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Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part VIII

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kovazub94 said:
Not a knock on Howden but the way the forward group is shaping out and how in the current NHL a team cannot really get away with only two scoring lines, my hope is that Howden develops into a very good 4th liner, of the mold back a few years with Moore, Boyle etc that the Rangers had during their previous contention level. Cizikas type that gives you a 4th line that you’re not afraid to match against opponents top lines in any situation during any point of the game.
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I think the hope with Howden at this point is that he evolves into maybe a Bonino type. A guy who is good enough to play with some skill players but really is there to provide defensive conscience to the line. If Chytil moves up to that 2nd line spot and Howden moves up to the 3rd line, there's a very real chance this team has a Lafreniere, Kakko, Kreider, or Kravtsov on their 3rd line. So if Howden can be a compliment to that line, you're probably still getting a 3rd line that scores.

He's a 2nd year player. Plenty of time for him to improve. Sometimes we act like breaking in as a bottom-six player is easy, but when the coach is relying on you for defensive assignments and killing penalties, that's a lot of responsibility in it's own right. He's struggled with it but there have been some really bright spots as well.

Lastly, I think there's still a chance that once he gets a solid footing in terms of processing the game he'll take a noticeable step forward in overall play.
 
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Trxjw said:
I think the hope with Howden at this point is that he evolves into maybe a Bonino type. A guy who is good enough to play with some skill players but really is there to provide defensive conscience to the line. If Chytil moves up to that 2nd line spot and Howden moves up to the 3rd line, there's a very real chance this team has a Lafreniere, Kakko, Kreider, or Kravtsov on their 3rd line. So if Howden can be a compliment to that line, you're probably still getting a 3rd line that scores.

He's a 2nd year player. Plenty of time for him to improve. Sometimes we act like breaking in as a bottom-six player is easy, but when the coach is relying on you for defensive assignments and killing penalties, that's a lot of responsibility in it's own right. He's struggled with it but there have been some really bright spots as well.

Lastly, I think there's still a chance that once he gets a solid footing in terms of processing the game he'll take a noticeable step forward in overall play.
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As you know I'm definitely in the camp of being patient with prospects and not making rush conclusions of what kind of players they will become. It's just my personal view that team needs him to become a cheap and effective defensive specialist who could chip in occasional goal but who won't be judged based on offensive production.
 
For obvious cap related reasons that are coming, I say trade Buch and get put Kravtsov in his place. With the amount of talent we have in the top 6 now, there is no way he doesn’t produce, and at the same time, he can learn as we go here.
 
This kid is going to get reps at center ice as well at some point is my guess.

you can only pay so many wingers. Kakko Lafreniere Panarin Kreider you can all bank on taking up big money off the cap.

then you have Mika. You couldn’t even afford to pay a 2C much. Chytil Kravtsov maybe Lafreniere are all going to get looks at 2C over the next couple years is my guess.

I still loved what I saw from Kravtsov during the WJC. He was tremendous at center ice even if it affected his scoring a bit.
 
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Kovalev27 said:
This kid is going to get reps at center ice as well at some point is my guess.

you can only pay so many wingers. Kakko Lafreniere Panarin Kreider you can all bank on taking up big money off the cap.

then you have Mika. You couldn’t even afford to pay a 2C much. Chytil Kravtsov maybe Lafreniere are all going to get looks at 2C over the next couple years is my guess.

I still loved what I saw from Kravtsov during the WJC. He was tremendous at center ice even if it affected his scoring a bit.
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I really think he can become a two way center take away specialist with that X factor skill- if they give him a real shot.
 
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Kovalev27 said:
This kid is going to get reps at center ice as well at some point is my guess.

you can only pay so many wingers. Kakko Lafreniere Panarin Kreider you can all bank on taking up big money off the cap.

then you have Mika. You couldn’t even afford to pay a 2C much. Chytil Kravtsov maybe Lafreniere are all going to get looks at 2C over the next couple years is my guess.

