Prospect Info: Vitali Kravtsov: Part VIII

[B17 Apricots]

Not bothered whether or not theres a release clause, this should be good for him and the team. The forward group should look some combination of...

Kreider Zib Buch
Panarin Strome Kakko
Laf Chytil Gauthier
Lemieux Howden Fast?

Gives us time to see where our young guys are at. As the season progresses I'd expect Kakko and Laf to take big steps. To me the wild card is Gauthier. We gotta see what we have in this kid. He's big, fast, good hands and can score. Letting Kravstov become a young man in Russia will give us a better idea in what we have with these kids

 

[mas0764]

As far as Kravtsov goes. I would trade him. Our top 4 wings are Lafrenierre, Kakko, Panarin and Kreider. Kravtsov is not what you want in a bottom 6 winger. Neither is Buchnevich. If I had to package a Chytil, Kravtsov and Buchnevich to get a Larkin I'd easily do that. Zibanejad has a history of concussions and we have seen already when he goes down the team sucks. They need a second line center who can play like a first with Zibanejad.

Chytil, Buch and Kravtsov for Larkin? What drugs are you on?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Bourbon clouding that mind again? Try some espresso. Like Lias, this kid should be getting closer to Garden ice than farther away.

Yeah, let's have our 20-year old top prospect sit at home for 9(!) months not playing any competitive hockey. GENIUS

 

[NYSPORTS]

Not addressed at me but are you aware that he hasn’t played in a game since March and this gives him a chance to start playing as soon as two weeks from now as opposed to god knows how many more months? This doesn’t bother you?

P.S. Zadina from his draft class has been loaned to ExtraLiga which is probably barely above VHL.

Covid bothers me and the deal including him playing in that league throughout their season.

 

[NYSPORTS]

Yeah, let's have our 20-year old top prospect sit at home for 9(!) months not playing any competitive hockey. GENIUS

you really need a new hobby.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

you really need a new hobby.

Detroit is loaning Zadina to Ocelari Trinec. Are people bitching about that too?

 

[gravey9]

I don't really have anything to add to the conversation here. Except that this is such a huge win for the Rangers. To let Kravtsov play meaningful, competitive hockey in a place where he is already comfortable is huge. I wish every Rangers prospect had this sort of option.

You know what would be a good idea, though not realisitic, the Rangers and one or two other NHL teams put together a team of NA (non collegiate prospects) to go over to Europe and go on an exhibition tour -- similar to what the NDTP does with college programs here in the US. Or maybe they do a similar tourny style thing with prospects in Canada.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

lol - doesn’t take much to agitate the small posse. Hope Kraz doesn’t turn into another Lias situation is enough ammo to fill their weekend.

It's cute that you think you have the upper hand here

 

[nyr2k2]

I don't know why some people were writing Kravtsov in for a spot on the Rangers this year. 6 goals and 15 points in 39 games in Hartford was pretty damned underwhelming. He did not have a good year IMO. He needs to put on a few more pounds and get stronger and to me the KHL is his best option for now--he'll play anyway. I doubt he'll play much if he's in a bubble with the Rangers and I doubt seriously there is going to be an AHL season at all. It's been no secret for a while that some of our AHL vets are going overseas--there's a reason for that and it's the virus which isn't going to magically disappear despite what some might want to hope and/or think. I look at this as a good move.

I wasn't penciling him in for anything. I've been more critical of him and his game than most. A lot of what made him successful in the KHL in his D+1 year didn't translate here last season.

I was just hoping for the option of bringing him back on our terms to go through our camp and fight for a spot. The issues he dealt with last year, with elements of his play style not translating, I don't think they're going to fix themselves playing in the KHL all year. Maybe they will. I don't know. I just wanted the option.

It's true there may be no AHL season, but in that instance I wouldn't expect the Rangers to bring him over for camp even if they had the ability to do so. Realistically, the AHL is where he needs to be. Again though, doesn't even sound like the option, if they even played, is going to be there. And that's the only part of it that bothers me.

EDIT: That said, the only information we have on him being compelled to play the entire year in the KHL is a tweet from some account I'm not familiar with. It would be nice to hear it elsewhere.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

They hate European players, yet root for a team where the best players are European.

Those people are too stupid to notice the irony of that.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Those people are too stupid to notice the irony of that.

