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

[Zine]

I suggested it but I also did show that it's not that simple within that same post.

It's not definitive but there is very strong evidence to suggest that most of that league is negligent when it comes to developing a complete game that is NHL ready. Too many prospects have basic holes that shouldn't exist after being in a league that wants to draw comparisons to the NHL. If it's the true second best league in the world than it's a very, very, very distant second.

We all know how top heavy that league is and we've seen issues with coaches and off ice training. Not that it's proven but there's strong evidence

Most European prospects have some holes in their game as it pertains to the NHL style of play. It’s a symptom of developing on the big ice. This is not unique to Russians or the KHL.
That said, our prospects have easily matched the US and Canada in the 2-way play, grind and physical department at the WJC for years now. So I don’t know what you’re concerned about.

In terms of Kravtsov, NY is rushing him. I hope the Rangers aren’t neglecting to develop his natural skill-set at the expense of teaching him the NA game. He’s still so young and undeveloped. You gotta crawl before you walk.
If I remember correctly, I *think* it was Shumakov (Washington signee) last year who said the AHL was like a crash course in physical NA hockey with very little emphasis put on finesse skill. This might be advantageous for a player whose innate skill set is developed, or close to it. But someone like Kravtsov? Yea i dunno.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Most European prospects have some holes in their game as it pertains to the NHL style of play. It’s a symptom of developing on the big ice. This is not unique to Russians or the KHL.
That said, our prospects have matched both US/Canada in the 2-way play, grind and physical department at the WJC for years now.

In terms of Kravtsov, imo, the Rangers are rushing him. I hope the Rangers aren’t neglecting to develop his natural skill-set at the expense of teaching him the NA game. He’s still so young and undeveloped. You gotta crawl before you walk.
If I remember correctly, I *think* it was Shumakov (Washington signee) last year who said the AHL was like crash course in physical NA hockey with very attention or emphasis on finesse skill development.

This seems completely baseless to me.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Lias is totally different as well. The initial comment was about a player being so unhappy with being scratched in his second professional game in North America that he himself would exercise his EAC and go home. And how THAT would be cowardly. Then this other guy comes in and alludes to it happening with Swedish prospects and it being considered okay, when to my knowledge nothing comparable to what OP was talking about has occurred with Swedish prospects, or really any other prospects. So, IDK.

Bingo. If a Swedish prospect did the same thing I would make the same statement.

All of this is really moot because I don't believe for a second that Kravtsov would go back home just because he is facing some adversity and frankly, I believe the notion that he should be given special treatment utterly ridiculous.

He is going to be fine. He is going to put up good numbers in the AHL, make the Rangers sometime in late winter/early spring and never look back.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Most European prospects have some holes in their game as it pertains to the NHL style of play. It’s a symptom of developing on the big ice. This is not unique to Russians or the KHL.
That said, our prospects have easily matched the US and Canada in the 2-way play, grind and physical department at the WJC for years now. So I don’t know what you’re concerned about.

In terms of Kravtsov, NY is rushing him. I hope the Rangers aren’t neglecting to develop his natural skill-set at the expense of teaching him the NA game. He’s still so young and undeveloped. You gotta crawl before you walk.
If I remember correctly, I *think* it was Shumakov (Washington signee) last year who said the AHL was like a crash course in physical NA hockey with very little emphasis put on finesse skill. This might be advantageous for a player whose innate skill set is developed, or close to it. But someone like Kravtsov? Yea i dunno.

I definitely agree, I would not say it was unique to the khl bc that suggest no other prospects struggle. It's that the degree of the issue does seem to be unique to the khl and we constantly seem to get very eye opening quotes like the one you mentioned. Quotes that highlight one or more possible major contributing factors

I definitely disagree that they're rushing him. It's factually the complete opposite right now

 

[The Sweetness]

Good for the Rangers in taking it slow with Kravtsov.

It should do him good getting a chance to shine in the AHL and having to stand out and earn his call-up.

 

[Hanji]

I suggested it but I also did show that it's not that simple within that same post.

It's not definitive but there is very strong evidence to suggest that most of that league is negligent when it comes to developing a complete game that is NHL ready. Too many prospects have basic holes that shouldn't exist after being in a league that wants to draw comparisons to the NHL. If it's the true second best league in the world than it's a very, very, very distant second.

We all know how top heavy that league is and we've seen issues with coaches and off ice training. Not that it's proven but there's strong evidence

I believe Buchnevich said they didn't weight train at all, or something to that extent.

 

[Zine]

I believe Buchnevich said they didn't weight train at all, or something to that extent.

Good heavens.

All KHL teams weight train. Apparently not everyone gets Buchnevich's self-depreciating sarcasm.

 

[Synergy27]

So is Vitali playing this weekend or what? Can we all calm down yet?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

So is Vitali playing this weekend or what? Can we all calm down yet?

B2B so I expect him to play one game

 

[Svenhart2008]

In a thread on the Prospects forum, Vitali is one of the most mentioned players for most overrated prospects.

Guess that makes it official. He's on the express train to bustsville.

 

[LeetchisGod]

In a thread on the Prospects forum, Vitali is one of the most mentioned players for most overrated prospects.

Guess that makes it official. He's on the express train to bustsville.

The anti-Ranger bias on the main boards is strong.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Good heavens.

All KHL teams weight train. Apparently not everyone gets Buchnevich's self-depreciating sarcasm.

