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

[2014nyr]

kravtsov and kakko together are bookend wingers who we can build around.

i would throw chytl in there too. not at the same level yet, but has the tools to be a big time scoring wing. at 6'2 210 hes small lol

those 3 are certainly the future. i can live with young wingers but would prefer a smart, creative 2C on this roster now. thats a trade waiting to happen. this team needs another swift pivot to pay top 6 minutes.

the guys we have here now all are capable but ceilings are low 2 high 3C's. the draft might help if we have a top 5 pick next yr, otherwise its roster guys now or a trade.

hello chris kreider

i love chytil's skillset and i'm far from writing him off...but he needs to realize for himself how good he can be. even going back to watching him at the world juniors where the czechs paired necas/zadina to solely create offense and tasked chytil w/ the 200 ft shut down role, it feels like he's been conditioned to undervalue himself/his skillset offensively. i'm cautiously optimistic between quinn's style, some of the flashes he showed later last year, and the addition of a young flashier personality like kravtsov he'll be pulled out of his shell a bit and begin to realize just how good he can be. i mean the hands/shot/certainly skating are all there, and to me it doesn't look so much like a hockey sense issue as it does a confidence issue, but he has to decide soon if he's a (good season) jake voracek or something like a richard panik

 

[Leetch3]

i love chytil's skillset and i'm far from writing him off...but he needs to realize for himself how good he can be. even going back to watching him at the world juniors where the czechs paired necas/zadina to solely create offense and tasked chytil w/ the 200 ft shut down role, it feels like he's been conditioned to undervalue himself/his skillset offensively. i'm cautiously optimistic between quinn's style, some of the flashes he showed later last year, and the addition of a young flashier personality like kravtsov he'll be pulled out of his shell a bit and begin to realize just how good he can be. i mean the hands/shot/certainly skating are all there, and to me it doesn't look so much like a hockey sense issue as it does a confidence issue, but he has to decide soon if he's a (good season) jake voracek or something like a richard panik

he's still a teenager

 

[Ola]

i love chytil's skillset and i'm far from writing him off...but he needs to realize for himself how good he can be. even going back to watching him at the world juniors where the czechs paired necas/zadina to solely create offense and tasked chytil w/ the 200 ft shut down role, it feels like he's been conditioned to undervalue himself/his skillset offensively. i'm cautiously optimistic between quinn's style, some of the flashes he showed later last year, and the addition of a young flashier personality like kravtsov he'll be pulled out of his shell a bit and begin to realize just how good he can be. i mean the hands/shot/certainly skating are all there, and to me it doesn't look so much like a hockey sense issue as it does a confidence issue, but he has to decide soon if he's a (good season) jake voracek or something like a richard panik

Great point.

I also think someone like Chytil could benefit a lot from getting really pushed into working night and day on his shot. Maybe we will se an improvement with these skill coaches etc, but traditionally we have been weak in this area (I keep mentioning Marc Staal as someone who hasn’t improved his offensive skills, especially his shot, one bit while certainly not being without physical resources).

A young Kopitar wasn’t a great shooter, neither were like Näslund or Alfie. Alfie had the tools, but Kopitar and Näslund developed their shot a ton in NA. Another guy is Mats Sundin. He started to score a lot of goals with his slapper long into his NHL career. And Jagr is of course a well known example, never used his slapper his first decade in the league then Gonchar thought him and all of a sudden he scored 50 goals with a majority coming from the slapper.

If Chytil really put in a lot of work on his shot, I think it would give him a little more confidence offensively.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

he's still a teenager

only for a few months tho

 

[Leetch3]

only for a few months tho

yeah time is definitely running out for him to put it all together lol

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I posted this on the main boards last week and several things were mentioned in the NHL article by Dan Rosen yesterday. When I met Dan Rosen at the draft we discussed some of this stuff even haha

Kravtsov comes from a wealthy family with a lot of ties and he grew up without any real problems. His dad was an officer in the Soviet army (which is why he could not attend the NHL draft because his visa application was denied), his sister is a lawyer living in Toronto now.

