Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part IX

[Harbour Dog]

Even in practice, it's 5-hole or nothing. If he becomes a star, he's going to single-handedly lead to a new goaltending style.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

He's got loads of tools. Great size, smooth skating, nasty dekes. He's like the K'Andre of forwards.

 

[ohbaby]

Kakko is 2nd in the league in Takeaways/60. If there's one thing I am not worried about it's battles for the puck and his ability to generate possession.

Not true. He is 7th with those skating at least 12 minutes per game. NHL Stats | NHL.com

Still, that is pretty good. Last night alone he had 3 takeaways. I have said he is much better with his stick, breaking up plays. He had a good game last night.

 

[EdJovanovski]

He's got loads of tools. Great size, smooth skating, nasty dekes. He's like the K'Andre of forwards.

I think fans are going to love him and he will settle down some of the uneasiness people have about our top prospects not showing that flash that other top end prospects are. Even if he doesn't produce, which I think he will; his skill is very apparent. Kakko & Laf were billed as more NHL-ready guys, though they may not look physically overwhelmed right now they sort of just blend in. I've seen people comment on how if they didn't know better they would've guessed Laf/Kakko were career 4th line plugs in their late 20's and that Blackwell was the high flying top pick. Players like Stutzle & Hughes who haven't produced like Matthews or anything, but they show flashes of brilliance a lot more than Kakko & Laf have.

Both Laf & Kakko are the type of player that's "more than the sum of their parts". Neither are great skaters, neither have a rocket of a shot, they were known for their hockey IQ and all around game as prospects. Kravtsov has the wheels, dangles, shot, etc. He also has that Kovalev mentality and I could see him absolutely not giving a f*** and just skating out there doing his signature between the legs deke and not becoming more "milquetoast" like how Laf & Kakko have been.

 

[duhmetreE]

Not true. He is 7th with those skating at least 12 minutes per game. NHL Stats | NHL.com

Still, that is pretty good. Last night alone he had 3 takeaways. I have said he is much better with his stick, breaking up plays. He had a good game last night.

Minimum of 10 games played

 

[duhmetreE]

I actually really like Kravtsov and Lafreniere together. I think their styles blend and they are going to have great chemistry from day 1.

Kreider Zibanejad Buchnevich
Panarin Strome Kakko
Lafreniere Chytil Kravtsov

If Chytil and Kravtsov can push back the defense with their speed, it should create a lot of space for Lafreniere.. Mo' space Mo' problems [for opposing teams]

 

[CupSeeker]

I actually really like Kravtsov and Lafreniere together. I think their styles blend and they are going to have great chemistry from day 1.

Kreider Zibanejad Buchnevich
Panarin Strome Kakko
Lafreniere Chytil Kravtsov

If Chytil and Kravtsov can push back the defense with their speed, it should create a lot of space for Lafreniere.. Mo' space Mo' problems [for opposing teams]

That's a sexy top 9. Will it produce goals? I'm ready to see what happens. Nobody else on the roster has forced their way into the top 9, so go with this and put the 4th line together based on the opponent and who is going.

 

[EXTRAS]

When's his 1st game?

 

[Irishguy42]

When's his 1st game?

Could be Thursday. Would imagine they want more than one team practice for him (first team practice will be tomorrow), but who knows.

 

[Hire Sather]

As Krav readies for his NHL debut, it's interesting timing because I just traded him away as a 35 year old in my EHM franchise

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Not true. He is 7th with those skating at least 12 minutes per game. NHL Stats | NHL.com

Still, that is pretty good. Last night alone he had 3 takeaways. I have said he is much better with his stick, breaking up plays. He had a good game last night.

Sample size. You shouldn't include players who played 1 or 2 games.

It's interesting though to see the NYR Stats & Info Twitter account talk about GvA/60 all of a sudden

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I guess.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I think fans are going to love him and he will settle down some of the uneasiness people have about our top prospects not showing that flash that other top end prospects are. Even if he doesn't produce, which I think he will; his skill is very apparent. Kakko & Laf were billed as more NHL-ready guys, though they may not look physically overwhelmed right now they sort of just blend in. I've seen people comment on how if they didn't know better they would've guessed Laf/Kakko were career 4th line plugs in their late 20's and that Blackwell was the high flying top pick. Players like Stutzle & Hughes who haven't produced like Matthews or anything, but they show flashes of brilliance a lot more than Kakko & Laf have.

Both Laf & Kakko are the type of player that's "more than the sum of their parts". Neither are great skaters, neither have a rocket of a shot, they were known for their hockey IQ and all around game as prospects. Kravtsov has the wheels, dangles, shot, etc. He also has that Kovalev mentality and I could see him absolutely not giving a f*** and just skating out there doing his signature between the legs deke and not becoming more "milquetoast" like how Laf & Kakko have been.

Until Quinn gets his hands on him.

 

[will1066]

Until Quinn gets his hands on him.

Quinn: Oh, boy, another prospect I can ruin!

 

[Sayba]

I think fans are going to love him and he will settle down some of the uneasiness people have about our top prospects not showing that flash that other top end prospects are. Even if he doesn't produce, which I think he will; his skill is very apparent. Kakko & Laf were billed as more NHL-ready guys, though they may not look physically overwhelmed right now they sort of just blend in. I've seen people comment on how if they didn't know better they would've guessed Laf/Kakko were career 4th line plugs in their late 20's and that Blackwell was the high flying top pick. Players like Stutzle & Hughes who haven't produced like Matthews or anything, but they show flashes of brilliance a lot more than Kakko & Laf have.

