Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part VIII

[Levitate]

The KHL is a lower scoring league than the NHL, and you don't see young guys put up numbers in the KHL the way they do in the NHL either. I remember everyone gushing about Kravtsov's camp last year, if it were based strictly on that and no preferential treatment for Kakko based on being the 2nd overall pick, Kravtsov would've made the team over him.

It's highlights but feel like we see stuff like this when he was playing with confidence, we see him having success back in the KHL playing with confidence...seems like he really just hit a mental downswing when he didn't make the team last year and it affected him a lot. Like sure you want guys to be mentally resilient and just fight through it but he was a young guy in a new country and maybe was the first bit of adversity he faced that he wasn't able to overcome right away.

Biggest things for him I think will be to make sure to not get too fancy too often, make the smart plays in dangerous areas, and continue working on getting inside the circles into the dirty areas when need be (basically every NHL has to keep working on this IMO).

Real happy to see him doing well so far in the KHL, just gotta keep it up and hopefully he'll be available to join the Rangers later this year

e: you do really wish he could transition to center just cuz his style looks like it could be a good playmaking center but at the same time, he does make a bunch of plays off the boards. Hockey isn't as position heavy as it used to be but still

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Love the confidence in Kravtsov putting him out there with the empty net 5-on-6. Does a great job taking away passing lanes at the blue line, and then even came to his goalie's aid after the whistle.

 

[Kovalev27]

So, think of Chytil as the high end pick at 7OA and Barron as the safe choice at 21OA. Problem solved.

except you coulda had that missing middle 6 center we are all debating about if we had hit. Imagine if he had panned out. You’d have that two way guy about to hit his stride right now. These missed hurt.

love Barron though steal.

 

[Ghost of jas]

except you coulda had that missing middle 6 center we are all debating about if we had hit. Imagine if he had panned out. You’d have that two way guy about to hit his stride right now. These missed hurt.

love Barron though steal.

I was never a fan of that selection, but I'm over it. Just let him be put in a deal as a sweetener, and move on.

 

[Kovalev27]

Going to leave this here.

But @True Blue told me it was impossible to make guys switch wings.

 

[Kovalev27]

Kravtsov sets up Sedlak who whiffs with a wide open net.

We were just talking about this. Impossible to put up real points on this Traktor team with these ham and eggers fisting pucks everywhere

 

[True Blue]

But @True Blue told me it was impossible to make guys switch wings.

No, I told you it is not that easy or that often done

 

[Kovalev27]

No, I told you it is not that easy or that often done

Done all the time. And he scored too lol

 

[kovazub94]

Done all the time. And he scored too lol

So is Kreider like Kravtsov? Because when I pointed out that the successful shift wing to wing is not a certainty and gave an example of Buchnevich, the retort was Kreider and Buchnevich are different type of players. How about Ovechkin, arguably the best goal scorer of all time?

The point is you might be absolutely right and Kreider could be moved to RW without any issues. But completely dismissing the risk that it might not workout is silly.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

So is Kreider like Kravtsov? Because when I pointed out that the successful shift wing to wing is not a certainty and gave an example of Buchnevich, the retort was Kreider and Buchnevich are different type of players. How about Ovechkin, arguably the best goal scorer of all time?

The point is you might be absolutely right and Kreider could be moved to RW without any issues. But completely dismissing the risk that it might not workout is silly.

It hurts OV because he's a shoot first guy who can't tee up for that 1T if he's playing RW.

 

[Kovalev27]

So is Kreider like Kravtsov? Because when I pointed out that the successful shift wing to wing is not a certainty and gave an example of Buchnevich, the retort was Kreider and Buchnevich are different type of players. How about Ovechkin, arguably the best goal scorer of all time?

The point is you might be absolutely right and Kreider could be moved to RW without any issues. But completely dismissing the risk that it might not workout is silly.

i mentioned Kreider played his best game of the play in on the right side.

no one said boo about him moving over then or any of the other times he does it. Now we’re worried if he can accept a pass on his backhand? (I actually read that) it’s completely silly.

 

[True Blue]

Done all the time. And he scored too lol

Doing it at juniors or playing for Traktor is far different than doing it against NHL competition.

 

[True Blue]

The point is you might be absolutely right and Kreider could be moved to RW without any issues. But completely dismissing the risk that it might not workout is silly.

So easy a caveman an to it. Or playing EA Sports.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Doing it at juniors or playing for Traktor is far different than doing it against NHL competition.

But much better than not doing it at all. Why can't we be happy our prospect is trending in the right direction? Im really liking what im seeing compared to how he looked last time he played in the KHL. Glass over half full.

 

[True Blue]

But much better than not doing it at all. Why can't we be happy our prospect is trending in the right direction? Im really liking what im seeing compared to how he looked last time he played in the KHL. Glass over half full.

Who is not happy with prospects trending in the right direction?

 

[EdJovanovski]

He just stripped the other team of the puck and made the nicest play I've seen him make so far this season, the bozo he set up missed an empty net though

This was the play I was talking about:

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Only 1 goal today? Bust.

 

[I Eat Crow]

That's an NHL level release and goal.

 

[Irishguy42]

Only 1 goal today? Bust.

Only 2 SOG today? Bust.

 

[Chytilmania]

So easy a caveman an to it. Or playing EA Sports.

So easy Brendan Smith can switch from D to W.

 

[Inferno]

This was the play I was talking about:

it's plays like this why I'm less concerned with kravtsov than I am with lias.

 

[True Blue]

So easy Brendan Smith can switch from D to W.

You are talking about a floundering defenseman being asked to play 6 minutes as a 4th line wing?

 

[Chytilmania]

You are talking about a floundering defenseman being asked to play 6 minutes as a 4th line wing?

I was going along with your Geico commercial

 

[Kovalev27]

Currently being listed at 6’4 183 lbs

that is a SIGNIFICANT growth spurt post draft. Takes a minute to grow into that. He could and should add another 20 lbs at least to that frame when he’s fully matured. He’s using his body a lot more now too. I don’t think he’s ever been shy about contact which I’ve always liked about him but he’s going to have an ability to bull his way to the net at that size. Starting to really come together for him. He should have another 2 or 3 assists to go with the goals too if his team could score at all.

 

[kovazub94]

Currently being listed at 6’4 183 lbs

that is a SIGNIFICANT growth spurt post draft. Takes a minute to grow into that. He could and should add another 20 lbs at least to that frame when he’s fully matured. He’s using his body a lot more now too. I don’t think he’s ever been shy about contact which I’ve always liked about him but he’s going to have an ability to bull his way to the net at that size. Starting to really come together for him. He should have another 2 or 3 assists to go with the goals too if his team could score at all.

20 lbs is an absolute minimum. Being a 6’4” and only 183 teenage lbs is a disadvantage in grown men’s hockey.