Prospect Info: 2018 NHL Draft / Pick #9 - Vitali Kravtsov (RW) - Part II

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Anyone out there still wish the Rangers took Wahlstrom over Kravtsov???

I argued with someone last week in a FB group who said "Yeah, let's not get our hopes up just yet. He has not done anything in the NHL yet" and that guy is hyping up Wahlstrom every chance he gets.

 

[Uncle Dru]

Kravtsov was all over the puck on that goal he assisted. Like a shark.

Once he has the puck hes always going toward the slot/net, even with traffic. Love it

 

[Inferno]

Some reason I thought tolvanen was older. Oops.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't understand the rush. Let him have a good season, and then bring him over for the 2019-20 season, if he has a very good season. We aren't a contender, and probably won't be a season from now.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

An assist for Kravtsov on the PP against Czech Republic .

Wow. He was toying with the Czechs there. Holy crap.

Love the announcer at the end: "Welp, another tremendous shift there for Vitaly Kravtsov."

 

[Fvital92]

I don't understand the rush. Let him have a good season, and then bring him over for the 2019-20 season, if he has a very good season. We aren't a contender, and probably won't be a season from now.

Well, I think people want to see their development, also it's more fun to suck with our young guys showing some flashes than watch veterans, that aren't part of the Ranger's future, sucking.
At least, that is my reason to want Chytil and Lias playing with the big club this season, it would suck to watch us tanking without a glimpse of the future (KZB wouldn't be enough for me).

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Well, I think people want to see their development, also it's more fun to suck with our young guys showing some flashes than watch veterans, that aren't part of the Ranger's future, sucking.

Then they can stop being lazy and selfish, and watch the player where the player and team decide is best for their development.

Maybe thats in the NHL. I just don't see the point of rushing a prospect when the team sucks. Montreal is having Kotkaniemi skip the beginning of the Liiga season to attend their training camp. Thats so unbelievably dumb. He's not NHL ready, and its going to lose him a number of weeks he could have playing well in Liiga just to parade him in front of their fans. Thats terrible management. I'd hope Gorton won't be doing that with any Rangers in upcoming years, although he did with Andersson last year, so it would be good if it doesn't happen again.

 

[Fvital92]

Then they can stop being lazy and selfish, and watch the player where the player and team decide is best for their development.

Maybe thats in the NHL. I just don't see the point of rushing a prospect when the team sucks. Montreal is having Kotkaniemi skip the beginning of the Liiga season to attend their training camp. Thats so unbelievably dumb. He's not NHL ready, and its going to lose him a number of weeks he could have playing well in Liiga just to parade him in front of their fans. Thats terrible management. I'd hope Gorton won't be doing that with any Rangers in upcoming years, although he did with Andersson last year, so it would be good if it doesn't happen again.

It's kind of hard to watch SHL, KHL, Liiga for the average person, but I see your point.

But Andersson could have made the team last season, at least that was the expectation going into the preseaon, so I think it was justified t the time. Maybe Montreal is thinking that Kotkaniemi can have a Chytil type of preseason and make the team this year, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Kravtsov is already locked into a KHL season.

There will be no rushing him. He'll compete for a spot next season but thats it.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It's kind of hard to watch SHL, KHL, Liiga for the average person, but I see your point.

But Andersson could have made the team last season, at least that was the expectation going into the preseaon, so I think it was justified t the time. Maybe Montreal is thinking that Kotkaniemi can have a Chytil type of preseason and make the team this year, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

Andersson wasn't an NHL ready prospect. There are usually only 2-3, give or take a couple who are NHL ready right away from a draft.

The Rangers did him a disservice by bringing him over here for training camp when they knew he was not going to play in the AHL. Chytil wasn't going back to Czech Republic, so thats a different story.

 

[Fvital92]

Andersson wasn't an NHL ready prospect. There are usually only 2-3, give or take a couple who are NHL ready right away from a draft.

The Rangers did him a disservice by bringing him over here for training camp when they knew he was not going to play in the AHL. Chytil wasn't going back to Czech Republic, so thats a different story.

I don't think it was set in stone like you said in either case. The Rangers talked to Chytil when he was demoted to the AHL if he wanted to go back to Europe or if he was confortable enough to play at Hartford.
In Andersson's case, I think there was a hope in Ranger's management that he was ready for the 3C line, that was when they thought we could still contend in the playoffs and we had a huge hole at the position, also there was a lot of talk about him being a ready prospect, which wasn't the case, of course.

 

[Vitto79]

Kravtsov is already locked into a KHL season.

There will be no rushing him. He'll compete for a spot next season but thats it.

There’s no rush let him crush it then come to camp next year

 

[kovazub94]

One guy literally said "What the ****! We should have gone for Wahlstrom. I never even heard of this Russian kid so how good can he actually be?"

