Player Discussion Vitali Kravtsov - Signed 2-Year Deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk

[EdJovanovski]

He leads the team in scoring despite playing less than half of their games.

 

[Coffee]

Nice pass

 

[LordBacon]

Let the boy cook in Russia

 

[EdJovanovski]

New interview/tour of Krav’s house

Mentions how Vancouver is like his hometown of Vladivostok and it seemed as if he was saying his sister now lives in Vancouver, not sure if he was just meaning she lives in Canada though. I recall her living in Calgary & Toronto before. And how he gets nostalgic about Vancouver, and the 2019 WJC there. It sounds to me like he will return, IIRC the last year of KHL contracts can be terminated and since he’s looking dominant it wouldn’t surprise me if they terminate the second year of his contract and he returns to the Canucks next season.

 

[arttk]

Nice pass

K is too easy for him but getting his confidence up and getting having more time to get stronger is good.

 

[VanJack]

I don't know what it is a about some highly-drafted Russian players who struggle out of the gate in NA. Maybe it's the culture shock or the high expectations, but they seem to lose their confidence and either end up in the minors or back in the KHL.

One example is Valeri Nichushkin, a high pick of the Stars who flopped in his first tour of duty; went back to the KHL and eventually returned to the NHL. But he didn't discover his game until he was traded to the Av's.

And you wonder what might have happened to Andrei Kuzmenko if he had been force-fed into the NHL at a young age.

I think the Canucks have made a wise long-term investment in Kravtsov. Let's see where he is after a season or two playing in his homeland.

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[VanJack]

If Kravtsov has a monster year in the KHL, it wouldn't surprise me if he comes back to Vancouver after only one year.

The Canucks qualified him, and you'd think that negotiating an 'out-clause' in his contract allowing him to return to NA next season, is something he and his agent would have negotiated.

Besides, with Russia on the outs with the IIHF and the rest of the hockey world, what is the status of KHL contracts? Does the NHL-KHL still have an agreement to recognize and protect them?

 

[Vector]

Wouldn’t surprise me if the Canucks go really cheap on the wings for the next few seasons in order to deal with the dead capspace and shift money to deceive. Integrate some of the AHLers (Bains and Podkokzin(he’s in my thoughts tonight)) and give Kravtsov a chance to earn a spot in training camp.

 

[F A N]

Wouldn’t surprise me if the Canucks go really cheap on the wings for the next few seasons in order to deal with the dead capspace and shift money to deceive. Integrate some of the AHLers (Bains and Podkokzin(he’s in my thoughts tonight)) and give Kravtsov a chance to earn a spot in training camp.

Not sure about next "few" seasons but they can do so next year for sure if they can move Garland. They have Hoglander and PGD signed for cheap and Pods (in my thoughts as well) could sign a bridge contract similar to Hoglander's. I'm not sure if they will bring back Kravtsov though. There isn't a wide opening in the top 6 so he will have to earn minutes like Hoglander and Pods.

 

[ChilliBilly]

Not sure about next "few" seasons but they can do so next year for sure if they can move Garland. They have Hoglander and PGD signed for cheap and Pods (in my thoughts as well) could sign a bridge contract similar to Hoglander's. I'm not sure if they will bring back Kravtsov though. There isn't a wide opening in the top 6 so he will have to earn minutes like Hoglander and Pods.

Salaries in the KHL, (at the top end) from what I can find, tend to be about 30 - 40 % of the NHL, and really all over the map ... I suspect he will be thrilled to come back on "fair" contract that can set him for life. Like $1.5 M for 3 years. He could be a great "steal". The kid clearly is really talented. And he is 23. comes back at 25, pretty much an ideal development curve.

 

[VanJack]

For young guys like Kravtsov the only salary comparison that really matters is between the KHL and the AHL.

And it's pretty obvious he's earning a lot more in the KHL than he would earn playing in Abbotsford. So the Canucks are probably doing him a big financial favor by qualifying as an RFA, and then letting him earn some decent money in Russia.

