Larry Brooks: Vitaly Kravtsov headed back to the KHL

[Chytilmania]

He can come back when the season is over, who cares.

 

[True Blue]

its funny that you think this is their idea. This is all him.

So let me get this straight. Their #1 pick from two years ago decided that he as going back to Russia and you think that the GM & President basically said "Sure. No problem". There was no organizational consultation at all? That is what makes sense to you?

 

[True Blue]

FWIW, this move could have come completely independent of the Rangers. Kravtsov has the out clause, it's his discretion to use it. It's certainly possible that the organization encouraged this, but it's also totally possible that they had no say whatsoever (or their advice fell on deaf ears).

I would find it very hard to believe that the organization had no say and that was no conversation. I realize that he had the out clause, but there are few things done without organizational consent. Especially when it comes to the #1 pick. You could well be right, but again I think that there is simply no way that this happens without management's consent. Unless of course, he decided that the NHL is not for him at all. Which I would tend to doubt. I also doubt his agent would want to get on the wrong side of the NHL franchise that is going to potentially be able to make his client a millionaire.

 

[Kovalev27]

So let me get this straight. Their #1 pick from two years ago decided that he as going back to Russia and you think that the GM & President basically said "Sure. No problem". There was no organizational consultation at all? That is what makes sense to you?

not their call. He negotiated the clause. He used it the first day it was eligible to be used. You think the Rangers want this? They definitely don’t

 

[ohbaby]

To me this is an indictment on the development environment for the Rangers.

Hey- it's great that you've got all of these young assets. But let's look at it on the whole.

Over the last 2 years- what has the board been complaining about when it comes to the kids?

It's a matter of putting them in a position to succeed and maximizing their potential.

Is that happening?

• Lias- 7 minutes a night next to a career plug, and a guy who can't play defense anymore.
• Chytil- showed some flashes, but physically overwhelmed and struggling with his confidence.
• Howden- promising center looks like he would be lucky to be a career 4th liner.
• Skjei- Regressing steadily from his rookie season.
• Kakko- Already telling Finnish media how upset he is.
• Kravstov- Went back home the 1st chance he got.
• Buch- took a step, but is constantly benched.
• ADA- looking better but benched for 20+ games when he was a better option than the product on the ice.
• Fox- early but looks solid, but for 15 minutes a night.
• Hajek- early but looks solid after being an offensive black hole in HFD.

To me these are indications of a limited support infrastructure for developing talent. It's a combination of the kids not having insulation, and simply stupid managerial decisions.

This isn't going to happen by bringing in business consultants to help your organzation, the Knicks are worse.

You need experienced hockey guys, that can build a culture.

I like "what I'm hearing", but I do not like "what I'm seeing".

Balls in JD's court. I hope he brings in some of the staff he had in St. Louis and Columbus.

You wanna know why? Those organizations were able to develop players. I simply do not think that the Rangers support infrastructure, as currently constituted and can deliver on that.

Love this post.

 

[True Blue]

not their call. He negotiated the clause. He used it the first day it was eligible to be used. You think the Rangers want this? They definitely don’t

Sorry, while it may not have been what they envisioned in the beginning of the year, it is the reality with what his play has brought them. So if you think that Kravstov was able to run away to Russia without organizational buy in, you have no idea of how franchises work. Sorry.

 

[Tawnos]

not their call. He negotiated the clause. He used it the first day it was eligible to be used. You think the Rangers want this? They definitely don’t

It not being their call doesn’t mean they weren’t consulted. Here’s the relevant section of the Carp article on the topic.

His agent, Paul Theofanous, was at the Garden Thursday night and likely met with the Rangers’ brass there.

The Rangers, per sources, feel Kravtsov has done everything that was asked of him – coming over in the summer for workouts, making a big effort to learn the language, etc. – and are comfortable with his decision to return home for this season. Thus the Rangers didn’t feel it was necessary to force the issue with Kravtsov.

The Rangers, if they had believed Kravtsov’s progress to be on the right trajectory, could have called him up to the NHL roster, but that wasn’t the case. More likely, Kravtsov would have been looking at a long stint in Hartford.

In fact, the club feels Kravtsov could benefit from another season in Russia’s KHL, which is a more competitive league than the AHL. It could actually speed his development.

 

[ohbaby]

Players we passed on with those picks: Klingberg, Gostisbehere, Gallagher, Murray, Parayko, Slavin, Anderson, Hellebuyck, Athanasiou, Point, Arvidsson.
If that's not a terrible track record then I dont know what is

What's the difference, this Organization would have screwed up the development of those we passed over also.

