Prospect Info: 2018 NHL Draft / Pick #9 - Vitali Kravtsov (RW) - Part II
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Synergy27
F-A-C-G-C-E
Burning a year off that contract would have been a terrible move for multiple reasons. Kravtsov is going to be really, really good. You know what he's going to need to be great? Great team/linemates.
The Rangers are going nowhere this year. That's fine. Go out and get this kid a comparable talent to play on his line and then get out of the way.
But I agree that there is no reason to burn a year off of his ELC just for shits and giggles.
Inferno
Registered User
Honestly tho...was there anyone at the tournament of note? Any top 10 picks or projected top picks?
In my 29 years as a NYR fanatic, I’ve never been this excited about a Rangers prospect. And that’s saying A LOT since I was doing backflips when we drafted Lundqvist. (I’m a goalie at 
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Inferno
Registered User
Cherepanov. I was on this adrenaline high after that draft that seemed to last a weekIn my 29 years as a NYR fanatic, I’ve never been this excited about a Rangers prospect. And that’s saying A LOT since I was doing backflips when we drafted Lundqvist. (I’m a goalie at
Such a Shame.
i do think the org evaluated and even valued wahlstrom to an extent. he has a frame, hockey sense, and release that are well above average. but i couldn't agree more with your point that he's far too heavy at the moment. todays game (especially as it relates to creating offense) has become so much about burst, edgework and body control. you maximize those qualities at more or less your leanest. we even have a recent test case in kreider who lost all that weight while sitting out and upon return was blown away by how much better he felt (it was noticeable to anyone watching as well). wahlstrom could completely dedicate himself fitness wise and turn into a real good player, but i still like kravtsovs upside and even probability of maximizing it.
its still far too early for any conclusions but mgmt has to be ecstatic w/ the early returns on kravtsov. i'm of the belief its critical in this 17-20 age range to keep building momentum and to date this kid has continually been visobly improving at all stages lately - nothing is assured, but to me thats a huge indicator that we might have a legit difference maker here
Synergy27
F-A-C-G-C-E
Confidence. The mental aspect of development is crucial. There will be valleys, but you have to keep those peaks coming in hot to help motivate the hard work required to make it.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
I don't think teams use reporters for misinformation nearly as often as this board thinks --- it would simply be bad business.
With regards to Wahlstrom, reports were that the Rangers were high on him. I heard that, and then obviously we saw things in the papers.
Two months later, I haven't heard anything to the contrary, nor has anything to the contrary been reported.
A more likely scenario is that the Rangers liked Wahlstrom, but simply liked Kravtsov better.
Wahlstrom very well could've been the third forward on their list, but if Kravtsov was second, its a moot point.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
I don't think there's any evidence to indicate the Rangers panic drafted.
Whether someone agrees with the pick, doesn't, or is indifferent, it's obvious the Rangers are pretty high on Andersson.
Tawnos
A guy with a bass
Agreed. And when it does happen, I don’t think the reporters are nearly as unwitting as the this board thinks either.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
Wahlstrom enamors a lot of observers with his ability to shoot. Unfortunately, that can also mask the red flags you mentioned.
I think the Rangers were very interested in him, they just liked someone else more. That's also how a kid might slip a little. Ten teams could've had Wahlstrom in their top 5, but if each team's 1-4 ranked player is still on the board, and there's no consensus, the fifth player potentially drops.
As for how it will turn out, only time will tell at this point.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
They're not.
Having worked in the industry for more than 20 years, I can tell you that the team-reporter relationships are not as dramatic as we'd make them out to be.
Teams don't make a habit of feeding misinformation. Reporters, also don't typically dedicate column inches to printing rumors designed to throw other teams off the trail of the team they're covering. Even if we account for the rare ---and I do mean rare --- instances where something like that happens, it's not going to be for the 9th pick in the draft.
There's a lot of moving parts as part of the day-to-day activity of any team and the reality is that most things are far more mundane and less exciting than the reasons we concoct on here.
Mac n Gs
Drury plz
- Jan 17, 2014
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The thing that still bugs me is why they ranked Kravtsov over Zadina. It's a moot point since he was gone before we picked, but it still does make me wonder. Zadina was, IMO, the most complete forward in this draft.
