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

[Diversification]

Kravstov clearly has upside but, after watching his little press conference, I don't get the feeling he's the sharpest knife in the drawer. It's always hard to tell with people whose first language isn't English but I was disappointed by his (non-)answers to several questions. In contrast, Kuzmenko and (going back a season) Podkolzin have given much better interviews even when they clearly weren't as comfortable speaking English. I think the key to getting a player out of Kravstov will be how much help he gets from his fellow countrymen to bridge the communication gap.

He strikes me as someone who speaks english better than he understands it. I've come across this at work and it's difficult to navigate because based on his enunciation, you would expect a better level of comprehension and then both parties become a bit frustrated by the exchange.

He also seems to be really down on himself and fixated on earning more games - can bet that's been the topic of every discussion he's had with NYR coaching staff. Hopefully he relax a bit and focus on the process of re-finding his game, which is far more important.

 

[Siludin]

If all the Kravstov trade does is light a fire under Podkolzin then it's a good trade.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Rangers fan here who thought that Kravtsov’s temper tantrum last season hurt his development but that the Rangers never gave him a full chance to develop, either. Classic need of a change of scenery. Interested in seeing his progression and I wish him well. Kid needs to hit the gym and he’ll improve, his biggest weakness is getting knocked off the puck.

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[alternate]

I've seen enough: calling this trade a win.

 

[VanJack]

What's not to like?....Big guy, with great wheels, and rock solid along the wall. Consistency will be the thing, but the first couple of games look promising.

Still a mystery what happened in NY. But young players like Lafreniere and Kaako seem to be struggling as well. Maybe Gallant is like Willie Desjardins....he just likes his veteran players too much.

 

[cc]

He looks like more of a potential center to me than a winger.
I wonder if he can take the JTM route and develop into a capable center

 

[ratbid]

Man I wish one of Kravtsov, Podz or Nils could play Center (well).

Would have huge growing pains at the NHL level for sure, but Nils-Podz-Kravtsov could be a fun third “energy line” to try.

 

[BrentSopelsHair]

Was at the game last night, and it was honestly pretty fun watching Kravtsov and Pods roll around as a tag team all night. Thought he was pretty noticeable and fun, I like the first viewing

 

[EdJovanovski]

Man I wish one of Kravtsov, Podz or Nils could play Center (well).

Would have huge growing pains at the NHL level for sure, but Nils-Podz-Kravtsov could be a fun third “energy line” to try.

Kravtsov was the number one Center on that Russian WJC team

 

[Fren]

Filthy player. I can see what Ed sees in him. Nice for as close to a free asset as you can get.

 

[ForecheckBackcheck]

What's not to like?....Big guy, with great wheels, and rock solid along the wall. Consistency will be the thing, but the first couple of games look promising.

Still a mystery what happened in NY. But young players like Lafreniere and Kaako seem to be struggling as well. Maybe Gallant is like Willie Desjardins....he just likes his veteran players too much.

It does seem like, in the last 5+ years, New York Rangers is where promising young players go to bust:

Alex Lafreniere - 2020 1st overall - Career 0.41ppg - Bust (relative to pedigree and hype)
Kappo Kaako - 2019 2nd overall - Career 0.4ppg - Bust (relative to pedigree and hype)
Vitali Kravtsov - 2018 9th overall - Career 0.2ppg - Bust (relative to draft position)
Lias Anderson - 2017 7th overall - 0.13 ppg in 66 games with Rangers - Bust (relative to draft position)

Maybe these players would all have developed better elsewhere, and maybe have more potential than they have shown so far in the Rangers organization.

 

[Barnaby]

It does seem like, in the last 5+ years, New York Rangers is where promising young players go to bust:

Alex Lafreniere - 2020 1st overall - Career 0.41ppg - Bust (relative to pedigree and hype)
Kappo Kaako - 2019 2nd overall - Career 0.4ppg - Bust (relative to pedigree and hype)
Vitali Kravtsov - 2018 9th overall - Career 0.2ppg - Bust (relative to draft position)
Lias Anderson - 2017 7th overall - 0.13 ppg in 66 games with Rangers - Bust (relative to draft position)

Maybe these players would all have developed better elsewhere, and maybe have more potential than they have shown so far in the Rangers organization.

They’ve also had Fox, Chytil, Schneider, and Miller. I blame the Krav and Lias situations more in poor drafting and evaluating where they were mentally.

Kakko and Laf have been underwhelming. Both who expected to be very good to stars. Kakko is solid. Laf looks capable of being a good middle 6 winger, but not near what he was initially expected to be. Feels like less coaching and more initial evaluation to me but who knows. It would be nice seeing them get PP1 time like most top picks get, but the Rangers were in a unique situation. They weren't getting PP over Kreider, Zib, Panarin… PP breeds confidence and makes those point totals look much stronger when comparing to their peers.

