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

[Rongomania]

His dad showed it to me. He was a goalie at that age

Amazing!

Hope you come to NYC a ton this year man !

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Amazing!

Hope you come to NYC a ton this year man !

In the last 12 months, I made 6 trips to North America. I really doubt I can do more than that haha.

June 2018: Draft in Dallas
Early Dec 2018: Tampa-Rangers in FL and a friend's birthday
Late Dec 2018: Christmas and New Years in Seattle with friends and WJC games in Vancouver
Feb 2019: 25 year anniversary game in NYC
March 2019: Rangers game in Calgary
June 2019: Draft in Vancouver

My next trip is late September for some pre-season games and I am looking into the game in STL in Jan

 

[bleedblue94]

So we are going to take our new rhs lw and pair him with our rhs center that loves to take one timers, especially when they have both shown the ability to carry lines separately and the this lw has a history of playing with young talent and helping develop their offense?

Color me skeptical. If chytil is playing center then panarin will be stapled to his wing and kratsov will be riding wing with zibs

 

[True Blue]

Color me skeptical. If chytil is playing center then panarin will be stapled to his wing and kratsov will be riding wing with zibs

So you have effectively made our top line center a second line center or our top line wing a second line wing? You have also given your $11.6m wing a 19 year old center? This truly makes sense to you?

They did not pay Panarin for him to be a second line player. Nor is Quinn going to take his current border line elite top line center and demote him to the second line. Sorry, byut that's nonsense. You brought a top line player to play with another top line player. Full stop. Together, the are going to form a top line that will play the lion's share of the minutes and not thrust kids into roles that they are not ready for.

You also have no idea if the Rangers see Chytil as center or wing.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

So you have effectively made our top line center a second line center or our top line wing a second line wing? You have also given your $11.6m wing a 19 year old center? This truly makes sense to you?

They did not pay Panarin for him to be a second line player. Nor is Quinn going to take his current border line elite top line center and demote him to the second line. Sorry, byut that's nonsense. You brought a top line player to play with another top line player. Full stop. Together, the are going to form a top line that will play the lion's share of the minutes and not thrust kids into roles that they are not ready for.

You also have no idea if the Rangers see Chytil as center or wing.

This is silly

 

[Leetch3]

So you have effectively made our top line center a second line center or our top line wing a second line wing? You have also given your $11.6m wing a 19 year old center? This truly makes sense to you?

They did not pay Panarin for him to be a second line player. Nor is Quinn going to take his current border line elite top line center and demote him to the second line. Sorry, byut that's nonsense. You brought a top line player to play with another top line player. Full stop. Together, the are going to form a top line that will play the lion's share of the minutes and not thrust kids into roles that they are not ready for.

You also have no idea if the Rangers see Chytil as center or wing.

not disagreeing with your main point...but with panarin, kakko and kravtsov on the wing I think the rangers are planning on having 2 pretty good lines. they wouldn't be playing with 4th liners if not on the top line together

 

[haveandare]

So you have effectively made our top line center a second line center or our top line wing a second line wing? You have also given your $11.6m wing a 19 year old center? This truly makes sense to you?

They did not pay Panarin for him to be a second line player. Nor is Quinn going to take his current border line elite top line center and demote him to the second line. Sorry, byut that's nonsense. You brought a top line player to play with another top line player. Full stop. Together, the are going to form a top line that will play the lion's share of the minutes and not thrust kids into roles that they are not ready for.

You also have no idea if the Rangers see Chytil as center or wing.

Teams not stacking all the talent on the top line together isn't at all unusual, definitely not nonsense or beyond possibility. The Pens won multiple cups spreading out their top players.

I'd bet the first move will be to try Panarin and Mika together but the idea that they absolutely must be together because they're both top line players isn't rooted in much of anything.

 

[True Blue]

not disagreeing with your main point...but with panarin, kakko and kravtsov on the wing I think the rangers are planning on having 2 pretty good lines. they wouldn't be playing with 4th liners if not on the top line together

But is the presumption that Kravstov and Kakko step in and are instantly top-6 worthy?

To me that is a very high hope.

 

[GAGLine]

But is the presumption that Kravstov and Kakko step in and are instantly top-6 worthy?

