part of the package the Columbus Blue Jackets sent to the Kings for goalie Jonathan Quick, whom they subsequently traded to Vegas.

So when Gavrikov signed with the Rangers as a free agent on July 1, Quick, now the Rangers’ backup goalie, reached out to him.

“He shot me a text, like, ‘Hey, welcome to the Rangers. So happy I wasn’t involved this time,’  ’’ Gavrikov said on Thursday after his first official practice with the team. “It’s kind of funny.’’

Gavrikov was the big acquisition this summer, and on the first day of camp, the 6-3, 220-pound defenseman was paired with Adam Fox.

“One of the things that we talked about in the offseason was how do we find a way to help Adam Fox capture his very best game?’’ coach Mike Sullivan said Thursday. “Because if we could find an ideal partner for him where he could build and develop chemistry, that would suggest that it would set him up for success.’’

Gavrikov, 29, was the target. He played in all 82 games, had five goals and 25 assists and was a plus-26 while averaging 23 minutes, 5 seconds, a career high and second on the team.

He played on youth national teams with Igor Shesterkin and was close with Artemi Panarin, who lobbied him to come to New York. The Rangers landed him with a seven-year, $49 million deal.

“He’s a spectacular defenseman,’’ Vincent Trocheck said. “He’s going to be a really, really big piece of this team. I think he’s going to be huge for Foxy.’’

Fox had 10 goals and 61 points in 74 games last season but didn’t seem to be his Norris Trophy-winning self. Some of that may have just been part of the malaise the entire team seemed to be in all season, and some may have had to do with the fact that he didn’t have a stable partner.

His longtime partner, Ryan Lindgren, missed the start of the season with a broken jaw. Fox ended up playing with a number of different partners — K’Andre Miller, Braden Schneider, Lindgren after he returned, and then Calvin de Haan and Carson Soucy after Lindgren was traded at the deadline. Having a stable partner in Gavrikov should make a difference.

“He’s an elite defenseman, and I think everyone wants to play with a guy like that,’’ Fox said. “He’s pretty similar to what I’m used to playing with [in Lindgren], someone who’s super-reliable. And you know what you’re getting when he’s out there.’’

Gavrikov said he’s looking forward to playing with Fox, too.

“I’m pretty sure anyone on the team can play with him, because Foxy is a great player,’’ he said. “He’s a great playmaker, can do anything with the puck [and is] skating pretty well. If I’m gonna be with him, I’m happy to have him as a partner.’’

Panarin leaves with injury

Panarin left the afternoon session Friday with what the Rangers said was a lower-body injury. Sullivan said he is “day-to-day.’’ . . . Shesterkin was asked what his communication with Sullivan was like over the summer. “I just spoke with him on the phone one time, and after that, I went to Russia. So unfortunately, he didn’t come to Russia, like for Mika,’’ he deadpanned. Sullivan traveled to Sweden to see Mika Zibanejad after getting the job as coach.

By Colin Stephenson

colin.stephenson@newsday.comColinSNewsday

Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.