Filthy player. I can see what Ed sees in him. Nice for as close to a free asset as you can get.

Worth a shot. Hope he pans out for you guys, but not toooo well! Haha

 

[iceburg]

He actually showed some two-way prowess last night in addition to the obvious skill. Colour me hopeful.

 

[MS]

His first two games looked like the worst case and then the best case scenarios.

Against Dallas, he had a couple awful defensive shifts in the first period and didn't look checked in or competitive and seemed to confirm all the worst generalizations that have been made about him.

Last night, he competed hard and was one of the best players on the ice. Won puck battles. Finished checks. Stuck up for teammates. Had several dangerous moments although his hands looked a bit rusty and he fumbled some decent chances.

If he can bring that kind of work rate and compete on a consistent basis, this trade will turn out very well for us. But that's obviously still a major 'if'. There's a huge separation between being an AAAA player who can show flashes here and there and an NHL player who does the job every night.

 

[credulous]

If he can bring that kind of work rate and compete on a consistent basis, this trade will turn out very well for us. But that's obviously still a major 'if'. There's a huge separation between being an AAAA player who can show flashes here and there and an NHL player who does the job every night.

no one has ever doubted kravtsov's talent. it's always been his work ethic and his attitude that have held him back

hopefully tocchet can get the most out of him and he can turn his career around but no one should be surprised if he takes off for the KHL this summer

 

[ratbid]

Kravtsov was the number one Center on that Russian WJC team

Has he played much Centre since?

I thought he was basically fully a winger since, but would be fun to try him there.

 

[VanJack]

Kravtsov was the number one Center on that Russian WJC team

Interesting....If there's even a remote chance this kid can play center, they need to move him there for an extended audition. Games don't mean anything down the stretch anyway.

Organizationally, center is a black hole for the Canucks. They're currently trying Dries in the middle, so I'd be looking at anybody who even has a slight chance of being a center for them.

 

[Svencouver]

no one has ever doubted kravtsov's talent. it's always been his work ethic and his attitude that have held him back

hopefully tocchet can get the most out of him and he can turn his career around but no one should be surprised if he takes off for the KHL this summer

He's never going to get a better environment than the one he has now, thats for sure

 

[Get North]

The Canucks look like they're running a tryout camp with how many U26 players they've been rotating in and out of the line-up in the last year.

We need upper echelon skill players to lead the forwards with Pettersson, Kuzmenko and Boeser/Beauvillier. Obviously, Raty/Podkolzin/Kravtsov/Hoglander are a couple years younger than the 4 leaders, but they have yet to prove themselves.

 

[VanJack]

They’ve also had Fox, Chytil, Schneider, and Miller. I blame the Krav and Lias situations more in poor drafting and evaluating where they were mentally.

Kakko and Laf have been underwhelming. Both who expected to be very good to stars. Kakko is solid. Laf looks capable of being a good middle 6 winger, but not near what he was initially expected to be. Feels like less coaching and more initial evaluation to me but who knows. It would be nice seeing them get PP1 time like most top picks get, but the Rangers were in a unique situation. They weren't getting PP over Kreider, Zib, Panarin… PP breeds confidence and makes those point totals look much stronger when comparing to their peers.


Worth a shot. Hope he pans out for you guys, but not toooo well! Haha

I guess those young Ranger players are a cautionary tale for those of us obsessed with high first rounders.

Lafreniere was the consensus first overall pick in 2020; and Kaako was in the conversation for first overall in 2019 and ended up going second overall. Lias Andersson (7th overall and traded}; and Vitali Kravtsov (9th overall and traded) were supposed to be the core of the Rangers for a decade.

Lafreniere and Kaako might still get it together and be impact players, but the clock is ticking. Canucks fans get hung up on picks like Juolevi and Virtanen.

But the reality is some high, high picks just never become the players that scouts projected them to be.

 

[EdJovanovski]

 

[platotld]

i like it.. wtf ! lets go!

 

[Hit the post]

I guess those young Ranger players are a cautionary tale for those of us obsessed with high first rounders.

Lafreniere was the consensus first overall pick in 2020; and Kaako was in the conversation for first overall in 2019 and ended up going second overall. Lias Andersson (7th overall and traded}; and Vitali Kravtsov (9th overall and traded) were supposed to be the core of the Rangers for a decade.

Lafreniere and Kaako might still get it together and be impact players, but the clock is ticking. Canucks fans get hung up on picks like Juolevi and Virtanen.

But the reality is some high, high picks just never become the players that scouts projected them to be.

The other reality is that dealing so many 1st round pick also isn't a recipe for success if your prospect system is empty.

 

[bossram]

I've seen enough: calling this trade a win.

Everyone was already calling this trade a win. They paid nothing for a player with some untapped potential.