Kravtsov, after moving to live with his grandmother in Chelyabinsk with his mother while his dad stayed behind in Vladivostok, focused on hockey and while playing for the KHL team, he was always very close with some of the NA player Stoa and Bailen, later in the season Thomas as well. He played under former NHL player German Titov who helped him a lot during his rookie season.

Altogether, it's a combination of things, but Kravtsov's desire to play in North America motivated him to adjust early. His background, the family he grew up in, helped in developing a more global mindset at a young age unlike other kids.

In case anyone is interested in a source: Vitali's sister and father told me most of this last December when I ran into them at Starbucks in Vancouver. We sat down and talked for over 30 minutes

 

[gravey9]

i love chytil's skillset and i'm far from writing him off...but he needs to realize for himself how good he can be. even going back to watching him at the world juniors where the czechs paired necas/zadina to solely create offense and tasked chytil w/ the 200 ft shut down role, it feels like he's been conditioned to undervalue himself/his skillset offensively. i'm cautiously optimistic between quinn's style, some of the flashes he showed later last year, and the addition of a young flashier personality like kravtsov he'll be pulled out of his shell a bit and begin to realize just how good he can be. i mean the hands/shot/certainly skating are all there, and to me it doesn't look so much like a hockey sense issue as it does a confidence issue, but he has to decide soon if he's a (good season) jake voracek or something like a richard panik

Another important aspect in all of this is position. Last year, Chytil ended up on the wing for the majority of the season. I don't think he was particularly comfortable there. He had a hard time staying engaged and playing effectively. After the Hayes trade I believe he played more center and seemed to be more noticeable shift-by-shift. I think he's a kid who might thrive having more responsibility than less.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Another important aspect in all of this is position. Last year, Chytil ended up on the wing for the majority of the season. I don't think he was particularly comfortable there. He had a hard time staying engaged and playing effectively. After the Hayes trade I believe he played more center and seemed to be more noticeable shift-by-shift. I think he's a kid who might thrive having more responsibility than less.

I think this is the exact opposite of how most people saw Chytil this past season

 

[GunkWinger]

I wonder what connection Kravstov's billet family has to the Rangers (if any). Calling RB.

I tried going RB thinking it was Drury since he lives in the area and has 3 kids but Drury only has 1 boy. Better off leaving the detective work to professionals.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Another important aspect in all of this is position. Last year, Chytil ended up on the wing for the majority of the season. I don't think he was particularly comfortable there. He had a hard time staying engaged and playing effectively. After the Hayes trade I believe he played more center and seemed to be more noticeable shift-by-shift. I think he's a kid who might thrive having more responsibility than less.

I think this is the exact opposite of how most people saw Chytil this past season

I may be in the minority, but I agree with @gravey9.

 

[Inferno]

I think chytils issue is he tries to dangle everyone rather than just taking the outside lane and just gaining territory waiting for his teammates.

Too much individual cocky play and not enough team play.

Kinda reminds me of Hayes his first season or 2

 

[kovazub94]

i love chytil's skillset and i'm far from writing him off...but he needs to realize for himself how good he can be. even going back to watching him at the world juniors where the czechs paired necas/zadina to solely create offense and tasked chytil w/ the 200 ft shut down role, it feels like he's been conditioned to undervalue himself/his skillset offensively. i'm cautiously optimistic between quinn's style, some of the flashes he showed later last year, and the addition of a young flashier personality like kravtsov he'll be pulled out of his shell a bit and begin to realize just how good he can be. i mean the hands/shot/certainly skating are all there, and to me it doesn't look so much like a hockey sense issue as it does a confidence issue, but he has to decide soon if he's a (good season) jake voracek or something like a richard panik

Not directed at you specifically but I think the general view of Chytil's potential on the board is VERY conservative. Yeah, most do acknowledge a top-6 potential but probably would give it a 60/40 chance. We all have to remind ourselves that he's barely older than Kravtsov and was able to spend the whole season in NHL with significant time spent in a top-6 role as a teenager WITHOUT a pedigree of being at the very top of his draft class. I think he's a guaranteed top-6 and likely a top line (center) material by the time he's 22-23.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Another important aspect in all of this is position. Last year, Chytil ended up on the wing for the majority of the season. I don't think he was particularly comfortable there. He had a hard time staying engaged and playing effectively. After the Hayes trade I believe he played more center and seemed to be more noticeable shift-by-shift. I think he's a kid who might thrive having more responsibility than less.

