Saturday's game for Vladislav Gavrikov was a good news, bad news proposition.
The good news: The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect was named the Russian team's player of the game as Canada came back win the semifinal by a 4-2 score.
The bad news: The defenseman was in the locker room receiving treatment for a leg injury when the awards were announced.
Gavrikov left in the third period of the contest and did not return with what appeared to be a leg injury, as he had to be helped down the tunnel.
Vladislav Gavrikov is off to the dressing room, he's injured and is in pain. Around four minutes left in this third period #TeamRussia
— Russia Hockey (@russiahockey_en) May 20, 2017
No other extent of his injury has been announced.
Gavrikov was chosen by Columbus in the sixth round of the 2015 draft and just finished a season in which he had had seven points, 38 penalty minutes and a plus-8 rating for Lokomotiv Jaroslavl in the KHL.
Columbus brass said the 21-year-old physical presence has been impressive enough that he could play in the NHL next year, but Gavrikov has indicated it is unlikely he is to leave Russia for the 2017-18 season. He has also impressed at the World Championships, and Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported he will likely talk to the Jackets before signing a deal to stay in Russia.
The agent for #CBJ prospect D Vladislav Gavrikov said decision on where he plays next season - #NHL or KHL - will be made after Worlds.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) May 9, 2017
Also at the Worlds, the teams from Sweden and Finland, featuring William Karlsson (Sweden) as well as Markus Hannikainen and Joonas Korpisalo (Finland), are playing today.