Yeah, that right there was the moment where I burst out laughing

We are truly privileged here to have access to so much data across the hockey globe. Kravtsov was mentioned quite a lot for two reasons: at some point in late winter (before his playoff explosion) he was considered a late first pick. Then Gagarin Cup playoffs happened.

After the announcement I was actually sharing a lot of info I learned about him here and what I saw myself in those playoffs.

 

[Harbour Dog]

It's kind of hard to watch SHL, KHL, Liiga for the average person, but I see your point.

But Andersson could have made the team last season, at least that was the expectation going into the preseaon, so I think it was justified t the time. Maybe Montreal is thinking that Kotkaniemi can have a Chytil type of preseason and make the team this year, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

It wouldn't surprise you that Montreal would think that, or that Kotkaniemi would perform that well?

Because the latter I agree with, but I am very doubtful that Kotka can be a top 6 AHLer to start the year.

 

[kovazub94]

Created 3 scoring chances even before the assist.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

We are truly privileged here to have access to so much data across the hockey globe. Kravtsov was mentioned quite a lot for two reasons: at some point in late winter (before his playoff explosion) he was considered a late first pick. Then Gagarin Cup playoffs happened.

After the announcement I was actually sharing a lot of info I learned about him here and what I saw myself in those playoffs.

I think the people on HFNYR in general, follow prospects more than elsewhere. And having us discuss prospects throughout the season, gives the rest of the people reading here a good indication of what the players can do.

But yeah, in 2018 there is no excuse for not knowing the name Kravtsov at the draft if you claim to be a "die-hard fan who follows the draft". The average fan wanted Wahlstrom because he was mentioned by Brooks in several articles.

 

[kovazub94]

I hope he is good enough to try some games this season.

Even ignoring entry level contract considerations, I’m hoping that he plays so well to get an invite to the main Russia NT camp for 2019 world championship.

 

[Fvital92]

It wouldn't surprise you that Montreal would think that, or that Kotkaniemi would perform that well?

Because the latter I agree with, but I am very doubtful that Kotka can be a top 6 AHLer to start the year.

The first, Montreal's management is on the hot seat, the team is horrible and their best center is Darnault, Bergevin is praying to god that Kotkaniemi is NHL ready.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Even ignoring entry level contract considerations, I’m hoping that he plays so well to get an invite to the main Russia NT camp for 2019 world championship.

My ideal path for 2018-19 for Kravtsov is KHL - WJC - KHL - EHT - WC.

They could possibly have him in Hartford on an ATO for a few games before he goes back to Europe for the EHT and WC

 

[broadwayblue]

Cherepanov was a stud; a legit top 5 talent in that draft.

The drop was due to the uncertainty that existed with drafting Russian forwards at the time — with Cherepanov’s draft coming during, or close to, the peak of those concerns.

But all arrows pointed to him wanting to be a Ranger and play in the NHL in short order.

Beyond the tragedy of his death, I have no doubt he would’ve been a star forward.

My recollection, although fuzzy, was that had he not died tragically he would not have been able to play professionally due to the nature of his heart condition. Is that incorrect?

 

[broadwayblue]

Anyone out there still wish the Rangers took Wahlstrom over Kravtsov???

Ask me again in three years.

 

[broadwayblue]

I think the people on HFNYR in general, follow prospects more than elsewhere. And having us discuss prospects throughout the season, gives the rest of the people reading here a good indication of what the players can do.

But yeah, in 2018 there is no excuse for not knowing the name Kravtsov at the draft if you claim to be a "die-hard fan who follows the draft". The average fan wanted Wahlstrom because he was mentioned by Brooks in several articles.

Wahlstrom is also an American kid, so that definitely has something to do with it.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Wahlstrom is also an American kid, so that definitely has something to do with it.

Oh, true. That adds to it.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think it was set in stone like you said in either case. The Rangers talked to Chytil when he was demoted to the AHL if he wanted to go back to Europe or if he was confortable enough to play at Hartford.
In Andersson's case, I think there was a hope in Ranger's management that he was ready for the 3C line, that was when they thought we could still contend in the playoffs and we had a huge hole at the position, also there was a lot of talk about him being a ready prospect, which wasn't the case, of course.

If they were considering sending Chytil back to Czech Republic, thats incredibly dumb. Its not anywhere near as good of a league as the AHL, so its a different scenario to AHL vs. SHL.

You probably are right. The Rangers panic-drafted Andersson because they felt the need to draft a center and maybe someone who could fill the 3C spot, he was the most "NHL ready center" at that draft spot, but they found out he still wasn't ready.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

The first, Montreal's management is on the hot seat, the team is horrible and their best center is Darnault, Bergevin is praying to god that Kotkaniemi is NHL ready.

His body isn't close to ready.

He makes Kravtsov look like Kreider.