The ignorance of some people never ceases to amaze me haha

 

[Raspewtin]

In the KHL, they definitely do. Not sure what the sarcasm is about

yup an entire hockey country "hates defense" lol

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

yup an entire hockey country "hates defense" lol

Imagine thinking this

 

[eco's bones]

I wasn't penciling him in for anything. I've been more critical of him and his game than most. A lot of what made him successful in the KHL in his D+1 year didn't translate here last season.

I was just hoping for the option of bringing him back on our terms to go through our camp and fight for a spot. The issues he dealt with last year, with elements of his play style not translating, I don't think they're going to fix themselves playing in the KHL all year. Maybe they will. I don't know. I just wanted the option.

It's true there may be no AHL season, but in that instance I wouldn't expect the Rangers to bring him over for camp even if they had the ability to do so. Realistically, the AHL is where he needs to be. Again though, doesn't even sound like the option, if they even played, is going to be there. And that's the only part of it that bothers me.

EDIT: That said, the only information we have on him being compelled to play the entire year in the KHL is a tweet from some account I'm not familiar with. It would be nice to hear it elsewhere.

It seems to me Kravtsov has a lot of the same issues that Kakko had for us last year only Kakko's the better, stronger and more dynamic player. But anyway putting Kravtsov in our top 9 I don't think is going to work after he struggled so much last year in the AHL and he certainly isn't going to be any use on a checking/grinding line. If it's a choice between forcing him into an NHL lineup or letting him find his game again in the KHL the KHL option to me is the only right one for him at the moment.

.....and though Kakko looked a lot better in the return there are things he certainly still needs to work on---one being his play away from the puck--having two right wingers in your top nine with that same issue is not going to work well. Gauther another right winger did not work out well as a checking player for us either. I'm not convinced he's a lock. If Fast doesn't return and Kakko doesn't take a large step forward right wing might be a weakness for us next year and we might see someone like Kreider moving over.

 

[Doctyl]

We probably never should have brought Kravtsov over to just sit in Hartford. He probably should have spent these 3 years in the KHL like a lot of other young Russian players do

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

We probably never should have brought Kravtsov over to just sit in Hartford. He probably should have spent these 3 years in the KHL like a lot of other young Russian players do

Yep. Tarasenko (3), Kuznetsov (4), Malkin (2), Buchnevich (3), Kaprizov (5), Panarin (5) all stayed in Russia longer than just 1 year. It didn't hurt their careers.

 

[eco's bones]

Kravtsov is about 6'4 and seems to be about 185 lbs. That's kind of normal for someone his age but that's scrawny for playing in the NHL. Buchnevich had the same issue and that was about 3 years after he was drafted and he was getting knocked ass over teakettle for a couple years anyway---his first year he quickly got a back injury and then we were hearing about how he needed to build up his core and it was a while before we saw him again. If there is anything soft about your size and strength dynamic the players around the league are going to figure it out fast and that can happen to real big guys too--Jessiman got his ass kicked by Steve Downie and McIlrath (that kneecap injury didn't help) was abused by others mainly because their footwork was subpar and they were easily knocked off balance.

My take on Kravtsov---he needs more time--he needs to get stronger.

 

[IronBloodedLion]

I would’ve liked to have seen him in the last game. You’re down in the series, you need an offensive spark, and you can see how he performs in the NHL.

I don’t blame any international prospect going back to their countries for the 20/21 season. There’s just too much uncertainty right now.

 

[mas0764]

I’m fully on board the Kravtsov at center train now.

 

[Trxjw]

Yep. Tarasenko (3), Kuznetsov (4), Malkin (2), Buchnevich (3), Kaprizov (5), Panarin (5) all stayed in Russia longer than just 1 year. It didn't hurt their careers.

Not a great example considering he literally had to go into hiding in order to make the jump when he did.

 

[nyr2k2]

Yep. Tarasenko (3), Kuznetsov (4), Malkin (2), Buchnevich (3), Kaprizov (5), Panarin (5) all stayed in Russia longer than just 1 year. It didn't hurt their careers.

Point taken and all but Panarin wasn't drafted, and while Kaprizov is great, he hasn't actually done anything in the NHL.

The difference is that Kravtsov is signed and his clock is ticking. We need to know if he can't make the adjustment sooner rather than later.

You can also mention someone like Kucherov, who was here within two years. It also ignores the fact that a majority of highly-regarded Russian players in the past decade have already been here in the US playing major junior. Kulikov, Namestnikov, Provorov, Sergachev, both Svechnikovs, Zadorov, etc. They were all here already.

