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.

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.