Toggle sidebar

Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part IX

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Paulie Walnutz said:
The problem isn’t that we have talentless goons on the fourth line, the problem is we have too many talentless journeymen on the 4th line sans Gauthier.
Click to expand...

Brendan Lemieux was basically one. But yes, I miss the days where we had a good 4th line that wasn't made up of journeymen. However, Rooney and Blackwell have forced the coach's hand with their performance this season. They have really exceeded expectations
 
  • Like
Reactions: haveandare, Pawnee Rangers and SnowblindNYR
It’s not an easy spot to be in. The fact is neither he nor Gauthier are going to be well served on the fourth line. Gauthier has been playing better recently and with his AHL production you’d think he’d be fairly likely to succeed as a middle 6 scoring winger.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarkMessyay11
KirkAlbuquerque said:
There's just no room for him. JG needs to make a trade
Click to expand...
I'd prefer they play Kravtsov a few games to get some type of idea of what they have before making any trade. They need to get VK in there for a bunch of games before the trade deadline. This organizations lack of incentive to gather data on their players boggles me sometimes.
 
Paulie Walnutz said:
The problem isn’t that we have talentless goons on the fourth line, the problem is we have too many talentless journeymen on the 4th line sans Gauthier.
Click to expand...
this. Blackwell is not suited for this role. He has no place on this roster next year. This year he can hang out and increase his value for a move.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Paulie Walnutz
haveandare said:
It’s not an easy spot to be in. The fact is neither he nor Gauthier are going to be well served on the fourth line. Gauthier has been playing better recently and with his AHL production you’d think he’d be fairly likely to succeed as a middle 6 scoring winger.
Click to expand...
It definitely isn't as simple as plug and play for Vitali. I'm not going to pretend to know the inner workings of management or how he's looked in practice so far, but I would imagine that he has not yet gotten into a game because 1) they're not keen on giving him limited minutes and playing him on the 4th line and 2) no one (namely Gauthier) has played poorly enough to warrant a scratch.

We're all very quick to forget that Kravs has yet to play in an NHL game as well. Bringing him in at this time of year against this division and limiting his ice time probably isn't how they envisioned him starting. At the same time, the clock is ticking on his ELC and he's only going to "develop" so much in practice. I'd love for him to get at least 10-15 games under his belt this year to use as a stepping stone/learning experience for next year.

I also just want to see the friggin kid play...
 
  • Like
Reactions: haveandare
Play VK. Let's see what he's got after his stint in the KHL. The organization needs to know. NOW.
 
CupSeeker said:
this. Blackwell is not suited for this role. He has no place on this roster next year. This year he can hang out and increase his value for a move.
Click to expand...
What makes him unsuited for the role?
Play VK. Let's see what he's got after his stint in the KHL. The organization needs to know. NOW.
Click to expand...
I want to see him play as well, but why the rush?
 
MarkMessyay11 said:
It definitely isn't as simple as plug and play for Vitali. I'm not going to pretend to know the inner workings of management or how he's looked in practice so far, but I would imagine that he has not yet gotten into a game because 1) they're not keen on giving him limited minutes and playing him on the 4th line and 2) no one (namely Gauthier) has played poorly enough to warrant a scratch.

We're all very quick to forget that Kravs has yet to play in an NHL game as well. Bringing him in at this time of year against this division and limiting his ice time probably isn't how they envisioned him starting. At the same time, the clock is ticking on his ELC and he's only going to "develop" so much in practice. I'd love for him to get at least 10-15 games under his belt this year to use as a stepping stone/learning experience for next year.

