Gavrikov, Savard form effective duo on defense
Two years ago, the Blue Jackets had a promising defensive pairing dissolved by free agency.
Ian Cole, a veteran acquired at the trade deadline in 2018, signed with the Colorado Avalanche rather than extending his stay in Columbus. While here he had joined David Savard to form a mammoth, full-bearded duo of defensive stoppers who fans quickly nicknamed “The Lumberjackets” on social media.
They were nearly mirror images of each other — in size, strength and even facial hair — and Cole even had a big left-handed shot that paired nicely with the right-handed Savard’s howitzer from the other side. That the pairing ended so quickly was disappointing, but the Blue Jackets put together a new version this season.
Vladislav Gavrikov, another large defenseman with a beard and big lefthanded shot, has given Savard another great fit on the Jackets’ second pairing. The Toronto Maple Leafs have discovered that during the first two games in a best-of-five series against Columbus in the qualifying round of the playoffs.
“They just play well with one another,” said Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, who was also responsible for pairing Cole and Savard. “They’ve
been a pair for quite a while. I just think they’re in sync. They’re very good defensemen underneath the hash marks and very underrated, as far as what they can do up the ice offensively.”
Call them “Lumberjackets 2.0,” the homegrown edition.
Unlike Cole, Gavrikov came to the Blue Jackets through the NHL draft, selected in the sixth round in 2015 with the 159th overall pick. He’d just made his debut in the Kontinental Hockey League the previous season (2014-15) and spent the next four years playing in Russia’s top circuit, first for his hometown team in Yaroslavl and then with SKA St. Petersburg the final two.
He visited Columbus at one point, on a recruiting visit of sorts, but news of his new KHL contract extension broke on Twitter during what became an awkward dinner with Tortorella and the Blue Jackets’ brass – something they can joke about now.
As it turned out, Gavrikov was worth the wait.
Possessing a shutdown defensive ability, poise with the puck and willingness to emulate Savard by using his body as a shield to block shots, Gavrikov has become the Jackets’ new Cole.
“I wouldn’t say (Gavrikov is) the same player, but I think there is a similar style,” Savard said. “I’ve been playing with guys like this for a long time … and we work really well together. It makes my game easy. They’re all so assertive and they skate well and they’re physical, so it’s just been a good run so far. Hopefully, we can play even better in the playoffs.”
They certainly got off to a good start in Game 1 against Toronto, when the Blue Jackets got a 28-save shutout from goalie Joonas Korpisalo and stifled the Maple Leafs’ high-powered offense with a sound defensive scheme.
Guess which two defensemen most interested Toronto-based reporters afterward?
Hint: It wasn’t Zach Werenski and Seth Jones, whose elite skills are well-known.
“They might not be as talked about as a guy like Seth Jones, but they do so much for our team … especially on the penalty kill, late in games, when we’re up by one or two and they have the goalie pulled,” Werenski said when asked about Gavrikov and Savard. “Those guys will stand in front of any puck and block any shots, so they’re awesome for us.”
They’re also a lot fun, in their own ways.
Savard’s low-key public persona belies a great sense of humor, while Gavrikov has won over fans with a jovial personality, slightly broken English and the “big secret” behind his “cellphone celly” goal celebrations.
As for playing with Savard, it has been an easy partnership for him, too.
“He is a good player, good skills and a good, like, defenseman,” Gavrikov said, pausing a beat before continuing with a smirk. “Mister Blocker Shots Machine ... so, everybody knows that.”
Similar to previous teammates in Russia?
“No,” Gavrikov said, smiling. “Of course, he’s special.”
The new “Lumberjackets” are, too. bhedger@dispatch.com @Brianhedger