Larry Brooks: Vitaly Kravtsov headed back to the KHL

[Mac n Gs]

I mean, if they came to the conclusion that this would be a viable option for him this year, then fine. What doesn't make sense is why even both signing him to his ELC to begin with if that were the case? Unless he magically turns Traktor into a playoff team or gets dealt to a contender, his KHL season will be done at the end of February. After that, he still has a contractual obligation to the Rangers without any further EAC in his contract.

That's what makes this situation different than other players drafted out of the KHL like Buchnevich, Kuznetsov, Malkin, Radulov, and Tarasenko. Here is when they signed their ELCs after being drafted:
Buchnevich - 3 years
Kuznetsov- 3.5 years
Malkin- 2 years
Radulov- 2 years
Tarasenko - 2 years

All of these guys had at least one entire full season to stay in Russia. Maybe I'm wrong and these next 4 months seriously help Kravtsov, but it doesn't seem like it will do much in the grand scheme of things. If he's still not ready next season, this situation only gets worse for him.

 

[The New Russian Five]

Feels to me like he's a spoiled kid. He expected to make the NHL out of camp and when things didn't go as planned, he decided he would rather go home and be in a comfortable situation where he is more loved and appreciated, then sticking it out in a league that will be 10x better for his development as an NHL prospect.

I don't think thats an overreaction or exaggeration of whats going on here.

Saying that the AHL would be 10x better for his development isn't an exaggeration? Are you sure about that?

 

[kovazub94]

Yes. He did.

Then this actually puts a different spin on the deleted pictures issue. Makes it more of a big nothing.

 

[kovazub94]

Kid was an absolute baby of the highest order. And even he did a season in the AHL.

In Russia Filatov is a poster child for not moving over to NA early.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Then this actually puts a different spin on the deleted pictures issue. Makes it more of a big nothing.

Yeah, if he did the same with his Traktor pictures then it makes it seem more like he doesn't want to have pictures from the team he's not currently on live on his page. Still a bit strange though.

I wonder if his NYR draft photo was live on his Instagram while he played for Traktor.

 

[Zine]

Who gives a crap what he posts in his private life.
It’s like some of you think Kravtsov’s sole purpose of living should be adherence to the NY Rangers. Talk about childish fandom.

Perhaps he wants to wipe away all traces of a negative experience, re-charge his batteries with Traktor, and return to NY refreshed and ready to hit the road running next year. Big freakin’ deal.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Who gives a crap what he posts in his private life.
It’s like some of you think Kravtsov’s sole purpose of living should be adherence to the NY Rangers. Talk about childish fandom.

Perhaps he wants to wipe away all traces of a negative experience, re-charge his batteries with Traktor, and return to NY refreshed and ready to hit the road running next year. Big freakin’ deal.

Like I mentioned to some Finnish posters in the Kakko thread, we all want the same thing at the end of the day, we’re just working at it from different angles

 

[Absolut]

One thing’s for sure, they definitely need to have Bobrov over there meeting him for dinner and staying in personal communication all this season while he’s over there. Probably wouldn’t hurt to have Panarin give him the occasional call as well.

Kravtsov said in a Russian interview discussed earlier that Panarin was a great teammate and helped him as much as he could. Fellow Russians or not though, 27 and 19 is a huge difference. The kid looks so happy you'd think he broke out of jail. He seems very chill. I obviously don't know him, but calm and relaxed people don't make rush decisions. I really wonder about what happened.

 

[nyr2k2]

Meh I thought he'd be better than a 40 point guy. Not a star player, but maybe someone who could put up 60 points. I saw a lot of creativity initially. That was knocked out of him pretty fast. I also plenty of weaknesses, which never improved. He's just a borderline NHL'er (regardless of the numbers he'll put up playing with Z & Panarin). With better development he'd be a better player.

IDK, he makes some seriously stupid decisions with the puck. That's on him. It's a vision and decision-making issue when he forces terrible passes or an IQ issue when he just throws the puck somewhere random.

Like, what specifically do you think should have developed differently about his game? I mean you can't teach hockey sense. The guy was a third round pick, in an era where the "Russian Factor" is less of a thing than it ever was before. People discussed him like he was a top-ten talent, which was crazy talk. He fell for reasons other than being a Russian kid in the KHL. He fell because he had upside but problems with his game, which are plainly evident.

 

[serakk]

After watching Kravtsov’s interview (russian is my native) I can definitely say, he will not be able to make rangers roster if he will not change his attitude and expectations, from now on he would need to work really hard to show he is able to give his 100% on daily basis. Talent is there, he needs desire to make our team, as a 19yo I do not see it in him yet

 

[kovazub94]

If there’s a positive spin to put on this situation is that Kravtsov might come back to finish the season with Hartford including for playoffs if Wolfpack doesn’t unravel the rest of the season.

