The New York Rangers' offseason overhaul of their defensive corps has been a major talking point, with the acquisition of Vladislav Gavrikov headlining the changes. A significant part of the discussion revolves around the potential pairing of Gavrikov with star defenseman Adam Fox. While on the surface, this pairing appears to be a perfect match, there are arguments to be made against deploying them together.
One of the strongest arguments in favor of the Gavrikov-Fox pairing is their contrasting styles. Gavrikov is known as a defensively sound, shutdown defenseman. His strengths lie in his size, reach, positioning, and ability to block shots and disrupt passing lanes. He excels at keeping his man to the outside and clearing the front of the net. This allows his partner to be more aggressive offensively. Fox, on the other hand, is an elite offensive defenseman with exceptional skating, puck-handling, and playmaking skills. Pairing Gavrikov with Fox could free up Fox to take more chances offensively, knowing that Gavrikov will be there to cover defensively. The Rangers' analyst Dave Maloney stated that Gavrikov's calm, defense-first approach is exactly what Fox needs to lean into his strengths without constantly making up for his partner's mistakes.
Another benefit of pairing Gavrikov and Fox is the potential for a dominant top pairing that can be relied upon in all situations. This would give the Rangers a significant advantage, as they would have a pair of defensemen who can play heavy minutes and handle any matchup. Several sources state that the Gavrikov-Fox pairing could be the best the Rangers have had in decades.
However, there are also compelling reasons to believe that pairing Gavrikov and Fox might not be the best strategy. The primary concern is that it concentrates too much talent on one pairing, potentially weakening the rest of the defensive lineup. If Gavrikov and Fox are both capable of anchoring their own pairings, it would give the Rangers greater depth and flexibility. This would allow the Rangers to have two top-pairing quality defensemen on the ice for over 40 minutes a night, rather than having them share the same 20-25 minutes.
Furthermore, splitting up Gavrikov and Fox could create more balanced pairings, with each capable of carrying their own weight. This could lead to improved performance from the entire defensive unit, as opposed to relying heavily on one dominant pairing. It would allow coach Mike Sullivan to mix and match his pairings more effectively, depending on the situation and the opponent.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to pair Gavrikov and Fox will come down to coach Mike Sullivan and his assessment of the Rangers' defensive needs. There are valid arguments to be made on both sides. While the potential for a dominant top pairing is enticing, the benefits of spreading out the talent and creating a more balanced defensive unit should also be considered. The Rangers' success this season may hinge on finding the optimal deployment strategy for their defensive corps.
