Vitali Kravtsov ¯ _ ツ _ ¯

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Kravtsov now up to 25 goals and 26 assists in 61 KHL games. He's a pretty good bet to hit 30 goals on the season.

If the Canucks were willing to roll the dice on Kuzmenko, it hardly seems a big risk to do the same with Kravtsov.
 
Kravtsov now up to 25 goals and 26 assists in 61 KHL games. He's a pretty good bet to hit 30 goals on the season.

If the Canucks were willing to roll the dice on Kuzmenko, it hardly seems a big risk to do the same with Kravtsov.

Kuzmenko was on an ELC. Kravtsov would be looking for more. Perhaps the Canucks can trade his rights if he finds a team that is interested in him, but they won't get much.
 
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Kravtsov would be an interesting signing. He is obviously not going to command much money a year not with his NHL history. If he signs a one year deal he'll be a RFA at the end of it. If he signs a 2 year deal he's a UFA.

Kuzmenko was on an ELC. Kravtsov would be looking for more. Perhaps the Canucks can trade his rights if he finds a team that is interested in him, but they won't get much.
I think realistically nobody is going pay Kravtsov like $2M a year. He's going to get what non-established RFAs get on a bridge contract which is ~$1M. Maybe he gets $1.2M. If that is acceptable I don't see much risk since his contract can be buried and he would want to return to Russia anyways if he can't stick in the NHL.
 
I think realistically nobody is going pay Kravtsov like $2M a year. He's going to get what non-established RFAs get on a bridge contract which is ~$1M. Maybe he gets $1.2M. If that is acceptable I don't see much risk since his contract can be buried and he would want to return to Russia anyways if he can't stick in the NHL.

Kravstov can likely top that in Russia, so why would he come back to the NHL, and even if he wanted to come back to the NHL, why would he want to play for a coach that already punted on him?
 
Kravstov can likely top that in Russia, so why would he come back to the NHL, and even if he wanted to come back to the NHL, why would he want to play for a coach that already punted on him?

That's the decision he needs to make right? I think in terms of money next season he is going to get slightly more in Russia (especially once you factor in cost of living, taxes, and under the table payments it might come out to be a lot more). But if he somehow succeeds as as a top 6 scorer I think an NHL career would end up paying him more. But I don't really know what KHL salaries are like nowadays. I am under the impression that nobody is making Datsyuk/Kolvalchuk type dollars but I really don't know what Kravtsov can get if he stays in Russia.
 
Given all the worldwide sanctions on Russia and their rapidly tanking economy as the war in Ukraine drags on.....if I was Kravtsov I'd be making a bee-line to nearest airport.

A guarantied contract in NA would look pretty good to me. I'm actually kind of amazed the KHL has even survived through all the turmoil. Surely it has to eventually take its toll on the league as a whole, on team finances and the eventually the player salary structure.
 
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Kravtsov scores another goal last game, and sets the new record for most goals in a season in Traktor Chelyabinsk history.
Screenshot 2025-03-11 at 8.49.33 AM.png
 
I wonder, at this point has he proven enough strength training wise in KHL to signal that he can handle NHL physicality? Im sure someone in the organisation is keeping an eye on him. Everytime I see Nichushkin, I wonder if this guy can have that type of resurgence playing for Vancouver?
 
Whatever else Kravtsov becomes from here on in, it's pretty obvious that he was seriously jerked around in the Ranger organization.

They made him a top-10 pick (9th overall in 2018), but what happened next was a black hole for both the player and the organization. He was benched almost every time he made a mistake; sent to the minors on numerous occasions and spent a lot of time in the press-box at MSG.

Finally the breach was reached when he refused a re-assignment to Hartford. To be fair, the Rangers did try giving him ice-time eventually, but the damage had been done. And he was almost invisible out there....and wasn't much better in Vancouver after he was basically dumped for a 7th round draft pick.

In retrospect, they probably should have done what the Flyers did with Michkov or the Habs with Demidov--simply leave him in the KHL for a season or two.

In an ideal world (at least for the Canucks), Kravtsov's career mirrors that of Valeri Nichushkin, who flopped badly in Dallas (twice) and was eventually bought out and made his way to Colorado. It's pretty unlikely, but it does happen.

I mean going back to 2018, there was a reason he was made a top-10 pick. The talent was always there.
 
A few years back I remember there being some hope Chytil and Kravtsov would spark some chemistry similar to what happened when Kakko - Chytil - Laf went beast mode in the playoffs.

Doesn't appear they ended up playing much together. I wouldn't mind giving it a try in Van, not going to lie. It's unlikely to work out, but I think it's the type of chance you have to take next year with this team.
 
A few years back I remember there being some hope Chytil and Kravtsov would spark some chemistry similar to what happened when Kakko - Chytil - Laf went beast mode in the playoffs.

Doesn't appear they ended up playing much together. I wouldn't mind giving it a try in Van, not going to lie. It's unlikely to work out, but I think it's the type of chance you have to take next year with this team.
If the Canucks had more size, speed and particularly 'skill' on their wings, I doubt they'd have much interest in bringing Kravtsov back.

But things are so bad right now--with so many third and fourth line guys who are being basically forced into top-six roles--that taking another flyer on Kravtsov seems like a bit of a 'no brainer' to me.
 
If he has found success in the khl , what's the incentive to come back to the nhl and make less money?

It really depends on what Kravtsov makes over there. "On the books" he probably will make $1Mish. Off the books who knows. So my understanding is that long term he would make more in the NHL should he establish himself as a top 6 scorer. Plus there's status in being an NHL player.
 
Problem is he can't really play that well in the NHL. Reminder that Josh Leivo leads the KHL in scoring and Sheldon Rempal is ahead of Kravtsov. He's just not that good.
 
Problem is he can't really play that well in the NHL. Reminder that Josh Leivo leads the KHL in scoring and Sheldon Rempal is ahead of Kravtsov. He's just not that good.
I mean Leivo is a top 10 player in the world right now
 

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