Gavrikov, 29, signed a contract for $49 million over 7 years with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, leaving the Kings with a gaping hole in their defense corps above the one left by the trade of Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators for draft picks last Saturday.

There was widespread belief that the New York Rangers would sign Vladislav Gavrikov, but the contract looks like a steal.

The New York Rangers have signed 29-year-old defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year contract with a $7 million annual cap hit. The top defenseman available is now off the board and heads to Broadway.