Kravtsov truly has the makings to become a legendary tale in Canucks folklore, a slot right next to Sergei Shirokov and Fedor Fedorov. Prabh Rai gets an honourable mention in this list.
Player Discussion Vitali Kravtsov - Signed 2-Year Deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk
- Thread starter EdJovanovski
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The major difference as I see it, is that all the guys you mentioned were later round draft picks, and always longshots to make it.
Kravtsov was a top-10 draft pick of the New York Rangers. He could really benefit playing two years in the KHL, where he'll play big minutes and earn a lot more money than he would have in Abbotsford.
The Canucks will retain his rights until it can be determined if he has any NHL future.
RobertKron
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- Sep 1, 2007
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I don't really the tie in with Rai? He as a late pick long shot who was tracking fairly well and then suffered a career-ending injury.
Fedorov is probably the closest comparable of the players you've listed.
Shirokov just had the misfortune of trying to break in on a team that was trying to win the cup, and then went home when it didn't work out (can't really blame him as he was hitting his prime and being a big wheel in Russia was probably the correct career choice versus spending a couple few more years trying to find a fit in the show). Couldn't really fault his effort or willingness, though.
Shirokov got screwed. Never forget he was sent down after scoring his first career goal vs the AVS.
Av shafted him.
I might be completely fabricating this memory but didn’t Shirokov try playing with Florida after Vancouver? Or am I thinking of another player from our annual trade with the Panthers?
Shirokov definetly got the short end of the stick in Van. Dude could do no right in AV's book.
IIRC I believe Shirokov's rights where traded to Florida for Mike Duco. A couple weeks later Shirokov went back to Russia. It's a shame, he was productive at every level he played, and he showed he could hang with the big boys. Definetly not another Fedor Fedorov.
Shirokov was a smallish 50-point AHL player who couldn't skate. It's so weird how this legend has started that he was somehow a surefire NHLer screwed over by Vigneault.
He was 25 years old and had 1 point in 8 NHL games when he left. He wasn't even close to being better than any of Sedin/Burrows/Raymond/Torres/Samuelsson/Hansen who were the teams top-9 wingers in 10-11.
He was 25 years old and had 1 point in 8 NHL games when he left. He wasn't even close to being better than any of Sedin/Burrows/Raymond/Torres/Samuelsson/Hansen who were the teams top-9 wingers in 10-11.
RobertKron
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The thing that screwed him was that he was in an organization that was trying to win the cup, and couldn’t afford to prioritize bringing along an iffy player to see if it might work out in a year or two. In a different org, maybe he sticks around and eventually becomes an NHL lifer, but it wasn’t going to happen in Vancouver at that time.
Same deal with Grabner, and some folks can’t seem to get over that one either.
Yup.
This is what happens when you have a 110-120 point Cup contending team with a deep roster. Guys don't get the opportunities they would on a bad team, and the team isn't in a position to have the patience to suffer the growing pains on mid-level prospects hoping they grow into mid-level assets.
If Shirokov was in, like, Edmonton's system at the time maybe he has a Granlund/Goldobin career instead of 8 NHL games. But even that might be generous given his skillset and AHL results.
1 point in 8 games doesn't mean much when he was getting like 8 mins per game iirc
RobertKron
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Played under 10 twice. One game 10. Rest were ~13-16.
Also played the game two nights after his first goal.
So averaged 12 mins.
My bad i guess that game after colorado was his last ever then
Jesus christ
He played with zero confidence in the NHL. Makes it look so effortless here.
biturbo19
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- Jul 13, 2010
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Oh, it's gotta be Shirokov. He came outta that preseason like a man on fire and he was gonna be a star after all those years of waiting...
and then...
nothing happened.
Prab Rai can often be seen driving around Vancouver.
It's definitely weird. But i feel like "effortless" is probably the key word here.
He never lacked for skill. It was always the effort that was...poor. In the KHL, obviously he can just float and let his skill shine like this. It's a very different game over there.
missonbody
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- Mar 18, 2023
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I think that le last few clips we saw from Kravtsov is the real hockey player we can expect. His confidence was destroyed by NYR, he needs to clear his head and come back refreshed and confident in 2 years
I feel like there’s a clip of him scoring a beauty goal using that one same move once a year for his whole career.
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
I think the Canucks reasoned that Kravtsov was better off playing in the KHL for a couple of seasons, than plying his trade in Abbotsford.
Firstly, he'll earn a lot more money and get exposed to a league that's at least as good as the AHL, and maybe even a little better. And they retain his rights if he wants to take another crack at the NHL in a couple of seasons.
It's a 'win-win' for the player and the team.
Firstly, he'll earn a lot more money and get exposed to a league that's at least as good as the AHL, and maybe even a little better. And they retain his rights if he wants to take another crack at the NHL in a couple of seasons.
It's a 'win-win' for the player and the team.
kylek023
Registered User
I wonder if the management and Kravtsov are on cordial terms even with him in the KHL. It'd be nice if he can pop right back in if the management feels like he's ready.
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
I think so, he’s still wearing Canuck hats & clothing quite often on Instagram stories. Was wearing a Canuck hat every time he was in the gym
Raistlin
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- Aug 25, 2006
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he can do amazing things in the K, but if he doesnt workout and develop strength in the next 2 years, he will get smothered in this league when he comes back again. its simple, he has skill, he has skating, he has size. He needs strength to be offensively viable here.
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
He looks like he’s bulked up quite a bit, his ass is looking particularly large these days LOL
Hey now. Krav's ass is the only hockey player ass Ed looks at. He is a loyal man.
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