 

[Kovalev27]

It not being their call doesn’t mean they weren’t consulted. Here’s the relevant section of the Carp article on the topic.

If by consulted you mean on OCT 25th the first day he was eligible to exercise his clause his agent called and said he was leaving and they politely said ok because they had to then yeah guess they were consulted. They didn’t have a choice

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I would also point out that Brooks said the team didn’t want to press the issue with Kravstov and potentially sour the relationship

So take that as you will

 

[Machinehead]

Walhstrom Mittelstadt Kakko line would look pretty good right now.

I tend to be negative but let's not start with this.

A few months ago Wahlstrom was a bust and we were penciling Kravtsov in for 75 points. It just goes to show you have to wait on prospects.

 

[ohbaby]

Honestly, he seems like an upstanding kid.

From every interview I have seen of him, his English is quite good, and with all the praise he's had from management, I couldn't agree more, that this is a dedicated, mature youngster. After all, he did come early to NA to give it his best shot.

When I heard he got benched after one game, I was floored. Nevermind the fact he didn't make the team with Smith playing forward. Rangers need to wake up on how to handle their youngsters.

 

[Zine]

Just re-watched the interview.

This fiasco could've been prevented if your organization cared to put someone in Hartford to help an unworldly 19 year old understand how North America works. It's painfully obvious Kravtsov and the coaching staff weren't communicating. He truly didn't understand how to interpret North American 'coach speak'. I mean he laughs about it in the interview and tells the interviewer he'll tell him more about it off-camera. And that heart rate thing? Sweet Jesus, I don't even.....

Like someone posted earlier, Kravtsov understood that Hartford was part of the larger plan; but I don't think there was a detailed road-map provided to him to achieve his goals; at least not one he could understand. The Rangers basically sent some foreign kid to the middle of nowhere AHL with a 'do what your coaches say and figure it out for yourself' attitude.
And here I thought my opinion of the AHL couldn't get any worse.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Just re-watched the interview.

This fiasco could've been prevented if your organization cared to put someone in Hartford to help an unworldly 19 year old understand how North America works. It's painfully obvious Kravtsov and the coaching staff weren't communicating. He truly didn't understand how to interpret North American 'coach speak'. And that heart rate thing? Sweet Jesus, I don't even.....

Like someone posted earlier, Kravtsov understood that Hartford was part of the larger plan; but there was no detailed road-map provided to him to achieve his goals; at least not one he could understand. The Rangers basically sent some foreign kid to the middle of nowhere AHL with a 'do what your coaches say and figure it out for yourself' attitude.
And here I thought my opinion of the AHL couldn't get any worse.

I find this hard to believe

 

[ohbaby]

Sounds like he’ll be back. Don’t know if it’s just something that was just lost in translation but if they were really looking at his “BPM” and drawing conclusions from that that’s just asinine.

On the heart rate thing, it should be mentioned that it was probably used as a confirmation. In other words, your slacking and floating is evident by your heart rate. But do we really need to wire these guys up to confirm this?

 

[Levitate]

While Chytil isn’t Russian he went through the same kind of stuff and at a younger age than Kravtsov and would have been a great source of info and support for Kravtsov. Kravtsov also had several other Russian players there to commiserate with

to me this all sounds more like a kid who thought he was ready and is sorely disappointed that he wasn’t...both at himself and I’m sure a little at the team and wishing they’d given him a few chances in the NHL. But he wasn’t ready and Smith playing forward doesn’t mean anything to his situation other than an excuse (for him and for internet posters). If he was ready they would have made room, it’s a non factor

Communication is also a two way street and it’s also on him to find ways to clarify with the coaching staff what’s expected of him.
But ultimately he’s a kid who has been excited for years about coming to the NHL and seems extremely upset he didn’t make it. At the same time I think he knows the Rangers really like him and see him as a big piece of their future, it’s just going to take a bit longer

I’ll worry about it being a big deal if he actually requests a trade but I doubt it will come to that either.

 

[ohbaby]

Going around Twitter this kid deleted every photo on instagram NYR related. Lol. What a Friggen baby. This is what we’re dealing with. I’m embarrassed for him.

Well now that you feel this way, I'm going to unlike every post of yours I liked. LOL!

