Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part IX

[Edge]

@Edge I know it has been discussed a bit here, but what are the odds that Kravtsov's game translates to the center ice position? I don't mean to say that as I want them to just throw him there and see if ti works but a 50 point 6'4 center is worth A LOT

Personally, I continue to see him as a winger based on where he appears to gravitate to on the ice.

I think there's always a temptation to move playmaking wingers to center, but a lot of what often makes their game successful is how/where they feel comfortable receiving and handling the puck on the ice.

Internally, I can't say I've heard much chatter about it. It's been more of an external concept to this point.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Personally, I continue to see him as a winger based on where he appears to gravitate to on the ice.

I think there's always a temptation to move playmaking wingers to center, but a lot of what often makes their game successful is how/where they feel comfortable receiving and handling the puck on the ice.

Internally, I can't say I've heard much chatter about it. It's been more of an external concept to this point.

IMO wingers transitioning to center isn't really something you can predict. Aho was a winger basically his entire life until he was drafted. Chytil played wing mostly aside from his years as a kid, Hayes transitioned after making the NHL.

If Kravtsov shows the traits the Rangers are looking for in a center, I could see it happening but with the struggles that come with the adjustment to life and hockey in NA already, I would be shocked if they transition him to center early on.

 

[usekakkorightquinn]

In a redraft Buchnevich would be somewhere pretty close to top-10, definitely top-15.

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

 

[UnSandvich]

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

As usual, you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[RGY]

As usual, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Bookmark material. The stack is getting quite high.

 

[nyr2k2]

Scoreless, 2 shots, 19:00 TOI today.

 

[chosen]

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

While Buchnevich will never be great, last season's metrics made him among their very best players.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

While Buchnevich will never be great, last season's metrics made him among their very best players.

Just because someone isn't a star player, doesn't mean the team should just get rid of him. It's okay for a player to be a solid 2nd line player. You need those as well. And Buchnevich as a top-6 winger is more than okay. Especially for that cap hit

 

[FIRE DRURY]

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

 

[bobbop]

As usual, you have no idea what you're talking about.

I'd block this guy but it's just too much fun to watch.

 

[Entrancemperium]

I'd block this guy but it's just too much fun to watch.

He's a great heel. Feels like schtick especially after the "I don't need to watch him play" line. dead giveaway that he's a shitposter

 

[Cag29]

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

I like Buch. He’s got skill and some grit to him.
I hope he stays a Ranger!

 

[mas0764]

I’d like Buch if he would re-sign for a contract that is affordable as a third liner. He’s better than that but he’s gonna be surpassed by Kakko and Kravtsov; and he’s behind in the winger pecking order for getting paid behind LWs Kreider, Panarin and Lafreniere too.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

Buch’s issue is he isn’t skilled enough to be a true top 6 player, but he isn’t sound enough defensively or tough enough to be bottom 6. I wouldn’t rely on him to kill penalties or be on the ice up a goal late in the game. At the same time he isn’t a playmaker or a true scorer where you feel confident he can score or help score a game tying goal. He’s kinda just there. He’s fine and he can put up points, especially when playing with the takeng he’s played with. He’s just extraordinarily unremarkable at just about everything without being downright bad at anything.

At least Kravstov has the hype of having the skill of a top 6 player. Will he be able to put up points in the NHL? If he can, will he be a defensive liability or will he be defensively sound? Hopefully he gets a true shot sooner than later.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

In your dreams. Buchnevich is a dumb hockey player. The only thing that has given him an NHL career so far is that the Rangers have had to put him on the top 2 lines because they had nobody else. That will be coming to an end now. Kravtsov is light years better with skill and skating. He was struggling for a while but it seems he's finding himself now. I don't expect Buchnevich to be on the team much longer. I would think they only way they keep him is to have somebody to expose to the expansion draft. Though, I'd rather move him if a team is dumb enough to give up a first rounder for him.

Dumb hockey player? Lol

As usual like your posts, no clue what you're talking about. And Buch would indeed go top 10-15 in a redraft.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Buch’s issue is he isn’t skilled enough to be a true top 6 player, but he isn’t sound enough defensively or tough enough to be bottom 6. I wouldn’t rely on him to kill penalties or be on the ice up a goal late in the game. At the same time he isn’t a playmaker or a true scorer where you feel confident he can score or help score a game tying goal. He’s kinda just there. He’s fine and he can put up points, especially when playing with the takeng he’s played with. He’s just extraordinarily unremarkable at just about everything without being downright bad at anything.

At least Kravstov has the hype of having the skill of a top 6 player. Will he be able to put up points in the NHL? If he can, will he be a defensive liability or will he be defensively sound? Hopefully he gets a true shot sooner than later.