I also just want to see the friggin kid play...
Click to expand...
Yeah, agreed. Imo you wait until Gauthier has a bad or just okay game, which likely isn’t too far from now, then move him to the fourth line for a game and put Kravstov in that spot. I’d even swap Laf and Kreider so Kravstov isn’t on a kid line and maybe Laf can build some mojo with Mika and Buch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kovazub94, Ruggs225 and MarkMessyay11
haveandare said:
Yeah, agreed. Imo you wait until Gauthier has a bad or just okay game, which likely isn’t too far from now, then move him to the fourth line for a game and put Kravstov in that spot. I’d even swap Laf and Kreider so Kravstov isn’t on a kid line and maybe Laf can build some mojo with Mika and Buch.
Click to expand...
Yeah it would probably make sense to give Kravs a line mate like Kreider vs. throwing the kids to the wolves, but the line combos don't matter to me as much as just getting him in some games with enough time to be rid of the nerves and get a feel for the pace. Kakko struggled with the pace of the game and the strength of opposing players on a much smaller ice surface for 60-70 games last yea. But the experience was necessary for him to make the strides he has so far this year. I don't know if Kravs will need 60-70 games, but I also don't think 5-10 will be enough. Unless they have a better reason for keeping him out that I'm unaware of, they really should be looking to get him in sooner than later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haveandare
haveandare said:
Yeah, agreed. Imo you wait until Gauthier has a bad or just okay game, which likely isn’t too far from now, then move him to the fourth line for a game and put Kravstov in that spot. I’d even swap Laf and Kreider so Kravstov isn’t on a kid line and maybe Laf can build some mojo with Mika and Buch.
Click to expand...
Regarding Gauthier, he could very well be responding to the pressure or Kravstov's presence. It's that up or out situation. He knows that Kravstov is a top prospect that they want to see play. So he is doing everything in his power to make that decision very difficult.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haveandare
Tawnos said:
Why do they need to know "NOW"?
Click to expand...

I understand him not coming in and have no problem waiting a few more games, but we do need to see him play as much as possible if he's a likely trade chip. Not that I even want to trade him personally, but i'm gonna give that guy the benefit of the doubt and say thats why "NOW".
 
Tawnos said:
Why do they need to know "NOW"?
Click to expand...
Because if he is not in the long term plans, I do not want to let Buch go to a trade or anyone else for that matter. Asset evaluation should be our highest priority right now as we are on the cusp of being really good.
 
True Blue said:
Because now is not later and the need for instant gratification demands NOW.
Click to expand...
thanks for answering for me butt munch. Has nothing to do with instant gratification; he is almost 22 and if he cannot be counted on in a top 9 role, we cannot let someone like Buch go in the offseason. if we were contending, I would feel differently. The rest of this year should be about setting us up for the next few years and knowing what we have (or don't have) in VK is pretty central to that.
 
CupSeeker said:
Because if he is not in the long term plans, I do not want to let Buch go to a trade or anyone else for that matter. Asset evaluation should be our highest priority right now as we are on the cusp of being really good.
Click to expand...
I would think that talent development is the highest priority....
 
True Blue said:
Because now is not later and the need for instant gratification demands NOW.
Click to expand...
nC8MvNQ.gif
 
egelband said:
I think we, in general, knock the fourth line intro a bit too harshly. Playing a guy 8-10 mins on the fourth line is - to me, at least - a totally reasonable and smart way to break a guy into the lineup. It’s not ideal, long term, for development, I suppose. Fourth liners are often used as spare parts on other lines and on special teams too.
I’d be happy with VK getting 2-3 shifts per period focusing on defense and then some time on the second power play unit.
Click to expand...

It's totally reasonable at this point in the season, especially since VK already had a full-time job elsewhere. It would not have been a reasonable thing to do with him all year long.

I just want to see this kid play in the NHL, period.
 
CupSeeker said:
Because if he is not in the long term plans, I do not want to let Buch go to a trade or anyone else for that matter. Asset evaluation should be our highest priority right now as we are on the cusp of being really good.
Click to expand...

The Rangers aren't going to decide what to do with Buchnevich based on a 20 game stint of Kravtsov as a rookie.
 
Synergy27 said:
It's totally reasonable at this point in the season, especially since VK already had a full-time job elsewhere. It would not have been a reasonable thing to do with him all year long.

I just want to see this kid play in the NHL, period.
Click to expand...

I agree with the idea of having him on the 4th line being okay. The ideal for me would be Top-9 NHL > Top line AHL > 4th line NHL > NHL taxi squad/press box
 
Tawnos said:
Why do they need to know "NOW"?
Click to expand...
Well if we do go through with an Eichel trade, he most likely will be included. Time is running out to see what we have with this kid. Typical Rangers, let’s trade our younglings away for the next overpaid superstar!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom