Larry Brooks: Vitaly Kravtsov headed back to the KHL

[Zine]

My wife translated the article for me, but doesn't have time write it down. The interview is not bitter. Kravtsov seems majorly puzzled by what happened - and blames himself. Russians in general take things at face value, and don't realize that some stuff... well it's just standard bs. He thought he was doing well based on feedback, and felt like a major failure when he didn't make the team. Who knows what happened in Hartford. He seemed extremely anxious to get back home, and basically crushed. His sarcasm applied to his decisions to come over ("look how well that worked out" type of thing), not to the Rangers. Dismissed all money talk, and said he had to start over to prove himself. Honestly, he seems like an upstanding kid.

I doubt we'll ever see him in Rangers uniform again. My personal feeling is that he felt misled by the Rangers management.

What's also cool about that interview is he had numerous opportunities to trash the Rangers, but kept any negative opinions he had to himself.

 

[Waivers]

See you soon Kravtsov, slightly tardy of February 24th, 2020.

 

[Zine]

Nah. He'll ask for a trade if anything. I dunno, I like him. Hope he comes back. But I won't hold my breath. I honestly think this was mishandled and quiet badly.

What you previously mentioned is not an uncommon occurrence with established KHLers going to North America.

Because KHLers have a lucrative alternative option, NHL GM's often brown-nose and 'butter up' players to entice them to sign. From interviews I've read, GMs can really lay it on thick. So obviously problems then arise considering, culturally, we tend to take things more at face value.

KHLers shouldn't be free from blame though. If anything, this is where a player's agent should do his job more thoroughly by advising their clients that in North America it doesn't matter what people tell you, insinuate, or let you to believe, all that matters is what's in the contract.

 

[Absolut]

I’m sure the Rangers LOVE that this info is coming out

He’s not doing himself any favors but the team doesn’t look great here either

There was nothing bad in the article. One thing NA coaches need to remember with Russians - forget all political correctness and standard coach-speak. That's just not how they communicate, at least not in my experience. If a coach is smiling and telling a guy he's doing great, the expectation is "I am doing great, they are happy with me." If a coach looks angry and is tells a guy he sucks, the expectation is "oh no, I am doing something wrong". I think the Russians have a difficult time understanding that someone may be smiling & complementary one moment - and sending them down the next. It's a cultural issue, and something to be cognizant of.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

And yet the failure of being the only team to not come away with an elite talent in the 2003 draft came back to haunt us during that run.

Imagine a prime Mike Richards leading that 2012 team that already was very hard to play against and outworked their opponent every night? We would have been unstoppable.

Imagine a prime 43 goal scoring Corey Perry on that 2014 team? He surely would have put us over the hump against LA unlike lame ass unclutch Rick Nash.

Or a Selke Patrice Bergeron leading us into Game 7 of the ECF against Tampa?

Those mistakes could easily come around to haunt us a second time. See my point?

Y'all didn't grow up watching Star Trek or the Butterfly Effect. You go back in time and fix one thing and it changes everything else. Some of the pieces wouldn't have been there later if the team did better earlier or had better position.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Of course DQ was positive with him. What's he going to tell a 19-year-old "Do some pushups you pencil neck geek"

 

[KOVALEV022473]

One would assume that would come out if that's the case. One would've also assumed that this would've been figured out at camp and not oddly after a handful of games and a scratch.

Just to add to this reply, I think it would speak volumes of how poor the organization’s development program is, what, with that they would prefer their second top prospect develop overseas with absolutely no control. It sounds to me, like they’d basically be giving up on a very high draft pick.

 

[Zine]

There was nothing bad in the article. One thing NA coaches need to remember with Russians - forget all political correctness and standard coach-speak. That's just not how they communicate, at least not in my experience. If a coach is smiling and telling a guy he's doing great, the expectation is "I am doing great, they are happy with me." If a coach looks angry and is tells a guy he sucks, the expectation is "oh no, I am doing something wrong". I think the Russians have a difficult time understanding that someone may be smiling & complementary one moment - and sending them down the next. It's a cultural issue, and something to be cognizant of.

Constructive criticism (noun): the process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one.

Yeah, the above term doesn't exist in Russian hockey. lol If a player is f***ing up, the coach will immediately lay down the hammer, usually in front of the entire team, before the situation escalates to a benching.
I can understand how a naive and unworldly 19 year old could misrepresent a coaches intentions if he's constantly praised every time he's being told to correct something. Again, there's no right and wrong here, just cultural differences.

 

[Edge]

It would be a different story if our management group earned the benefit of the doubt. Instead they have a terrible track record when it comes to drafting and developing so posts like that are rightfully so to be expected

Not going to debate this point for the thousandth time. Frankly, I feel like it’s beaten to death and just doesn’t hold water when it’s challenged.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

It's a personal preference and I'm ok with our drafting but I'd like to see them add more canadian players.

 

[Anzi]

It's a personal preference and I'm ok with our drafting but I'd like to see them add more canadian players.

Just my thought but I've always felt that outside of the early rounds, its far more likely to get a steal if you draft out of Europe where teams don't have as much scouting resources. Guys in Canada can still be overlooked but far less likely when pretty much every team has a ton of scouts watching them.

 

[Tob]

I'm going to blame it all on David Quinn.

 

[nyr2k2]

It's a personal preference and I'm ok with our drafting but I'd like to see them add more canadian players.

I've previously expressed my frustrations with drafting and developing players from the KHL. For me, it has nothing to do with nationality. It's just about the league. But this is a bit of a loaded topic and I'm already regretting mentioning it.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

The only thing that stinks about this is he is going to play for Traktor again

 

[Anzi]

The talk in that interview about the coaching staff accusing him of not working hard enough because of the heart rate not reaching 180bpm is a pretty bad look on the Hartford coaching staff. Seems like they were not careful enough to not leave bitter feelings and maintain a relationship of trust between the organization and the player.

 

[Anzi]

The only thing that stinks about this is he is going to play for Traktor again

I think it was mentioned during the early rumors of Kravtsov going back to the KHL that he may be traded to another club.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

I think this is a black eye for the Rangers organization. You can't tell me you couldn't find a way to communicate with this kid better. The interview he gave where he mentioned the Rangers measuring his pulse to equate for effort made me feel embarrassed for this idiot coach we have. Don't worry, keep thinking its no big deal. Watch him ruin Kakko too. Then you will all f***ing call for his head when its too late. If you think this kid going back to russia isnt a sign he has no future with the NY Rangers you are f***ing psychotic. I am really pissed at how we manage assets. You think you are getting a top 10 pick back out of this f***ing disaster? All because of our stupid coaching staff.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I think this is a black eye for the Rangers organization. You can't tell me you couldn't find a way to communicate with this kid better. The interview he gave where he mentioned the Rangers measuring his pulse to equate for effort made me feel embarrassed for this idiot coach we have. Don't worry, keep thinking its no big deal. Watch him ruin Kakko too. Then you will all ****ing call for his head when its too late. If you think this kid going back to russia isnt a sign he has no future with the NY Rangers you are ****ing psychotic. I am really pissed at how we manage assets. You think you are getting a top 10 pick back out of this ****ing disaster? All because of our stupid coaching staff.

Yea, it is quite embarassing about the whole heart rate thing. I'm not sure how anyone can sit there with a straight face and think this is okay. It is not.

 

[Tob]

A man is lost without the sauce but a man can become lost in the sauce. The kid is obviously a great person and works hard and has the initiative to succeed. The coaching staffs will have to meet half way at some point. The systemic coaching approach to prospects in hardford and David "Follow the syllabus" Quinn are going to have to be more sensible in the future.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I think this is a black eye for the Rangers organization. You can't tell me you couldn't find a way to communicate with this kid better. The interview he gave where he mentioned the Rangers measuring his pulse to equate for effort made me feel embarrassed for this idiot coach we have. Don't worry, keep thinking its no big deal. Watch him ruin Kakko too. Then you will all ****ing call for his head when its too late. If you think this kid going back to russia isnt a sign he has no future with the NY Rangers you are ****ing psychotic. I am really pissed at how we manage assets. You think you are getting a top 10 pick back out of this ****ing disaster? All because of our stupid coaching staff.

I've been on the Quinn sucks at development train since last year but its way too soon to say "he has no future with the Rangers"

 

[FireGerardGallant]

A man is lost without the sauce but a man can become lost in the sauce. The kid is obviously a great person and works hard and has the initiative to succeed. The coaching staffs will have to meet half way at some point. The systemic coaching approach to prospects in hardford and David "Follow the syllabus" Quinn are going to have to be more sensible in the future.

 

[Do you want ants]

I have zero issue with him going home to an environment he’s more comfortable in. He got the EAC and I have no issue with him utilizing it. It was pretty clear he wasn’t ready for a top 9 roll in the NHL.

Just because Hartford is actually winning for a change, doesn’t mean it’s the best environment for all of our prospects. He got a taste of what’s needed to be done in the NHL and AHL. Go home and work on it.

My only real issue is if our staff/front office hasn’t been brought up to speed on how to deal with Russian players. Or at least try and explain to our Russian prospects some of the cultural differences in coaching/communication styles. Communication is key and if everyone is on different pages, it’s going to be an ongoing issue with some of our top prospects.

 

[Anzi]

I have zero issue with him going home to an environment he’s more comfortable in. He got the EAC and I have no issue with him utilizing it. It was pretty clear he wasn’t ready for a top 9 roll in the NHL.

Just because Hartford is actually winning for a change, doesn’t mean it’s the best environment for all of our prospects. He got a taste of what’s needed to be done in the NHL and AHL. Go home and work on it.

My only real issue is if our staff/front office hasn’t been brought up to speed on how to deal with Russian players. Or at least try and explain to our Russian prospects some of the cultural differences in coaching/communication styles. Communication is key and if everyone is on different pages, it’s going to be an ongoing issue with some of our top prospects.

I think it would be smart to add someone with experience handling Russian players as part of our staff. There's quite a few candidates that have Rangers ties and would make a lot of sense.

 

[NoQuitInNewMexico]

The heart rate thing is goofy but I could kind of defend it as a new coach trying to build uniform standards at an affiliate that's kind of a joke, with the typical AHL hodgepodge of random players at different points in their career who have never seen each other before.

Wouldn't write off Knoblauch because of this, and I wouldn't write off Kravtsov either, assuming it was just a bad marriage

 

[NYRKING30]

I’m scared if I should even attempt to read the last 10 pages of this thread. There has to be some glorious hot takes/overreactions. Anyone care to give me a cliff notes recap?