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

[The New Russian Five]

Very disappointing for sure. But, nobody is going to have 100% success with their prospects. Fox, ADA, Chytil, Kakko, Lindgren, possibly Hajek and Howden all look like they'll have long successful careers.

Compared to the fire sale Sather had, it's day and night difference. I remember playing on my PS2 and Balej turned out to be a freaking beast. Dude played just about a dozen games for us lol.. Immonen had promise but played just about 20 games. Kondratiev is another guy who played like 30 games for us and eventually bolted to the KHL.

It would be a huge blow if Lias and Kravtsov don't develop into NHL regulars, but at the same time we've done quite well with the rest of our prospects.

After trading all those players only Staal (used picks to trade up in draft to get him), Koripikosi, and Dubinsky were the only players of value. Man, what could have been if Sather was half decent at evaluating young talent.

 

[Kovalev27]

One top ten pick busts fine. But if the second one does? When you’re rebuilding? That’s a nightmare.

you knew when he went back that it’s was because of a lack of maturity. Now he’s there and it’s continued. Total 180 from who we thought this kid was. Busted his ass last year. Busted his ass at the WJC. Came over this summer and busted his ass. Crushed traverse city. Has a decent preseason then runs home like a baby and is barely even trying to perform up to his standards.

Traktor is a disaster. I hope this becomes a real lesson for him but his attitude has shifted in the worst way possible.

 

[kovazub94]

One top ten pick busts fine. But if the second one does? When you’re rebuilding? That’s a nightmare.

you knew when he went back that it’s was because of a lack of maturity. Now he’s there and it’s continued. Total 180 from who we thought this kid was. Busted his ass last year. Busted his ass at the WJC. Came over this summer and busted his ass. Crushed traverse city. Has a decent preseason then runs home like a baby and is barely even trying to perform up to his standards.

Traktor is a disaster. I hope this becomes a real lesson for him but his attitude has shifted in the worst way possible.

It's been a sequence of bad decisions / situations that pretty much spiraled out of control on Kravtsov to get him where he's at now. He needs something to break the cycle.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It's been a sequence of bad decisions / situations that pretty much spiraled out of control on Kravtsov to get him where he's at now. He needs something to break the cycle.

A trade to a new KHL team.

 

[True Blue]

One top ten pick busts fine. But if the second one does? When you’re rebuilding? That’s a nightmare.

It is WAY too early to consider either a bust. Especially Kravstov.

 

[CaptTennille]

The confirmation bias in this thread is straight up bananas.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

It is WAY too early to consider either a bust. Especially Kravstov.

I think Lias will be a bust relative to where he was drafted, but I haven't given up on him yet as a potential top 9 player.

 

[kovazub94]

It is WAY too early to consider either a bust. Especially Kravstov.

I completely agree and I view this statement as a "hypothesation" on what if. It WOULD be a disaster if two top-10 picks were to bust.

 

[HFBS]

When I see people use words like this, I immediately assume they underestimate the impact it has on the life of a 19-year old to move to another continent. It's not something you just "brush off casually" so to speak.

Should have let him sneak over the border instead. I'm sure he'd be fine.

 

[aufheben]

He better turn it around. Going back to Russia wasn't an amazing look to begin with, but going back to Russia only to continue struggling looks straight-up bad. He already missed, what, a 1/3 of the KHL season? I haven't seen any of his games myself, maybe 1-2 periods where I didn't really notice him, but you hope for better production than that. His shots are down a bit too. That shit-box team Traktor probably doesn't help but wouldn't you be like...aware of that?

 

[nyr2k2]

He better turn it around. Going back to Russia wasn't an amazing look to begin with, but going back to Russia only to continue struggling looks straight-up bad. He already missed, what, a 1/3 of the KHL season? I haven't seen any of his games myself, maybe 1-2 periods where I didn't really notice him, but you hope for better production than that. His shots are down a bit too. That ****-box team Traktor probably doesn't help but wouldn't you be like...aware of that?

Traktor has 27 games left. So by leaving for the KHL when he did, he's now going to play a maximum of 37 games with Traktor. 5 AHL games. Total of 42 professional games. Oh, right, 1 VHL game. Not ideal.

 

[aufheben]

Traktor has 27 games left. So by leaving for the KHL when he did, he's now going to play a maximum of 37 games with Traktor. 5 AHL games. Total of 42 professional games. Oh, right, 1 VHL game. Not ideal.

 

[NYR Viper]

Traktor has 27 games left. So by leaving for the KHL when he did, he's now going to play a maximum of 37 games with Traktor. 5 AHL games. Total of 42 professional games. Oh, right, 1 VHL game. Not ideal.

cant he come over to the AHL at the end of his year? Or come over and practice/play for the Rangers? His season doesn’t need to end at 42 games I would think?

 

[Irishguy42]

cant he come over to the AHL at the end of his year? Or come over and practice/play for the Rangers? His season doesn’t need to end at 42 games I would think?

Yes, since he is still under contract with the Rangers and was just "loaned" to Traktor.

