Gavrikov, 23, was selected by the Blue Jackets in the sixth round, 159th overall, at the 2015 NHL Draft. The 6-3, 205-pound blueliner has spent six seasons in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League, registering 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points with 96 penalty minutes and a cumulative +97 plus/minus rating in 222 career games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl and SKA St. Petersburg. He has added 4-8-12, 18 penalty minutes and is +13 in 57 career playoff games. This season, he tallied a career-high 5-15-20, 10 penalty minutes and led the KHL in plus/minus rating at +48 in 60 games with SKA St. Petersburg.

Vladislav is an outstanding defenseman who excels at both ends of the ice," said Kekalainen. "He is big, strong and mobile and has enjoyed a successful career in the KHL and in international competition, including winning an Olympic gold medal last year. We are very excited about his future with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Yaroslavl, Russia native has represented his country at numerous international competitions, including the 2018 Olympic Games, where he collected 2-1-3, six penalty minutes and was +6 in six contests to help the Olympic Athletes of Russia win the gold medal. He also played in the 2017 and 2018 IIHF World Championships, capturing a bronze medal in 2017, and the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships, where he won a silver medal.

The Blue Jackets return to action on Sunday in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning. Game time from Nationwide Arena is 7 p.m. ET . Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6 p.m. All Blue Jackets games televised on FOX Sports Ohio will also be streamed live via the FOX Sports app. The game may also be heard on the Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, and online at BlueJackets.com.