Confirmed Signing with Link: F Vitaly Kravtsov signs 2 year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL
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Artorius Horus T
sincerety
I wonder what will happen to Podkolzin after next year(s)
Michkov has insane shoes to fill to become the next russian born elite/franchise player drafted in the 1st round, cant even remember the last one.. Ovie?
Michkov has insane shoes to fill to become the next russian born elite/franchise player drafted in the 1st round, cant even remember the last one.. Ovie?
Reality Czech
Registered User
- Apr 17, 2017
- 6,572
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What gives you the right to decide what is best for him? Such an arrogant comment.
Choosing the K over North America in this day and age is insane. But if he wants to go then more power to him.
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I don't think this is necessarily a move that forecasts a lack of character, we should all be careful to attack the player for this.
He's clearly not ready to make an impact in the NHL, he needs more time in a lesser league. He could play in the AHL for two years and make 60k per year, or play in the KHL for two years closer to home and make 900k per year. Which would you choose if you were in his shoes?
If he develops and takes a step forward over the next two years, he can come back to an NHL training camp at 25 years old. A lot of players, especially bigger guys, don't break out until a bit later anyways.
I understand the initial optics being negative, but when you consider the options, it's probably not a terrible choice.
He's clearly not ready to make an impact in the NHL, he needs more time in a lesser league. He could play in the AHL for two years and make 60k per year, or play in the KHL for two years closer to home and make 900k per year. Which would you choose if you were in his shoes?
If he develops and takes a step forward over the next two years, he can come back to an NHL training camp at 25 years old. A lot of players, especially bigger guys, don't break out until a bit later anyways.
I understand the initial optics being negative, but when you consider the options, it's probably not a terrible choice.
One Winged Angel
You Can't Escape
Don’t get him started. He’ll come in here and tell you about how Boo Nieves should’ve gotten a shot as 1C for Chris Kreider.
He’s totally serious about that too. I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
BPD
Registered User
I mean...sure, but that list includes JT Miller, Brady Skjei, a 5 year no 1st round pick gap, Filip Chytil, K'Andre Miller, and at least three players that are yet to get the full crack at it - either from a "make the team" capacity or a "get the ice time" capacity - which is a classic NYR development weakness.
The issue here isn't that the players bust. It's that the Rangers historically don't have a goddamn clue how to develop 18-21 year olds unless it's completely taken out of their hands, and because of that, they tend to quit early on kids that were simply mismanaged.
Our very own @Caser acknowledged Kravtsov's weaknesses, back before the draft;
"A lot of attacking potential in Kravtsov, as he is a great skater with quite some skillset including soft hands, creativity and a natural goalscoring touch. Not enough power in his game in terms of both lower and upper body and, while that is fixable, much more worrying are some immature elements of his game: he looks a bit lost without the puck, error/bad penalty prone (some improvements have been noticed here on course of the season though) and not exactly the high-intensity guy. Kind of reminds me a bit of young Pavel Buchnevich."
Kravtsov is still a young'ish player. I am not going to crap all over him. In a couple of years he might come back to the NHL and be a useful player. He's basically the same age as Tage Thompson was when he was considered a joke of a player, scoring 14 pts. in 38 gp.
2016 was a pretty mediocre draft, overall. Kravtsov has plenty of company.
"A lot of attacking potential in Kravtsov, as he is a great skater with quite some skillset including soft hands, creativity and a natural goalscoring touch. Not enough power in his game in terms of both lower and upper body and, while that is fixable, much more worrying are some immature elements of his game: he looks a bit lost without the puck, error/bad penalty prone (some improvements have been noticed here on course of the season though) and not exactly the high-intensity guy. Kind of reminds me a bit of young Pavel Buchnevich."
Kravtsov is still a young'ish player. I am not going to crap all over him. In a couple of years he might come back to the NHL and be a useful player. He's basically the same age as Tage Thompson was when he was considered a joke of a player, scoring 14 pts. in 38 gp.
2016 was a pretty mediocre draft, overall. Kravtsov has plenty of company.
- Jul 28, 2011
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BPD
Registered User
Not to completely pop this bubble, but this is the exact thinking every Rangers fan has had for the past four years running.
Kravtsov is just not willing to put in the effort to be anything more than what he is. He's going to make more money in the KHL being Vitali Kravtsov than he will in the AHL or NHL being a constant reclamation project.
biturbo19
Registered User
- Jul 13, 2010
- 27,628
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Pretty much expected. There really just isn't an obvious opening for him on the Canucks roster. He would've had to put in the work to really earn a spot in the lineup...and doing that hasn't really worked out for him the previous bunch of times he's tried it. He doesn't have the intensity and effort level, defensive responsibility, or physical strength to thrive in any kind of bottom-6 role...and he's not actually skilled enough to find a home in the Top-6. Certainly not without more pace and effort in his game.