I still loved what I saw from Kravtsov during the WJC. He was tremendous at center ice even if it affected his scoring a bit.
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And he was injured too. I still think LW/RW is his best position but if they are going to try someone at center, he is probably a candidate
 
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Amazing Kreiderman said:
And he was injured too. I still think LW/RW is his best position but if they are going to try someone at center, he is probably a candidate
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he just was so heady in that tournament. Most responsible guy on the ice defensively . Gritty. And brilliant with the puck. He has the puck on his stick way more at center ice than games I’ve seen him on the wing. I’m sure ideally you’d like him at wing but imo he’s not going to get much of a chance to play big mins there on this team. Would be as you said a great candidate to get a look there. People always compare him to Kuznetsov well they couldn’t get over the hump imo without moving him to center ice.
 
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Kovalev27 said:
he just was so heady in that tournament. Most responsible guy on the ice defensively . Gritty. And brilliant with the puck. He has the puck on his stick way more at center ice than games I’ve seen him on the wing. I’m sure ideally you’d like him at wing but imo he’s not going to get much of a chance to play big mins there on this team. Would be as you said a great candidate to get a look there. People always compare him to Kuznetsov well they couldn’t get over the hump imo without moving him to center ice.
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I always saw more Filip Forsberg than Evgeni Kuznetsov in him. The Kuznetsov comparison isn't awful but it's an easy comparison to make with both coming through the Traktor academy. I don't like that. It is a slippery slope to unfair expectations based on a lazy comparison
 
haveandare said:
We're a little too rigid all around with positions. Other, better teams play d-men on their offside. Other, better teams have wings go to center and have success. We need to show some flexibility in this way as this process goes along further.
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NHL positions are a lot more similar within the forward and D groups than positions in football and they're moving to position-less football. Seems like this insane averse reaction people have to players switching positions is out of date.
 
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Tawnos said:
Well, actually the Rangers have an example of their own: Hayes.

Aho is another really good example.
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didn't Hayes play center pretty much until his senior year at college?

Edit: this line of thinking about switching positions around also goes the other way. Example: Montreal Canadiens
 
GeorgeKaplan said:
didn't Hayes play center pretty much until his senior year at college?

Edit: this line of thinking about switching positions around also goes the other way. Example: Montreal Canadiens
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Tampa and Philly have moved Stamkos and Giroux from center to the wing. Good players can switch. Panarin played center for the Blue Jackets for instance.

Versatility is a nice thing to have
 
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Amazing Kreiderman said:
And he was injured too. I still think LW/RW is his best position but if they are going to try someone at center, he is probably a candidate
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About time you came around :naughty::laugh:
What’s your opinion on the Pettersson comparison, do you see it at all? He’s always the player I’ve seen when I watch Kravtsov. I think you and I are two of the HFNYR members who’ve watched him most as we’ve both seem him live (you several times) and I watched at least 1/3 of his KHL games. You’ve never acknowledge the Petey comparison so I feel you disagree hahah, he’s just so lanky and slippery, his stride and way of dangling really reminds me of Petey. He also has a similar unique shooting mechanic with his slapshot/one-timer
 
Amazing Kreiderman said:
Tampa and Philly have moved Stamkos and Giroux from center to the wing. Good players can switch. Panarin played center for the Blue Jackets for instance.

Versatility is a nice thing to have
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MSL wasn't very good when he made the switch too. I'm not saying players can or can't, just we shouldn't be betting on them to be able to
 
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A successful shift to center would be amazing but even at wing, if this kid can put it together it would be so huge for our depth and talent. The potential is all there, we need to remember how young he is
 
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SnowblindNYR said:
I'm confused. Weren't you against the switch not too long ago?
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I rather have a player like Kravtsov reach the NHL first, and excel at his strongest position. If after that they want to shift him to center, I have no problem with that. Caps did that with Kuznetsov. But let the player sort it out first. That's why I am against it for now
 
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