I highly doubt many/any KHL teams weight train like North American teams do. That's likely what Buch was referring to. Russian prospects always seem to be much weaker than their NA counterparts. I mean, it's abundantly clear that they train differently.

 

[Harbour Dog]

In a thread on the Prospects forum, Vitali is one of the most mentioned players for most overrated prospects.

Guess that makes it official. He's on the express train to bustsville.

I haven't read that thread, but I would guess that Button ranking him the best NHL prospect is the biggest contributing factor to people's opinions.

That, and people thinking he could play in the NHL this year.

Edit - I mean, now that I put into words what Button did, I completely understand anybody who thinks he overrated. He is still a fantastic prospect, but best in the world? Yeah, I dunno.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I haven't read that thread, but I would guess that Button ranking him the best NHL prospect is the biggest contributing factor to people's opinions.

That, and people thinking he could play in the NHL this year.

I think the people who deemed him NHL-ready did not see much of him last season. With all due respect.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I think the people who deemed him NHL-ready did not see much of him last season. With all due respect.

Most likely. They just read all about this fantastic prospect and assumed that meant he was immediately ready for the NHL.

No matter. Next year, he'll have a "resurgence". Can't wait for that.

 

[UnSandvich]

Eh, I disagree, though admittedly didn't watch nearly as much of him last year as some. I think he's NHL-ready to play, just not yet NHL-ready to excel, if that makes sense

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Eh, I disagree, though admittedly didn't watch nearly as much of him last year as some. I think he's NHL-ready to play, just not yet NHL-ready to excel, if that makes sense

Fringe NHL player at age 19? Probably. By NHL-ready I feel a player needs to play top-9 minutes and he still has some holes in his game he needs to work on.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

I haven't read that thread, but I would guess that Button ranking him the best NHL prospect is the biggest contributing factor to people's opinions.

That, and people thinking he could play in the NHL this year.

Edit - I mean, now that I put into words what Button did, I completely understand anybody who thinks he overrated. He is still a fantastic prospect, but best in the world? Yeah, I dunno.

I think that’s a big part of it, and I think he got drafted higher than most people were thinking doesn’t help

 

[aufheben]

In a thread on the Prospects forum, Vitali is one of the most mentioned players for most overrated prospects.

Guess that makes it official. He's on the express train to bustsville.

You should take anything said on the prospects board with a dump truck of salt. It’s just a weenie-measuring contest.

That said I have been surprised by how highly regarded he has been at times. For instance that Athletic article that came out last week about him. But I also know very little about prospects so perhaps it’s justified.

 

[kovazub94]

I highly doubt many/any KHL teams weight train like North American teams do. That's likely what Buch was referring to. Russian prospects always seem to be much weaker than their NA counterparts. I mean, it's abundantly clear that they train differently.

Maybe that’s the point. Larger ice space and generally slower skating makes physicality less important. I’m 100% sure weight training there is available for professional athletes if one looks for it. More so than ice actually.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Maybe that’s the point. Larger ice space and generally slower skating makes physicality less important. I’m 100% sure weight training there is available for professional athletes if one looks for it. More so than ice actually.

To me, that’s why it’s dumb that Zine is saying it’s a joke. It clearly is a very real lack of strength training going on. I don’t think he was kidding; I think it was misunderstood.

 

[JCProdigy]

To me, that’s why it’s dumb that Zine is saying it’s a joke. It clearly is a very real lack of strength training going on. I don’t think he was kidding; I think it was misunderstood.

I thought it was well known that the Rangers tasked him to work on his core after he got hurt early in his rookie season. He hadn't built it up enough to withstand the rigors of the NHL game. Doesn't necessarily speak to the KHL conditioning its athletes on the whole but when a young player comes over after spending time on one of the top teams there and he had a weak core, it doesn't scream that Cherepovets or even SKA had him working on it diligently.

 

[kovazub94]

To me, that’s why it’s dumb that Zine is saying it’s a joke. It clearly is a very real lack of strength training going on. I don’t think he was kidding; I think it was misunderstood.

As I said, if Buchnevich wanted to improve his physical conditioning before coming over - he could but he (unwisely) chose not to, similar how he chose not to study English. This is where he was trying to make a sarcastic remark about lack of gyms in Russia to “explain” his conditioning.

There was a big article in Athletic about Malkin and a short of it is that while not as easy as it is here, improving physical conditioning, diet etc are not impossible to be addressed in Russia.

 

[Ola]

Good heavens.

All KHL teams weight train. Apparently not everyone gets Buchnevich's self-depreciating sarcasm.

Yeah, but to be honest, I kind of wonder what the heck Buch was thinking when he said that. It wasn't at all in a sarcastic perspective or whatever. I recon, sometimes everyone say stupid things. But like I am not sure if I am ready to fault anyone for not understanding that what Buch said of course wasn't true.

But lol, just for the record, yes Severstal and all other KHL teams does weight training. And all junior players does it at least from when they are like 13-14 y/o in all of the hockey world in Russia.

Buch grew a lot just before coming to NA. His core strength etc was behind. Maybe Severstal (SKA is off the hook for that one) should have done a better job.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

As I said, if Buchnevich wanted to improve his physical conditioning before coming over - he could but he (unwisely) chose not to, similar how he chose not to study English. This is where he was trying to make a sarcastic remark about lack of gyms in Russia to “explain” his conditioning.

There was a big article in Athletic about Malkin and a short of it is that while not as easy as it is here, improving physical conditioning, diet etc are not impossible to be addressed in Russia.

I’m not saying anything about an impossibility. I don’t think that was ever said.