Player Discussion Vitali Kravtsov - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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We might be whipping a dead horse here. No matter how many points Kravtsov wracks up in the KHL, there's a sizable majority on these Boards who are convinced he's 'done' as an NHL player.
And if Canucks had any scoring depth on the wing, I'd say they'd be 100 percent right. But after Boeser and Debrusk, who runs hot and cold, scoring from the wingers on this Canuck team basically falls off a cliff. And other than maybe Lekkerimaki, there's absolutely nothing on the horizon.
But I guess we'll soon find out with Kravtsov. His two year KHL deal is up in just over a month or so; and if he re-signs, then he's probably as good as done in North America.
Andy Dufresne
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
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This is the thread where we secretly keep track of Josh Leivo's stats, in case we re-sign him.
He's up to 41 goals now. Top scorer in any top pro league outside the nhl.
His problem wasn't talent or skill, but attitude. If he's somehow changed and started to undertand what is it to be a professional hockey player, then there is hope he still is able to restart his NHL career. After all he sucked in the KHL as well before this season...
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
How dare you crush my dreams of a front line of Sergei Shirokov and Anton Rodin, and defenseman Henrik Tommernes??
PuckMunchkin
Very Nice, Very Evil!
Should have kept Kravtsov over Pettersson
Count me as another who's totally baffled at times of what to make of the KHL. I mean an NHL journeyman like Josh Leivo is the runaway scoring leader. And Sheldon Rempal, who plied his trade in the Pacific Division of the AHL for the past two or three seasons, is solidly in the top 10 in scoring.
He joins the likes of Taylor Beck, Jordan Weal, Nathan Todd (who is he?) and Max Comptois as top scorers in the KHL. I mean from all reports, the league isn't that bad. But if these AHL vets can light it up, then how good can it be?
My only question is the size of the ice. Do KHL teams play on the larger Olympic ice sheet? That might explain why some of these guys thrive with more room to operate out there than on NA rinks.
And then Tsyplakov moved to the NHL and...
It's pretty easy to explain actually: they come to the KHL and get top6 roles there they couldn't get in the NHL. Plus a lot of TOI. Of course their scoring goes up.
And players like Tsyplakov are able to play not just top6 roles, that's why Leivo sucked in the NHL and Tsyplakov doesn't.
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Kravtsov up to 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 59 games with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL.
Perhaps more importantly, he's now a plus-24 in the plus-minus department. Does this mean he's finally learning how to play defensively?
Perhaps more importantly, he's now a plus-24 in the plus-minus department. Does this mean he's finally learning how to play defensively?
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
ChilliBilly
Registered User
I would like to see him take another shot at the NHL next year. He’s a pretty talented player and he’s exactly what we need. Let’s see if he can make it this time.
I wonder if management has him in the crosshairs for next year.
I wonder if management has him in the crosshairs for next year.
Blue and Green
Out to lunch
- Dec 17, 2017
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Leivo was doing a nice job for us as a middle-six winger before he got kneecapped.
ChilliBilly
Registered User
Thx for the great analysis. You clearly have inside info.
He’s a RFA with VCR for 3 more years. He’s having a decent year in the kHL. He’s 25, 6’3” and skilled. He can make a lot more here. His contract with Traktor is up.
Hansen
tyler motte simp
Agreed....but it does happen. I suppose the best example is Valeri Nichushkin. I remember there were some Canuck fans who were disappointed they didn't draft him in 2013 instead of Horvat.
He busted hard in Dallas, bedeviled by injuries and failed expectations. And went back to CKSA Moscow in the KHL, and hardly lit the league on fire. He had two seasons of 24 points and 27-points, so far below Kravtsov's level of production.
But eventually traded to the Avalanche, he's played like a top-six winger, although he's still been bitten by the injury bug in recent seasons.
As others have pointed out---if his attitude and work ethic has changed, then Kravtsov could return to the NHL. Certainly the talent that made him a top-10 draft pick in 2018 is still there, and he's only 25.