To me that is a very high hope.

Which players are getting traded? If Kreider is gone, we really don't have any legitimate top 6 wings other than Panarin and Buchnevich. Some combination of Namestnikov, Strome and Fast could play there I suppose, and probably will at various points in the season, but I'm sure the kids will get top 6 time too.

 

[True Blue]

Teams not stacking all the talent on the top line together isn't at all unusual, definitely not nonsense or beyond possibility. The Pens won multiple cups spreading out their top players.

Not stacking talent together presumes that there is talent enough for a top line player to easily be pushed down to the second line. The Pens are not a good example as they had Crosby and Malkin. Not that many times (unless you go back to the 80's Oilers) that you have such talent at one position. Right now, the Rangers have 3 definitive top liners: Panarin, ZBad & Kreider. Maybe Buch proves that his run at latter quarter of last year was no fluke. Maybe he doesn't. But to equate this Rangers team with that Pens team is a bit of a stretch. At least for me.

I'd bet the first move will be to try Panarin and Mika together but the idea that they absolutely must be together because they're both top line players isn't rooted in much of anything.

There is no law, naturally. Sure, if there is nothing happening between the two, one will be come a second liner. But if they do click, better believe that both will play on the same line. You are really going to supplant Zbad as a top line center with Chytil or Howden? That sounds realistic? Or think that the first choice after making Panarin the top paid wing in the NHL is to have a 19 or 20 year old center him? That also sounds realistic?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

But is the presumption that Kravstov and Kakko step in and are instantly top-6 worthy?

To me that is a very high hope.

Neither of them: Highly unlikely
Both of them: Possible
One of them: Most likely

 

[True Blue]

Which players are getting traded? If Kreider is gone, we really don't have any legitimate top 6 wings other than Panarin and Buchnevich. Some combination of Namestnikov, Strome and Fast could play there I suppose, and probably will at various points in the season, but I'm sure the kids will get top 6 time too.

This is why I said that the first domino to get determined is what happens to Kreider. One that is figured out, then the rest can be thought of. If Kreider is traded, then the likely top line will be Panarin-ZBad-Buch. If he stays and Buch goes, then Kreider will start on the second line and you will see someone whose last name starts with K play top line RW.

 

[True Blue]

Neither of them: Highly unlikely
Both of them: Possible
One of them: Most likely

I get the idea of looking at things and hoping for the best. Being a Rangers fan tend to have me thinking that the real game is not plaid out as if it is EA sports. The realistic chance of both of them is very low. The realistic chance of them is pretty good, especially if Kreider gets traded. The chance that on the production end of things such a movement would in the first year result in a lower end top-6 player is also very likely.

 

[Leetch3]

But is the presumption that Kravstov and Kakko step in and are instantly top-6 worthy?

To me that is a very high hope.

Oh for this year I agree 100% we can't assume that but I certainly hope they are top 6 while panarin and zibanejad are still here

 

[True Blue]

Oh for this year I agree 100% we can't assume that but I certainly hope they are top 6 while panarin and zibanejad are still here

Ahh, of course. Over the course of time, I would certainly hope so and expect so.

 

[bobbop]

In the last 12 months, I made 6 trips to North America. I really doubt I can do more than that haha.

June 2018: Draft in Dallas
Early Dec 2018: Tampa-Rangers in FL and a friend's birthday
Late Dec 2018: Christmas and New Years in Seattle with friends and WJC games in Vancouver
Feb 2019: 25 year anniversary game in NYC
March 2019: Rangers game in Calgary
June 2019: Draft in Vancouver

My next trip is late September for some pre-season games and I am looking into the game in STL in Jan

You should come for opening night. Even I am flying back for that.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

You should come for opening night. Even I am flying back for that.

I can't. I will be in Stockholm that week for work

 

[chosen]

But is the presumption that Kravstov and Kakko step in and are instantly top-6 worthy?

To me that is a very high hope.

Kakko is supposed to be similar in ability to Hughes. If he's not immediately top6 worthy, everyone is wrong about him.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

He certainly looked top 6 worthy playing against the Russian, Canadian, and US national teams...

 

[True Blue]

Kakko is supposed to be similar in ability to Hughes. If he's not immediately top6 worthy, everyone is wrong about him.