You’re not completely wrong. I think his big problem was processing the speed of the game, and Quinn had him on the wing to ease him into the league, but here’s a link with Chytil himself saying he’s more comfortable at center Filip Chytil prefers being in the middle of things

 

[GAGLine]

You’re not completely wrong. I think his big problem was processing the speed of the game, and Quinn had him on the wing to ease him into the league, but here’s a link with Chytil himself saying he’s more comfortable at center Filip Chytil prefers being in the middle of things

I wouldn't mind seeing something like this:

Kravtsov-Zib-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Buch

or

Kravtsov-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Chytil-Kakko

I know everyone is salivating at the idea of Panarin and Zib together, but pairing Panarin with Chytil would help him immensely. Of course, the lines are going to be shuffled many times throughout the season and we will no doubt see every possible combination at some point. But if we think that Chytil can be a 2C, then let's put him with Panarin and try to jump start his game. Maybe we didn't actually need a Zegras or Cozens. Maybe we don't need a Byfield (though I certainly won't complain if we get him). Let's see if Chytil can mature into the 2C we need.

 

[JimmyG89]

I tried going RB thinking it was Drury since he lives in the area and has 3 kids but Drury only has 1 boy. Better off leaving the detective work to professionals.

Doesn't St. Loui have a bunch of younger son's playing hockey? Would be a hell of a family to be with. His role with CBJ may not allow it though.

 

[kovazub94]

I wouldn't mind seeing something like this:

Kravtsov-Zib-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Buch

or

Kravtsov-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Chytil-Kakko

I know everyone is salivating at the idea of Panarin and Zib together, but pairing Panarin with Chytil would help him immensely. Of course, the lines are going to be shuffled many times throughout the season and we will no doubt see every possible combination at some point. But if we think that Chytil can be a 2C, then let's put him with Panarin and try to jump start his game. Maybe we didn't actually need a Zegras or Cozens. Maybe we don't need a Byfield (though I certainly won't complain if we get him). Let's see if Chytil can mature into the 2C we need.

I'd also not hesitate to split Zibanejad and Panarin, especially early on. Given the age difference and experience I honestly think Kravtsov will be more ready than Kakko for a top-6 role to start 2019-2020, so assuming that Kreider is moved but at least one of Namestnikov / Strome is around I'd either go with your top six but have Strome instead of Kakko:

Kravtsov-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Chytil-Strome
Namestnikov (Andersson, Lemieux) - Howden - Kakko

or

Namestnikov - Zibanejad - Kravtsov
Panarin - Chytil - Buchnevich
Strome (Andersson, Lemieux) - Howden - Kakko

or even

Namestnikov - Zibanejad - Kravtsov
Panarin - Chytil - Strome
Kakko - Howden - Buchnevich

 

[One Winged Angel]

Great point.

I also think someone like Chytil could benefit a lot from getting really pushed into working night and day on his shot. Maybe we will se an improvement with these skill coaches etc, but traditionally we have been weak in this area (I keep mentioning Marc Staal as someone who hasn’t improved his offensive skills, especially his shot, one bit while certainly not being without physical resources).

A young Kopitar wasn’t a great shooter, neither were like Näslund or Alfie. Alfie had the tools, but Kopitar and Näslund developed their shot a ton in NA. Another guy is Mats Sundin. He started to score a lot of goals with his slapper long into his NHL career. And Jagr is of course a well known example, never used his slapper his first decade in the league then Gonchar thought him and all of a sudden he scored 50 goals with a majority coming from the slapper.

If Chytil really put in a lot of work on his shot, I think it would give him a little more confidence offensively.

What really helped Sundin was the advent of the one piece composite. He was a CCM wood guy before switching to the original yellow Louisville TPS Response. That changed everything for him.