He can most certainly come back over to NA and play in the NHL or AHL.

 

[nyr2k2]

If he comes back to the AHL do we give him the adjustment period that we're giving him now?

 

[NYR Viper]

If he comes back to the AHL do we give him the adjustment period that we're giving him now?

i would think there would be an adjustment period? Do you not think there should be one?

 

[The New Russian Five]

Traktor has 27 games left. So by leaving for the KHL when he did, he's now going to play a maximum of 37 games with Traktor. 5 AHL games. Total of 42 professional games. Oh, right, 1 VHL game. Not ideal.

There is a flip side to this. Less games = more practice time = more skill building. The bright side of Kravtsov playing so little is that he will have more time to work on skills development. We'll worry about him learning the "NA game" when he gets back. I'm not worried at all about the number of games he is playing.

 

[Kovalev27]

It is WAY too early to consider either a bust. Especially Kravstov.

no one said he was a bust.

I said it’s one thing for one top ten pick to bust (Andersson) BUTTTTtT it’s a disaster If a second one does.

That’s why this is dire. He needs to figure it out quickly

 

[Kovalev27]

By the way 10 pages back most here said I was overreacting that everything was just peachy Now I’m seeing a lot of those same people very concernedS they should be. I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back and struggled because this is all about a bad attitude.

As someone above said need to turn this around somehow. I don’t know how that happens. Maybe you literally just leave him to deal with it. Let him struggle and learn this isn’t always going to go his way. Maybe you yank him back right away before more damage is done but rewarding this behavior isn’t ideal either. This is tough and I don’t know how they fix it. But this is spiraling no two ways about it.

 

[maris]

hope he isn't drinking

 

[nyr2k2]

i would think there would be an adjustment period? Do you not think there should be one?

I'm just saying, we've been told he needs to adjust to his new team, the new coach, the new system, etc. Because he didn't train with those guys and it's all new. And that for some undetermined amount of weeks, we shouldn't really read into anything because he's adjusting.

So if he comes back to the team he actually trained with and the coach and system he started the season with, is it new? Does he get the same "benefit of the doubt" evaluation period? Do we ever get to evaluate him on anything?

 

[The New Russian Five]

By the way 10 pages back most here said I was overreacting that everything was just peachy Now I’m seeing a lot of those same people very concernedS they should be. I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back and struggled because this is all about a bad attitude.

As someone above said need to turn this around somehow. I don’t know how that happens. Maybe you literally just leave him to deal with it. Let him struggle and learn this isn’t always going to go his way. Maybe you yank him back right away before more damage is done but rewarding this behavior isn’t ideal either. This is tough and I don’t know how they fix it. But this is spiraling no two ways about it.

I think this is just as much of an over-reaction as it was when he left for Russia. Is he slumping a bit? Sure, but I am confident he can turn it around. The kid is only 19. I continue to preach patience. The talent is still there. I still see this as a maturity issue and I think he figures this out. By all accounts, he is a very coachable kid. Just needs some growing up to do. If we are still in the same place this time next year then I'll start to worry. But for now, let him struggle. Best to figure out and learn how to succeed now rather than later.

 

[nyr2k2]

There is a flip side to this. Less games = more practice time = more skill building. The bright side of Kravtsov playing so little is that he will have more time to work on skills development. We'll worry about him learning the "NA game" when he gets back. I'm not worried at all about the number of games he is playing.

I know, this was discussed before. I don't think he needs "skill development". I think he needs to get stronger, he needs to learn how to not try to dangle around the entire opposing team, he needs to learn the Rangers' system. So, I understand your point, I just don't think there's much to it.

The argument that so many of "us" have made is that what he needs is to be here, learning how to succeed as a professional in North America. And then that's countered with, "The KHL is a better league than the AHL and he can learn North American stuff later." Your post aligns well with the latter camp, so while it is certainly an opinion, it's not really one I can subscribe to.

 

[The New Russian Five]

I'm just saying, we've been told he needs to adjust to his new team, the new coach, the new system, etc. Because he didn't train with those guys and it's all new. And that for some undetermined amount of weeks, we shouldn't really read into anything because he's adjusting.

So if he comes back to the team he actually trained with and the coach and system he started the season with, is it new? Does he get the same "benefit of the doubt" evaluation period? Do we ever get to evaluate him on anything?

You can evaluate him as much as you want. I just don't think a rough couple of months should define how we look at a prospect. Everyone was head over heels about the kid all last year. Now that he has a few down months, everyone has soured. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just want to preach patience.

 

[nyr2k2]

You can evaluate him as much as you want. I just don't think a rough couple of months should define how we look at a prospect. Everyone was head over heels about the kid all last year. Now that he has a few down months, everyone has soured. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just want to preach patience.

I haven't soured on him. I just think he made a poor decision here and I'm disappointed in that decision, him, and how it's all playing out. He's still an elite talent and my hope is that this time next year, it's all forgotten. I'm just afraid it turns into basically a lost season, where nothing is gained developmentally.