Hughes is universally thought of as having the higher ceiling. And that still does not mean that a player who will be 18 until February will instantly be top 6.

 

[True Blue]

He certainly looked top 6 worthy playing against the Russian, Canadian, and US national teams...

We shall see what it is like when he plays against regular NHL players and the grind of the season. I have expectations as well. But have seen all too many times what can happen. Let's recall what Joe Thorton's first year was like. Or Barkov.

 

[kelsier]

Hughes is universally thought of as having the higher ceiling. And that still does not mean that a player who will be 18 until February will instantly be top 6.

I've thought this perception rather amusing after seeing them at the @Worlds. Hughes has dominated juniors since like forever but struggled vs older competition (WJC & WHC). Before the men's tournament, teams' scouts stated that the gap was razor thin, but immediately once the games begun it was pretty transparent that Kakko was just on a different level. So Hughes would first have to reach where KK currently is just to get even, then train hard as heck to get ahead, but at the same time Kakko's development would have to stall. In the long run anything is possible I suppose but mostly I think much of that "ultimate ceiling" talk is based on Hughes being touted as #1 for ages and I wouldn't exclude the nationality as well as the exposure out of that equation either. Basically they're expecting Hughes to build up to his frame cause he's small. Then again when I saw Kakko's dad for the first time and really looked into Kakko's current physical frame, I would argue that it's going to be him who's going to "grow" more.

With that said how long ahead does Kravtsov look like in physical development? Didn't watch KHL pretty much at all last year so outside from the clips I saw from the development camp I've really not paid much attention to him. He does look kinda huge on the skates at least. Speed (& skill) and size, just where the league is heading.

He did look ready at the camp (though got to remember this was development camp) and I would imagine Kratsov's skillset transitioning pretty well into the small rink if the core strength is there. Could very well be possible for both of these kids to play top 6 come New Years at latest.

 

[JimmyG89]

So you have effectively made our top line center a second line center or our top line wing a second line wing? You have also given your $11.6m wing a 19 year old center? This truly makes sense to you?

They did not pay Panarin for him to be a second line player. Nor is Quinn going to take his current border line elite top line center and demote him to the second line. Sorry, byut that's nonsense. You brought a top line player to play with another top line player. Full stop. Together, the are going to form a top line that will play the lion's share of the minutes and not thrust kids into roles that they are not ready for.

You also have no idea if the Rangers see Chytil as center or wing.

Over the past two seasons, Panarin had the ability to play with some pretty good centers, someone like Matt Duchene for example, but he was put on a line with a highly skilled young center, Pierre Luc Dubois. Clearly, that didn't impact his production.

He can drive a line on his own. Even if he starts with Zibanejad, playing him with Chytil and Zibanejad getting time with players like Buchnevich and Kakko/Kravtsov could lengthen a forward lineup that is very young and will be learning this season.

It's not like we'd be playing him with someone like Fast or Namestnikov. These are skilled players, and Panarin could open ice for them.

Would honestly like to see Kravtsov and Panarin get out there together. You hope that Panarin could help install some confidence in him, and while we have heard him speak in interviews and how great his English is, having a high profile countryman on his team and potentially the same line? Would do wonders for him IMO.

 

[Fitzy]

Kravtsov got voted 7 in the league for HFboards posters among prospects, ahead of guys like Zegras Dach and Zadina. Pretty impressive if we assume at least some of them watch the KHL. Wahlstrom isn't even on the board at 20 yet.

 

[I Eat Crow]

I like seeing what Gorton is building here. Size and skill on the wings. Two way ability up the middle. A good balance of offensive D and two way D on the back end.

Watching Kravtsov, Kakko, Panarin, and Zibanejad together is going to be something special in a couple of years. I say this with caution, though.

We can't get too much on Kravtsov (and Kakko for that matter) if they don't come in and light the world on fire right away.

35 to 40 points for Kravtsov in his rookie year without looking too lost on the defensive side of the puck would be a great rookie season.

Kakko is going to be a special player. Teams around the league are going to start to dread playing the Rangers again soon when they realize that they'll have to match up against Kravstov and Kakko for more than half of the game.