TARRYTOWN - What often gets lost in fans' understandable desire for results is the human element in sports.
This can be especially true in hockey, where players from all over the globe end up in foreign North American cities before they're legally old enough to drink there. The language is new, as is the culture, and they're far from home with no familiar faces around for support. All the while, they're trying to adjust to the best league in the world and justify their prospect status.
The pressure can be consuming and the nights can be lonely.
That was certainly the case for Vitali Kravtsov during his previous stints with the New York Rangers.
"The last three years, I used to go home after practice and be alone," he told lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network, following Friday's practice at the MSG Training Center. "It’s different this year."
The yearning to perform well and nerves that come with it still exist, but the way in which the Russian forward handles those emotions seems to have changed.
It's helped that Kravtsov has made a concerted effort to spend time with teammates, with dinners out and other social activities a much more frequent occurrence. He used to be hesitant to seek those kind of interactions, in part because of the language barrier, but his English has improved, as has his confidence to put himself out there.
"Even if they don’t call me, I’ll call them," he said with a laugh.
Achieving better work-life balance is important for a talented 22-year-old who's still trying to prove he belongs.
He's expressed his desire to put past drama behind him − "I definitely made a lot of noise previously," he said last month − and displayed his commitment by showing up in New York more than two months before training camp began. But that maturity has been tested the last few days.
After spending the first two weeks of camp working mostly on the second line, Kravtsov skated on the fifth line − aka the forwards on the roster bubble − the past two practices. His performance in the preseason has been timid and shaky, particularly in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Boston Bruins, which has caused head coach Gerard Gallant to explore other options for the coveted right-wing spot on Artemi Panarin's line.
"Last game wasn't great, (but) a lot of guys’ last game wasn't great," Gallant said. "He's still got to battle. He's still got to make the team. Nothing's really changed. He's done okay in some games, and the last game, not many guys played well."
The coach said Kravtsov will remain off the second line for Saturday's 7 p.m. preseason finale on the road against the Islanders. In fact, he didn't confirm if he'll be in the lineup at all.
"He’s had a couple of looks there, and we’re going to put somebody else there tomorrow," Gallant said. "He might be on another line."
In the not-so-distant past, the disappointment from that kind of demotion might have unnerved the No. 9 overall pick from the 2018 NHL Draft. But as he sat at his locker Friday, he seemed to be taking it all in stride.
"Every day is a new day," he said. "If I’m not on that line, I don’t have to be mad at somebody. I know I didn’t play well, but I’m trying to be better. I think everybody sees that. That’s life. Sometimes you go through changes, and I just have to do what I can do – focus on what I can control."
Kravtsov was fair in his self-evaluation, specifically noting that "I feel like I have to be stronger" in puck battles and other physical situations. He also mentioned readjusting to the NHL's "game speed" as "the toughest part" after a broken foot limited him to only 19 regular-season games in Russia's KHL last season (plus another 15 in the playoffs).
"I expect myself to be better," he said. "My body feels good, but I still feel like I have a lot of work to do."
At times, it's looked as if the 6-foot-3, 186-pounder is playing tight, leery of making a mistake after failing to make the team out of camp last season. But he's adamant that his resolve won't wane this time around.
"I’m never going to say, ‘(Forget) that,’ or anything like that," Kravtsov said. "It can be hard for me, but everybody goes through that. I have to go through that, too."
It's helped to lean on teammates, with Panarin emerging as a key voice who has been in his ear.
"(Panarin) asked me to delete all my social media," he said with a smile. "He always tells me that."
Kravtsov hasn't gone that far, but he's cut back to only occasional peeks at Instagram.
It's all part of the learning process for a prospect who's still trying to find his way and live up to his potential − a journey that's rarely linear, even if many expect it to be.
"When your head is clear, you’re going to be much better on the ice," he said. "I’m trying to be better with that. I had three years when I didn’t show that. This time, I’m trying to prepare for the next step and never give up on anything. I focus on waking up and working hard. That’s all I can do in this situation."
Lineup and injury updates
While Kravtsov skated with extra forwards Dryden Hunt and Julien Gauthier, the top-four lines closely resembled what we may see for Tuesday's regular-season opener.
Kaapo Kakko continued to skate on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. He's been the best right-winger in camp, having posted two goals and an assist in three preseason games, and looks like a solid bet to secure that spot.
Replacing Kravtsov at RW on the second line was Jimmy Vesey. At this point, it would be a surprise if the Rangers don't offer the 29-year-old a contract.
That left a third line of Alexis Lafrenière, Filip Chytil and Barclay Goodrow, with Sammy Blais, Ryan Carpenter and Ryan Reaves skating on the fourth.
On defense, Jacob Trouba returned after missing one practice with an upper-body ailment, but Ryan Lindgren remained out with a lower-body injury. The latter won't play Saturday, but he skated on his own Friday and the Rangers fully expect him in the lineup for opening night.
"He’ll be ready to go," Gallant said.
As for the goalies, Gallant said he thinks Igor Shesterkin will start Saturday. He missed Wednesday's game due to a stomach issue but has practiced each of the last two days.
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