 

[Kupo]

I wouldn't mind seeing something like this:

Kravtsov-Zib-Kakko
Panarin-Chytil-Buch

or

Kravtsov-Zib-Buch
Panarin-Chytil-Kakko

I know everyone is salivating at the idea of Panarin and Zib together, but pairing Panarin with Chytil would help him immensely. Of course, the lines are going to be shuffled many times throughout the season and we will no doubt see every possible combination at some point. But if we think that Chytil can be a 2C, then let's put him with Panarin and try to jump start his game. Maybe we didn't actually need a Zegras or Cozens. Maybe we don't need a Byfield (though I certainly won't complain if we get him). Let's see if Chytil can mature into the 2C we need.

I like both lines. The problem I'm seeing with some other projected lines is having 3 kids on a line - Kakko-Chytil-Kravtsov. Quinn is not going to deploy that. Both of your lines have a lot more balance.

 

[Kovalev27]

Another important aspect in all of this is position. Last year, Chytil ended up on the wing for the majority of the season. I don't think he was particularly comfortable there. He had a hard time staying engaged and playing effectively. After the Hayes trade I believe he played more center and seemed to be more noticeable shift-by-shift. I think he's a kid who might thrive having more responsibility than less.

It amazes me the same people saying Lias andersson is only a kid give him time, have to let him develop (and they’re not entirely wrong) are some of the same people saying Chytil can’t play center we need a young 2C. He’s a teenager adapting to the hardest position in the sport. He absolutely is a center he needs to develop not just move to wing to hide him. Kid dominated the AHL as a center when he was barely 18.

I agree he looks much more engaged using his skating and having the puck thru the neutral zone. He is a center. Similar to Hayes who’s lost on the wing. Chytil to me looks awful as a winger.

 

[Levitate]

I may be in the minority, but I agree with @gravey9.

Yeah I actually agree. Wing simplifies the game for him but in some ways also made it easier for him to get lost. I feel like people think he looks better on the wing simply because center is a harder position to play for a young player in the NHL and almost all of them struggle at it at first. I agree he looked more engaged when playing center at the end of the season.

I'm not really sure why people say things like "I see him as a wing more than a center" without giivng some justification behind that...he hasn't had much time to play center at the NHL level and he's been adjusting to the NHL in general. Now maybe it's true he'll end up better on the wing but the Rangers drafted Andersson and Chytil as centers and people immediately started pidgeon holing them as wingers. Let's see if they can develop into the role first

 

[aufheben]

I think chytils issue is he tries to dangle everyone rather than just taking the outside lane and just gaining territory waiting for his teammates.

Too much individual cocky play and not enough team play.

Kinda reminds me of Hayes his first season or 2

Chytil would be a vastly more effective player if he could learn to gain the zone and/or retain control on a consistent basis. He shows flashes of being a monster in that area, but it’s still at the point where 9/10 times he just turns the puck over at the blue line, which is severe among the no-no’s.

 

[Kovalev27]

Chytil would be a vastly more effective player if he could learn to gain the zone and/or retain control on a consistent basis. He shows flashes of being a monster in that area, but it’s still at the point where 9/10 times he just turns the puck over at the blue line, which is severe among the no-no’s.

Shows Flashes/if he could learn/but still at the point.

He’s 19. Barely 19 at that last year. He’s going to do nothing but improve in every one of those areas. It’s certainly no reason to write a guy with that size skill play making ability and skating off as a center.

 

[aufheben]

Shows Flashes/if he could learn/but still at the point.

He’s 19. Barely 19 at that last year. He’s going to do nothing but improve in every one of those areas. It’s certainly no reason to write a guy with that size skill play making ability and skating off as a center.

I’m not writing him off at all.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Shows Flashes/if he could learn/but still at the point.

He’s 1̶9̶ 20. Barely 1̶9̶ 20 at that last year. He’s going to do nothing but improve in every one of those areas. It’s certainly no reason to write a guy with that size skill play making ability and skating off as a center.

Changed 1 parameter so you can use this exact same text next time you talk about Lias Andersson

 

[kovazub94]

Shows Flashes/if he could learn/but still at the point.

He’s 1̶9̶ 20. Barely 1̶9̶ 20 at that last year. He’s going to do nothing but improve in every one of those areas. It’s certainly no reason to write a guy with that size skill play making ability and skating off as a center.

Changed 1 parameter so you can use this exact same text next time you talk about Lias Andersson

Seriously!