 

[NY Lito]

While Chytil isn’t Russian he went through the same kind of stuff and at a younger age than Kravtsov and would have been a great source of info and support for Kravtsov. Kravtsov also had several other Russian players there to commiserate with

to me this all sounds more like a kid who thought he was ready and is sorely disappointed that he wasn’t...both at himself and I’m sure a little at the team and wishing they’d given him a few chances in the NHL. But he wasn’t ready and Smith playing forward doesn’t mean anything to his situation other than an excuse (for him and for internet posters). If he was ready they would have made room, it’s a non factor

Communication is also a two way street and it’s also on him to find ways to clarify with the coaching staff what’s expected of him.
But ultimately he’s a kid who has been excited for years about coming to the NHL and seems extremely upset he didn’t make it. At the same time I think he knows the Rangers really like him and see him as a big piece of their future, it’s just going to take a bit longer

I’ll worry about it being a big deal if he actually requests a trade but I doubt it will come to that either.

100% agree with everything here.

I don’t understand people taking the Rangers to task over this situation. It’s primarily on him.

 

[True Blue]

What's the difference, this Organization would have screwed up the development of those we passed over also.

Drafting in hindsight is pretty easy to do, huh?

If you do not mind, can you please point out exactly how Quinn, Gorton JD screwed up the development of any prospect? And then let me know whose development has been deterred.

 

[Vitto79]

No point to speculate. If he doesn’t come back after the khl season or after the trade deadline then I will have concern . Till then whatever

 

[Anzi]

It doesn't matter if its Kravtsov's fault or not. Even if Kravtsov is to blame, its ultimately the organization that scouted and drafted him. If everything ends up turning out alright in the end, then no harm done. But if things end up not working for some reason or not, I'll be critical of the organization for handling things better.

This reminds me a bit of the whole Porzingis saga with the Knicks. Porzingis demanded a trade so fans blame him. But at the end of the day, the front office is still here and they're the ones who didn't manage to make things work.

 

[ohbaby]

Drafting in hindsight is pretty easy to do, huh?

If you do not mind, can you please point out exactly how Quinn, Gorton JD screwed up the development of any prospect? And then let me know whose development has been deterred.

The three you mentioned haven't been around long. Jeff became GM in 2015. JD just arrived, and Quinn one year. So we are looking at what going on now with all our prospects. With one of the best prospect pools we ever had.

So maybe it's wrong to compare from years past with Slats in charge and lesser prospect pools.

 

[Kovalev27]

No point to speculate. If he doesn’t come back after the khl season or after the trade deadline then I will have concern . Till then whatever

oh I’m sure he’ll be back he’s contractually obligated to do so.

I’m more concerned with who he is now. What does he do when he gets to Russia? Does he dominate and work on his deficiencies? Does he just mail it in over there too? Does the relationship with the org heal? Or does it become something where we feel we need to move him and worst case have blown another top 10 pick. Thats really what this is all about. If he comes back matured and better prepared no one will remember this. But I have concerns now about the kids makeup

 

[Absolut]

oh I’m sure he’ll be back he’s contractually obligated to do so.

I’m more concerned with who he is now. What does he do when he gets to Russia? Does he dominate and work on his deficiencies? Does he just mail it in over there too? Does the relationship with the org heal? Or does it become something where we feel we need to move him and worst case have blown another top 10 pick. Thats really what this is all about. If he comes back matured and better prepared no one will remember this. But I have concerns now about the kids makeup

Given that is is a trend with the organization, you should be much more concerned about how the Rangers handle their young players (including Kakko, by the way). Kravtsov is a nice player, but whether he makes it or not is not the biggest issue here. Something got royally screwed up, because the kid did everything that was asked of him and ended up in a strange situation. He ain't the first and he won't be the last. Our young assets need to be put in a position to succeed. Buchnevich to me is a shining example of ruining a player. Accountability is great. Effort is great. But taking a factory approach to young players no longer works. And that applies to all prospects, regardless of where they are from. Things have changed, but the Rangers approach to kids hasn't.

 

[nyr2k2]

Given that is is a trend with the organization, you should be much more concerned about how the Rangers handle their young players (including Kakko, by the way). Kravtsov is a nice player, but whether he makes it or not is not the biggest issue here. Something got royally screwed up, because the kid did everything that was asked of him and ended up in a strange situation. He ain't the first and he won't be the last. Our young assets need to be put in a position to succeed. Buchnevich to me is a shining example of ruining a player. Accountability is great. Effort is great. But taking a factory approach to young players no longer works. And that applies to all prospects, regardless of where they are from. Things have changed, but the Rangers approach to kids hasn't.

How has Buchnevich been ruined?