On the bright side, early indication is that Bobrov had Kravtsov pegged well from the beginning of the season. I'm curious to see how much power shifts from Gordie to him in the upcoming years. He comes across as an incredibly intelligent individual.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Wouldn’t they have been high on any player they took in the first round? I also do think they did, when you consider the circumstances. We heard about the need for a 3C, Andersson was supposedly as close to NHL ready as any player left on the board and I think it’s clear that their main targets with the pick were already taken.
Amazing Kreiderman
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- Apr 11, 2011
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It's almost impossible to compare Zadina to Kravtsov though because of the QoO they faced all season long. The one aspect where they could be judged was international games. Kravtsov in his games for the senior Russian team was capable to play his style of hockey. He was not overpowered for instance. When Zadina played for the Czech Republic in the Carlson Games, he was almost invisible. And that wasn't against the strongest opposition either because he got a lot of favorable matchups with his line.
In the end, it depends on what teams value more. Zadina was ranked 3rd overall almost the entire season, yet he dropped to 5th. The 2 guys who leapfrogged him were Brady Tkachuk, who played college hockey, which is more physical and a better indication if someone is ready, and Quinn Hughes who was one of the revelations at the World Championships against the best players in the world (A lot of KHL and NHL players in that tournament). I personally value QoO a lot. If a kid like Kravtsov can put up even a few points at age 17, that's huge. I've posted comparisons earlier but here they are again:
It all depends on what people value more. Sure, a guy can be great after putting up 90 points in the OHL but at the same time there are a lot of players who did a similar thing and then barely produced in the NHL. I think some GMs are a bit cautious with those type of players, paired with the further influx of Europeans compared to 10 years ago. When a kid like Andersson dominates the SuperElit (under 20's) at age 17, and he then gets a shot in the SHL against professionals when he is barely old enough to drive a car, that says a lot about the physical and also mental maturity of that player. The same argument can be used for Kravtsov.
GeorgeKaplan
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Would the need for a 3C last year translate into draft narrative as much if Pettersson or Glass didn’t get taken before the Rangers puck though?
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That and the fact that they never seemed set on giving him a roster spot makes the "they drafted him because he's ready!" argument seem pretty stupid. I mean it was true, but how much did it really matter, if it mattered at all?
If Kratsov once punched a guy so hard his head exploded I am sure it would get mentioned a lot but would probably be very low on the list of reasons the Rangers picked him. But I could guarantee at least some posters would claim that's the reason we drafted him. "Remember that time Chytil's head almost exploded and the Rangers didn't have an answer...."
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
Perhaps they liked Kravstov's ceiling more and were intrigued by the player he could be if he puts it all together.
The one thing I always try to emphasize is that rankings can be a bit misleading --- whether its the Rangers draft list, or how we rank prospects on here.
The difference between the player ranked second and the player ranked fourth could be particularly small, or even a matter of preference.
How teams rate prospects sometimes isn't all that different than the scores you see at the Olympics:
On paper one athlete finishes first and the other fourth. But the difference in scores/or times is pretty close.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
I think they would've liked for him to step right in. I think there was the belief he probably could.
But I don't think that was the underlying reason for why they drafted him.
I think they drafted him because they wanted a player in the ROR, Horvat, etc. kind of mold --- a core player who helps set the tone for his team.
If he could've stepped right into the NHL, even better. But not necessarily the primary reason.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
A very good point.
The Rangers like Andersson, but I don't think there's ever been the narrative that he was at the top of their list either.
They supposedly liked Patrick, Pettersson and Glass a lot.
Of course I've always seen that misconstrued into statements about them "settling" for Andersson, but I don't think that's the case either.
Amazing Kreiderman
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- Apr 11, 2011
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True, and this is where the BS "Gorton should have traded up" narrative comes from. Sure, we liked Pettersson, but apparently they wanted more than we were willing to give up to move up. I always felt that the price would have been 7+21 for 5, and I honestly am happier with Andersson+Chytil than just Pettersson.
charliemurphy
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