I don't think the argument is about staying to develop in the KHL vs coming to NA in general, but about what is best for Kravtsov at this point.

 

[kovazub94]

We probably never should have brought Kravtsov over to just sit in Hartford. He probably should have spent these 3 years in the KHL like a lot of other young Russian players do

Maybe I’m misreading your post but what three years he “should have spent” in the KHL? Kravtsov did spend the first post-draft year in the K. Last year he did not “sit” in Hartford except for a one game before leaving and maybe a couple after, otherwise he consistently was in the lineup. Third year is only coming coming and it seems he will start in in the KHL.

If you say he should not been brought over last year, then it’s hindsight. Both the organization and the player were on the same page on this after his performance in the post draft season. Now it seems that they both might have been wrong. Last year’s “crisis” situation was brought on (but resolved) by Kravtsov’s immaturity, inability to understand that bright future doesn’t translate into current guarantees and unwarrantedly heightened expectations.

Returning to the KHL maybe isn’t the most exciting option or wouldn’t be the expected direction during normal circumstances but it’s the best at the moment. Silver lining is that he spend enough time here to understand what’s being asked and hopefully the message he will hear in Chelyabinsk is consistent. Gatiyatullin, their new (old) head coach was known for his team to play a strict defensive system. Hopefully Kravtsov comes back more prepared

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Point taken and all but Panarin wasn't drafted, and while Kaprizov is great, he hasn't actually done anything in the NHL.

The difference is that Kravtsov is signed and his clock is ticking. We need to know if he can't make the adjustment sooner rather than later.

You can also mention someone like Kucherov, who was here within two years. It also ignores the fact that a majority of highly-regarded Russian players in the past decade have already been here in the US playing major junior. Kulikov, Namestnikov, Provorov, Sergachev, both Svechnikovs, Zadorov, etc. They were all here already.

I don't think the argument is about staying to develop in the KHL vs coming to NA in general, but about what is best for Kravtsov at this point.

Signing him after just one year was a mistake but it was perfectly in line with this organisation jumping the gun. They did it again with Miller, and were saved by a global pandemic when it comes to Lundkvist.

Playing KHL hockey in your D+3 year isn't going to hurt your career. Furthermore, only 2 teams now play on IIHF sized rinks in the KHL. The rest are all on smaller rinks. So we can throw the "has to get used to smaller rinks" argument out the window.

The players I mentioned didn't suffer from playing KHL hockey at this stage of their careers, yet some people act as if Kravtsov is a bust for playing there now, and we haven't even touched on why this decision was made.

He hasn't played a meaningful game since March. He's already in Russia. NHL and AHL won't start up for 3 more months, at least. This is better than him sitting at home doing nothing. I wish we could loan more players to EU leagues to get some game time.

Kravtsov's ELC will expire in 2 years, but I guess this all plays into his first SPC being really cheap. Silver lining

 

[nyr2k2]

Signing him after just one year was a mistake but it was perfectly in line with this organisation jumping the gun. They did it again with Miller, and were saved by a global pandemic when it comes to Lundkvist.

Playing KHL hockey in your D+3 year isn't going to hurt your career. Furthermore, only 2 teams now play on IIHF sized rinks in the KHL. The rest are all on smaller rinks. So we can throw the "has to get used to smaller rinks" argument out the window.

The players I mentioned didn't suffer from playing KHL hockey at this stage of their careers, yet some people act as if Kravtsov is a bust for playing there now, and we haven't even touched on why this decision was made.

He hasn't played a meaningful game since March. He's already in Russia. NHL and AHL won't start up for 3 more months, at least. This is better than him sitting at home doing nothing. I wish we could loan more players to EU leagues to get some game time.

Kravtsov's ELC will expire in 2 years, but I guess this all plays into his first SPC being really cheap. Silver lining

I could respond with what you predicted Kravtsov would do in his rookie season, but we don't need to keep revisiting that (with respect to "jumping the gun"). And I'm really not sure what the rest of this has to do with anything I've said, since I've been consistent in saying it's good that he's playing and my only complaint is that we may not have the option to bring him back at our pleasing.

But every time I make that point it just goes ignored and people talk about other things like rink size and Nils Lundkvist, so I'm moving on.

 

[egelband]

It definitely seems like signing that ELC so soon was a mistake. But I also wonder how much Kravtsov was asking for it. Did the Rangers have any resignations? Did they push hook to sign so soon? Just a thought. Anyhow, seems to be good he’ll get to play where he’s comfortable this coming season.