A real "tweener" sort of player. KHL is probably the right fit for him. He'll be able to make his money, score a bunch of points, and not have to really work on honing his craft and being better prepared physically.
Worthwhile gamble for the Canucks to give it a whirl and see if just getting out of that Rangers development system could spark anything. For the cost of basically nothing. But he just doesn't have it. Shame, as there is clearly some real talent there. Just not nearly enough talent to coast by the way he seems intent on doing.
A real "tweener" sort of player. KHL is probably the right fit for him. He'll be able to make his money, score a bunch of points, and not have to really work on honing his craft and being better prepared physically.
Worthwhile gamble for the Canucks to give it a whirl and see if just getting out of that Rangers development system could spark anything. For the cost of basically nothing. But he just doesn't have it. Shame, as there is clearly some real talent there. Just not nearly enough talent to coast by the way he seems intent on doing.
BPD
Registered User
Sure. But they were not first round picks. Dubinsky was a very late second and Callahan a fourth.
And in that exact same window where Callahan and Dubinsky and Girardi developed....they had no idea how to use Nigel Dawes, no sense for how to develop Lauri Korpikoski, probably screwed up Anisimov somewhere along the way, couldn't coach Nik Zherdev, had a very strong idea for what a defender had to be in the system to the extreme detriment of some of our top picks like Sanguinetti and Del Zotto, traded Tyutin for not fitting that mold, etc, etc...
We've never been really good at mixing the patience and coaching required to maximize the talent on the team. Always lacking one or the other except for a few very unique circumstances.
blankall
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2007
- 15,202
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Are the Rangers officially the worst drafting team in the league now? Good thing other team's stars keep demanding to go there.
OKR
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- Nov 18, 2015
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MardyBum
Registered User
The top end of drafts are littered with draft busts from every country.
It would be interesting to see an analysis if players from certain countries are more likely to bust when picked high compared to other countries.
Breakers
Make Mirrored Visors Legal Again
Dude literally lost his breath climbing over the boards for a change
I don’t get why his conditioning was soo damn poor
I don’t get why his conditioning was soo damn poor
blankall
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2007
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Goalies I will give you, but the only top 4 d-men on the Rangers roster that they actually drafted was K'Andre Miller. Fox and Lindgren they were gifted as NHL ready top 4 guys. Fox demanding to play for the Rangers, using the NCAA exemption. Lindgren was part of the Nash deal, the NYR only got Nash in the first place because he demanded to go there.
Trouba was another star player who wanted to go the NYR.
Don't think you realize how easy you have it, with just about every player from the Eastern US wanted to play, almost exclusively, for the NYR.
I dunno we used to develop forwards top 9 forwards although not one all-star forward since Kreider in the 09 draft. I miss the days of hitting on Dubinsky Stepan Callahan Dom Moore Fast and getting former 1st picks like Brian Boyle with potential for cheap that turned out to be a solid player for the Rangers Bolts and other teams.. Wish the Rangers had that type of scouting again. Need some hard workers with skill to mix with the superstar talent on the roster.
jackjohnson
Registered User
- Feb 9, 2021
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He is happy back in Russia with their situation instead of being in a world class city whether it's New York or Vancouver? lol...it's a funny thing to say. That's like a Sudanese going back to Sudan because he is happy at home there what with all the violence happening and all. These should be psychologists examining brains of these individuals that think like this or give up golden opportunity that ordinary people can't get just to go back to a much worst situation
And if that is how he chooses to approach it, then fine, it's still the right call. The difference is, he likely won't do much better in the KHL, and he likely won't earn an NHL shot upon completion of the contract. But still, it is the right call for the player. Who knows, maybe he'll decide to invest in himself, and something will click. Late bloomers do exist, it isn't impossible.
- Sep 28, 2014
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The Rangers had Top 10 picks in 4 straight drafts and really ended up with
Lias Andersson
Vitali Kravtsov
Kaapo Kakko
Alexis Lafreniere
Yikes
Lias Andersson
Vitali Kravtsov
Kaapo Kakko
Alexis Lafreniere
Yikes
Lindgren an NHL ready top 4 guy? he played a lot of games in the AHL over 3 years. I am pretty sure he was not an NHL ready top 4 guy.
