Kings activate key defenseman off IR

The Los Angeles Kings have announced that defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov has been activated off of injured reserve. In addition, defenseman Jacob Moverare has been recalled from the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign. 

Gavrikov has not played since Dec. 10 and had been dealing with a lower-body injury.

Gavrikov has played a top-four role in Los Angeles, averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per night with a regular penalty-killing role. He’s provided the Kings with decent value on the $5.875M investment they made in him, and if he keeps it up he’ll be in a strong position to hit free agency at the end of 2024-25. 

Moverare, 25, has skated in 16 games at the AHL level so far this season and five in the NHL.

Some other notes from the Western Conference:

• The San Jose Sharks have recalled netminder Magnus Chrona from their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. The move was made to give the Sharks an additional goaltender to cover for the fact that regular tandem netminder MacKenzie Blackwood is not feeling well. In a corresponding move, defenseman Jacob MacDonald was placed on injured reserve, which clears the roster spot to be used on Chrona. Chrona, a former NCAA national champion at the University of Denver, has a .900 save percentage in 11 games in what has been his rookie pro campaign.
• Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told the media Wednesday (including Guerilla Sports’ Jesse Montano) that defenseman Samuel Girard will not play, but also “hinted” that there is a chance he plays Friday against the St. Louis Blues. Girard returned to skating on Dec. 21, and is working his way back to game readiness after entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program.