Both Laf & Kakko are the type of player that's "more than the sum of their parts". Neither are great skaters, neither have a rocket of a shot, they were known for their hockey IQ and all around game as prospects. Kravtsov has the wheels, dangles, shot, etc. He also has that Kovalev mentality and I could see him absolutely not giving a f*** and just skating out there doing his signature between the legs deke and not becoming more "milquetoast" like how Laf & Kakko have been.

There is only 1 Kovalev, I've yet to see another quite like him yet. He was the Barry Sanders of stick handling. He was also thick, 215-225 lbs where Kravtsov is pretty thin.

I get the comparisons tho and your points about Laf and Kakko. To go back to the football comparison, they aren't guys who would light up the combine.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Until Quinn gets his hands on him.

Quinn: Oh, boy, another prospect I can ruin!

There’s another young Russian who Quinn got his hands on thats doing pretty f***ing well this season. Just sayin

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

There’s another young Russian who Quinn got his hands on thats doing pretty f***ing well this season. Just sayin

Buchnevich had already played 2 seasons in the NHL and was 5 years removed from his draft when Quinn was hired. Not really the same.

 

[ohbaby]

Sample size. You shouldn't include players who played 1 or 2 games.

It's interesting though to see the NYR Stats & Info Twitter account talk about GvA/60 all of a sudden

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I guess.

I stand corrected. You're right, Didn't notice games played. That's pretty impressive. Speaking of his giveaways/60,.. they are near the bottom, making for a great GvA/Takeaway ratio! Then why doesn't he impress me along the boards with that ratio? Crazy.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

I stand corrected. You're right, Didn't notice games played. That's pretty impressive. Speaking of his giveaways/60,.. they are near the bottom, making for a great GvA/Takeaway ratio! Why doesn't he impress me along the boards with that ratio? Crazy.

While interesting, the lack of giveaways likely has to do with Kakko’s hesitancy to carry the puck through the neutral zone. He’s getting more comfortable, but he flat out took himself out of position last season to avoid being put in those situations.

Conversely you have a guy like Jack Hughes that tries to carry the puck through the neutral zone more times in one shift than Kakko does in an entire game. Much more conducive to giveaways.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Buchnevich had already played 2 seasons in the NHL and was 5 years removed from his draft when Quinn was hired. Not really the same.

So we are just going to completely discount the work Quinn has done with him over the past 3 and a half years?

Hey I’m not the biggest Quinn lover either but we need to be fair. He sat Buch multiple times to correct his game. He’s worked hard on it. Saying it’s worked would be an understatement.

And the responses were about Kravstov, another prospect well removed from his draft year

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

So we are just going to completely discount the work Quinn has done with him over the past 3 and a half years?

Hey I’m not the biggest Quinn lover either but we need to be fair.

And the responses were about Kravstov, another prospect well removed from his draft year

That's not what I am saying. I'm just pointing out that the 2 situations are vastly different. Buchnevich was much more established when Quinn arrived than Kravtsov is today

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

That's not what I am saying. I'm just pointing out that the 2 situations are vastly different. Buchnevich was much more established when Quinn arrived than Kravtsov is today

Understood, but I don’t see how that’s relevant. Buch was what, around 21 when Quinn took over? Kravstov is also 21 with plenty of pro (albeit not NHL) experience.

The argument can be made both ways.

The point I’m trying to make is Quinn isn’t this big ruiner a lot of fans make him out to be

 

[duhmetreE]

Understood, but I don’t see how that’s relevant. Buch was what, around 21 when Quinn took over? Kravstov is also 21 with plenty of pro (albeit not NHL) experience.

The argument can be made both ways.

The point I’m trying to make is Quinn isn’t this big ruiner a lot of fans make him out to be

Buch was 23, starting his 3rd year.

 

[Ola]

Not true. He is 7th with those skating at least 12 minutes per game. NHL Stats | NHL.com

Still, that is pretty good. Last night alone he had 3 takeaways. I have said he is much better with his stick, breaking up plays. He had a good game last night.

If we put a cap on Kakko’s TOI and PP TOI, where does he rank in scoring? Who is the top scorer in this cathegory? I.e. forwards who has played as much or less then Kakko 5 on 5 and on the PP?

Can’t find any decent stat site with filters...

 

[effen]

Quinn: Oh, boy, another prospect I can ruin!

Christmas in March for him.

 

[nyr2k2]

I'm not a big Quinn fan but it's crazy to suggest he ruins prospects, IMO. I criticized him heavily for how he used Andersson, but now I think maybe Andersson deserved the treatment and just isn't that good. Based on how he handled himself last season and what he has done this season.

You look at a Fox, or a Lindgren. They're great. People always go, "Oh, well they're just really good, and came to the NHL ready." People don't want to credit the coach for helping develop these guys because they were "ready" from the outset. They're better now than they were. No credit to the coach. Yet Lafreniere, who was supposed to be the most NHL-ready player in the draft, when he struggles it's the coach. Kakko, it's the coach. Do I like the way he uses them? Not necessarily, but I don't think he's ruining them. A lot of people killed him for how he handled DeAngelo, and he helped Tony for a season and a half become one of the preeminent PMD's in the game. Chytil, he's a guy who is up and down. Is that on the coach? It's amazing because you read all the complaining about the line combos and usage, and if you listened to the board collectively we'd have 9 guys getting first-line TOI and PP1 time every game. Doesn't work that way. You have a lot of young guys, you have to do a lot of juggling. Sometimes the young guys will get squeezed. The coach is also trying to win and can't just force a lineup of unproductive young players just because we all want Kakko and Lafreniere to play 20 minutes.

So many are so quick to condemn, but refuse to praise. Look, I don't like it when he seems like he forgets about a guy, or overplays a Brett Howden, or how he force-feeds certain guys big minutes. And I don't think he's the coach for this team long term. But he's not nearly as bad as some here portray him to be (and I'm not talking heat-of-the-moment, fire-everyone stuff).