It's probably the reason the Flyers aren't that concerned about their prized pick Matvei Michkov playing a couple of years in the KHL. He's still developing in a top league and when he eventually does come over--it's 'plug and play' into the NHL.

 

[EdJovanovski]

If Kravtsov has a monster year in the KHL, it wouldn't surprise me if he comes back to Vancouver after only one year.

The Canucks qualified him, and you'd think that negotiating an 'out-clause' in his contract allowing him to return to NA next season, is something he and his agent would have negotiated.

Besides, with Russia on the outs with the IIHF and the rest of the hockey world, what is the status of KHL contracts? Does the NHL-KHL still have an agreement to recognize and protect them?

I'm pretty sure that KHL contracts can be bought out/terminated when there's 1 year remaining

 

[Vector]

Not sure about next "few" seasons but they can do so next year for sure if they can move Garland. They have Hoglander and PGD signed for cheap and Pods (in my thoughts as well) could sign a bridge contract similar to Hoglander's. I'm not sure if they will bring back Kravtsov though. There isn't a wide opening in the top 6 so he will have to earn minutes like Hoglander and Pods.

I only pluralized year because I remembered the dead cap increase from OEL's buyout and figured that would probably factor into the long-term planning.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Five goals and nine points in 11 games to start the year for Traktor. Is he starting to find his game or is that just a reflection of the difference in the level of play between the two leagues?

 

[EdJovanovski]

2 assists today to bring him to 11pts through 12gp on the season

 

[VanJack]

How does a ppg in the KHL stack up with a ppg in the AHL? Comparable? Which league is tougher to score in?

 

[kaiser matias]

New interview/tour of Krav’s house

Mentions how Vancouver is like his hometown of Vladivostok and it seemed as if he was saying his sister now lives in Vancouver, not sure if he was just meaning she lives in Canada though. I recall her living in Calgary & Toronto before. And how he gets nostalgic about Vancouver, and the 2019 WJC there. It sounds to me like he will return, IIRC the last year of KHL contracts can be terminated and since he’s looking dominant it wouldn’t surprise me if they terminate the second year of his contract and he returns to the Canucks next season.

As someone who has been to both cities, I also found this to be the case, only Vladivostok gets a real winter (I was there over Christmas/New Years, and it didn't go above -10). But it was very similar to being on the West Coast, right down to indigenous artwork being somewhat similar.

 

[EdJovanovski]

How does a ppg in the KHL stack up with a ppg in the AHL? Comparable? Which league is tougher to score in?

For reference the leading scorer in the KHL last season only had 62pts in 67GP

 

[im gangster]

Is the ice cleaned for this team by a zamboni or is it done by a tractor?

 

[Raistlin]

If he comes back in 2 years....

Kuzmenko, Podkolzin, Mikheyev, Kravtsov, ....Klimovich, Kudryavtsev, Tolopilo? w/Gonchar/Vorobyov?

This Russian/Belarussian explosion is the most unexpected surprise in the PA/JR era of this org.

 

[ViD]

There’s always the Nichushkin example, went back, got better and returned to the NHL successfully

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[MS]

There’s always the Nichushkin example, went back, got better and returned to the NHL successfully

Dadonov is probably an even better example when you look at the player's age and prior NHL success. Nichushkin came back to the NHL at the age that Kravtsov is leaving.

 

[F A N]

How does a ppg in the KHL stack up with a ppg in the AHL? Comparable? Which league is tougher to score in?

I think it's comparable but it depends on the player. I would say the KHL would be tougher to score in. It's easier to put up some ridiculous goal totals over a short period of time in the AHL that you won't typically see in the KHL. For example, Gadjovich scored 15g in 19 games. Lane Peterson had 17g in 18 games. Gaudette has 9g in 8 games. Pods if he wasn't KOed would probably up up comparable totals to start the year. No way these guys can score like that at the KHL.