 

[haveandare]

After watching Kravtsov’s interview (russian is my native) I can definitely say, he will not be able to make rangers roster if he will not change his attitude and expectations, from now on he would need to work really hard to show he is able to give his 100% on daily basis. Talent is there, he needs desire to make our team, as a 19yo I do not see it in him yet

What specifically makes you think this? Would be helpful to hear for those of us who don’t understand the language at all

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Who gives a crap what he posts in his private life.
It’s like some of you think Kravtsov’s sole purpose of living should be adherence to the NY Rangers. Talk about childish fandom.

Perhaps he wants to wipe away all traces of a negative experience, re-charge his batteries with Traktor, and return to NY refreshed and ready to hit the road running next year. Big freakin’ deal.

Hard to call a public figure's public-facing social media "private life".

 

[Ola]

What specifically makes you think this? Would be helpful to hear for those of us who don’t understand the language at all

There is nothing that you can’t see, he said nothing of the sort. There is nothing besides his body language.

I think we can establish this:

1. Kravy hasn’t sulked in HFD. He played exactly the same way there as he did in Traverse.

2. He has not expressed a single negative feeling.

3. Our coaching staff in HFD has not expressed anything negative.

4. Our coaching staff in NYR has only been positive about his attitude.

JMHO, but I actually think there are some incorrect reads behind most of this.

 

[n8]

Then who are you gonna blame. He’s a soft entitled brat

English. Nobody is to blame for him feeling the KHL is a better option for his career. You need ice time to get better.
Is someone to blame for him not getting ice time? That's a different question. One you felt like answering because you didn't bother reading.
Read better.

 

[BBKers]

New first line for Traktor

Lisin - VK - Christian Thomas

book it!

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

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

He signed a three year contract--it says he can be recalled at any time. Kravtsov has two choices after the KHL season ends (assuming he isn't recalled before then): do what the Rangers tell him to do or stay home. He can't play next year in the KHL unless the Rangers assign him there.

My guess is Kravtsov plays in North America next year. Making the NHL roster depends on the choices he makes this season.

 

[kovazub94]

New first line for Traktor

Lisin - VK - Christian Thomas

book it!

Lol

 

[Larrybiv]

Bleh

Let the kid play in Hartford without benching him. Like come on

If he deserved to be benched, then why shoukd he be treated differently than anyone else? What? Baby him with kid gloves, and sending a message that it is "alright" to not back check or to be lazy? (If that was the case)

I dont see how this could be a good thing, (running back home to his "safe zone", but he is YOUNG......and if indeed he gets paid more playing in the KHL, then it could simply be he and his family needed the money. I dunno, in that case it may be somewhat understandable.

Would have benefited him and the Rangers, had he stayed and played on NHL rink size, sooner or later he has to adapt.
Dont care for the smell of this.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Yes. He did.

So it's marketing. Another mystery solved.

 

[Inferno]

IDK, he makes some seriously stupid decisions with the puck. That's on him. It's a vision and decision-making issue when he forces terrible passes or an IQ issue when he just throws the puck somewhere random.

Like, what specifically do you think should have developed differently about his game? I mean you can't teach hockey sense. The guy was a third round pick, in an era where the "Russian Factor" is less of a thing than it ever was before. People discussed him like he was a top-ten talent, which was crazy talk. He fell for reasons other than being a Russian kid in the KHL. He fell because he had upside but problems with his game, which are plainly evident.

I'm late to the party...who are we talking about here? Grachev?

 

[romba]

I'm late to the party...who are we talking about here? Grachev?

That would make sense but I think it’s Buch. Jumping on the lazy-russian-bad-decision-making-bandwagon I guess.

 

[nyr2k2]

I'm still annoyed by this, but not as much. I firmly believe that from an "experience" perspective he'd be better off in the AHL. However, if he simply can't handle being here at the moment, or everyone agrees he's not ready for it, the I guess KHL it is. Without knowing all the facts I could find plenty of blame for the player, or plenty for the team (or both). But the situation is what it is, and now it's just about hoping that what he's doing is what's best for him. I just hope he comes back more prepared, whether that's mentally, emotionally, physically, or whatever.

 

[nyr2k2]

That would make sense but I think it’s Buch. Jumping on the lazy-russian-bad-decision-making-bandwagon I guess.

Yes it was Buch but that's not at all what I was doing. Another poster said Buch was an example of a player we ruined, and I disputed that. I said that from when he first came over he looked like a 50-point guy, that his skills weren't elite and his hockey sense wasn't great, so he wasn't ever going to be able to become the player some people thought he would be. It had nothing to do with him being a lazy Russian. To the contrary, Buch put in the hard work the team demanded and became a better player for it.

It was part of a larger discussion about "some guys are who they are" and it's not always the fault of the team that they didn't pan out. I'm not a guy who stereotypes players based on their country of origin.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

I'm still annoyed by this, but not as much. I firmly believe that from an "experience" perspective he'd be better off in the AHL. However, if he simply can't handle being here at the moment, or everyone agrees he's not ready for it, the I guess KHL it is. Without knowing all the facts I could find plenty of blame for the player, or plenty for the team (or both). But the situation is what it is, and now it's just about hoping that what he's doing is what's best for him. I just hope he comes back more prepared, whether that's mentally, emotionally, physically, or whatever.

You and your “reasonableness”.