Late clutch game tying goals are literally his specialty

 

[kovazub94]

Buch’s issue is he isn’t skilled enough to be a true top 6 player, but he isn’t sound enough defensively or tough enough to be bottom 6. I wouldn’t rely on him to kill penalties or be on the ice up a goal late in the game. At the same time he isn’t a playmaker or a true scorer where you feel confident he can score or help score a game tying goal. He’s kinda just there. He’s fine and he can put up points, especially when playing with the takeng he’s played with. He’s just extraordinarily unremarkable at just about everything without being downright bad at anything.

At least Kravstov has the hype of having the skill of a top 6 player. Will he be able to put up points in the NHL? If he can, will he be a defensive liability or will he be defensively sound? Hopefully he gets a true shot sooner than later.

Once again, a bad take on Buch, or at least an outdated. It reads like you made up your mind about him at some point and didn’t care to watch since. Think we need @Irishguy42 to post again stats shows Buch’s impact when he’s on ice.

Worth noting too that Buchnevich earned his top-6 role over time after providing himself as reliable while in a third or even forth lines roles.

 

[RGY]

Once again, a bad take on Buch, or at least an outdated. It reads like you made up your mind about him at some point and didn’t care to watch since. Think we need @Irishguy42 to post again stats shows Buch’s impact when he’s on ice.

Worth noting too that Buchnevich earned his top-6 role over time after providing himself as reliable while in a third or even forth lines roles.

The bolded is key here. This is the case for many fans who still hold some illogical grudge against him. The guy has gotten better every year, especially in the areas of the game that were certainly lacking when he came over from the KHL. He played a whopping 4 games in Hartford. Maybe he should have played more there to work on the other areas of the game as they did with Kravtsov. The NHL is the most demanding league in the world and some here just expected him to excel at every aspect of the game right away. He is no selke candidate but he certainly isn’t a liability or lost in his own end like he once was. He has a bit of a mean streak as well now. He put on muscle and overall size. He is no Tom Wilson but he plays physical. He doesn’t shy away from confrontation. He is growing up right before our eyes. He is a perfect middle 6 option with the talent we have coming in to take the 1st line from him. The beauty would be to have him and Kreider be on the 2nd/3rd line in 2-3 years with the younger talent taking over, providing insane depth.

But hey, some here will stick to their fictional narrative no matter what facts are thrown their way. The same is going to happen with Kravtsov. You can see it already. We have too many stat watchers here. I am not advanced stats advocate, I don’t see it as the end all be all, but they can be useful as guidance for even more context. Were seeing this same ongoing debate happening in the Lundkvist thread with one particular poster.

 

[Levitate]

Buch is definitely talented enough to be a top six player. I wish he was more consistent but that's what can be said for most players that aren't clear cut 1st line/star players. If they were more consistent...they'd be clear cut 1st line/star players
He slots in there as about a 50 point player (pro-rating the last couple of years as he missed time with injury or whatever 2 years ago and the short season last year) which is good output these days for a 2nd line player, and he can play up with a 1st line when needed

He's fine, I'd hope Kravtsov could be a bit better, more a 60 point player, but if he's "just" Buch that's still decent as it let's the Rangers stay strong at a position and navigate salary/cap considerations better for another strethc of years

 

[will1066]

Late clutch game tying goals are literally his specialty

Late 2-1 clutch game tying goals are literally his specialty

 

[will1066]

The problem might partly lie in that he doesn't have a lot of flash. Nowadays people think a top six player needs to have some sort of dash and flash in at least one aspect of his game. As long as Buch keeps a snarl and an edge to his game, he'll be fine.

 

[SA16]

Buch already is easily a top six player.

 

[nyr2k2]

Buch already is easily a top six player.

Yeah this goes back to the thing where people think you have to score 60 points to be on the second line and everyone on the first line is at a PPG or more. Where we'd do our season point projections for guys and you'd add up the projections for half of the posters and it would equal 400+ goals.

Buch averaging 48 points per 82 is absolutely a second line player. Go back to 18-19 and Buch's 38 in 64 put him 42nd among right wings. In 17-18 he was 36th. If that's not second line, I don't know what is.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Yeah this goes back to the thing where people think you have to score 60 points to be on the second line and everyone on the first line is at a PPG or more. Where we'd do our season point projections for guys and you'd add up the projections for half of the posters and it would equal 400+ goals.

Buch averaging 48 points per 82 is absolutely a second line player.

The last few years the standards have changed though.

 

[nyr2k2]

The last few years that standards have changed though.

I added more to my post. In 18-19 he was 42nd in RW scoring despite playing just over 60 games. In 17-18 he was 36th.

Last season he was 17th in scoring among RWs.