Player Discussion Vitali Kravtsov - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[F A N]

Worth noting that the KHL is kind of a weird league, and that success tends to translate in a less than linear fashion between the KHL and NHL possibly moreso than any other high-end league. Reid Boucher and Nikolay Goldobin were 1-2 and goals and tied for 2nd in the league for points last season.

I think Sheldon Rempal might currently have more points than Kravtsov.

I wouldn't say it's a weird league. The KHL is closer to the AHL than NHL. Success in the KHL tends to translate very well to the AHL (although not as much vice versa). A star AHL player who isn't slow by AHL standards will likely do well at the KHL level. It probably has a lot to do with time and space and defense. A lot of star AHL players can't translate their games to the NHL because of time and space and defense.

 

[ChilliBilly]

I'm cheering for Kravtsov, as I do for any player with a remote chance to contribute somehow to the organization. The big downer for me is not how he played when he was here and not his KHL production, but the mere fact that he left.

The AHL team is just down the street. If he really wanted that NHL career and really believed in himself, he would have taken the trip to Abby with the goal of showing the organization that he was a big-leaguer by the middle of the current season. He didn't. He doesn't believe. I'd be shocked if he comes back.

It reminds me very, very vaguely of when Jonathan Dahlen chose to stay in the Allsvenskan another season rather than moving up the SHL. Sure, it showed loyalty to his club, but in the moment it felt like I knew ... yeah, this guy isn't going to make it.

Depends on what sort of salary they were offering him in the AHL methinks. And he spent a year in the AHL already. It really depends on what sort of money he is getting. Certainly he is more likely to want to play in Russia where he is at home if there is no financial benefit of playing in the AHL.

give him a decent 2 way contract next year with an out clause in it allowing him to go home. Say $1.2M / $500K. He's not an UFA until 2027 (I Think) and I don't think he has to clear waivers next year. I can understand him not want to play in the minors on an ELC. Have no idea what his AHL salary was when he was here.

Edit - just a note, when he got sent to the minors in NY he was getting $70/yr . I can see why he left for Russia when they tried to assign him the next time around. Its a flaw in the system. Sadly, North American players don't have this option.