Larry Brooks: Vitaly Kravtsov headed back to the KHL

[Kovalev27]

He’s not homesick. He’s very well adjusted over here. Has family speaks the language. Ask @Amazing Kreiderman he’ll tell you it’s not that.

he sulked and went home thought he was too good for the AHL. That’s all it was. He’ll be dying to get back here you watch.

 

[RangersFan1994]

He’s not homesick. He’s very well adjusted over here. Has family speaks the language. Ask @Amazing Kreiderman he’ll tell you it’s not that.

he sulked and went home thought he was too good for the AHL. That’s all it was. He’ll be dying to get back here you watch.

quitting on a 1st place AHL team although early shows the signs of his lack of character. the points would come if he wanted to work hard. i had hopes for this kid. he needs to change the attitude. not a team player

 

[JohnC]

Not sure I really buy into the "home sick" narrative seeing as how he spent the entire summer here in North America.

Let's not pretend living in NYC/Westchester is similar to living in Hartford CT at all

I pretty much blame both sides for this situation. Perhaps the Rangers should've done a better job of handling it, but still very unbecoming of Krav to take his ball and go home when faced with a little adversity, even though it was probably a lot for a 19 year old kid to shoulder.

It is what it is.

 

[CasusBelli]

I’ll be surprised if this guy plays a game for us. The more time passes, the more the bitterness grows in this case, I think. Typical prima donna. Good riddance if that’s the case (though I hope I’m wrong).

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to interpret that as a jab at VK. Not a huge stretch, it’s not unreasonable. But it’s not how it landed on me at first glance.

 

[romba]

Telling you right now he’s going to go out there and realize this league sucks (in comparison to what he now has experienced over here). He’s going to be dying to get back here. It’s going to feel like a major step back. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually struggles over there.

I think he's so so thrilled and relieved to be home right now that he's not even considering that.

Imagine VK had stuck it out, eventually got his call up and played half a season + in the NHL, and then got sent down again the beginning of the next season like what happened to Chytil this year. I can't imagine the level of pout he would express if he were put in Chytil's shoes, kinda gives some perspective on the immaturity/maturity discrepancy between the two of them.

 

[Inferno]

I think it’s a bit of a stretch to interpret that as a jab at VK. Not a huge stretch, it’s not unreasonable. But it’s not how it landed on me at first glance.

Screamed a shot at kravtsov to me.

He didn't have to say the sulking part...that is definitely a shot at kravtsov...at least to me it is

 

[JimmyG89]

In other news, Kravtsov played his first game today, logging 19 minutes on Traktor's top line. No points, no shots (1 attempt if I'm reading the box score correctly). His team was shelled, as they were out shot 40-23 and out attempted 69-40. Not much has changed for Traktor, as we know they were an offensive black hole last season. Demchenko basically steals games for them.

Bunch of former Rangers in this one. Traktor has Enver Lisin and Dmitri Kalinin. On the other side, the legendary Ryan Spooner took the ice.

 

[Kovalev27]

In other news, Kravtsov played his first game today, logging 19 minutes on Traktor's top line. No points, no shots (1 attempt if I'm reading the box score correctly). His team was shelled, as they were out shot 40-23 and out attempted 69-40. Not much has changed for Traktor, as we know they were an offensive black hole last season. Demchenko basically steals games for them.

Bunch of former Rangers in this one. Traktor has Enver Lisin and Dmitri Kalinin. On the other side, the legendary Ryan Spooner took the ice.

that stat line sounds like his Hartford Statlines. And like I said earlier I’m not surprised. I think he’s going to struggle there.

this kid made a really bad decision and it’s going to set him back.

 

[RGY]

that stat line sounds like his Hartford Statlines. And like I said earlier I’m not surprised. I think he’s going to struggle there.

this kid made a really bad decision and it’s going to set him back.

This is quite the over exaggeration. My Lord enough already. He is 19. While I think he shouldve stayed and worked on his game here, taking a page out of Chytil’s book, his career in the NHL and with the Rangers is not over. Not even close. Everyone wants to admire Chytil for how he handled things this year, but how do we know he wouldnt have been the one “pouting” had we cut him last year.

This kid will be fine. He can be recalled at any time. If the Rangers think playing for Traktor is a problem he can be recalled back to the team.

 

[JimmyG89]

that stat line sounds like his Hartford Statlines. And like I said earlier I’m not surprised. I think he’s going to struggle there.

this kid made a really bad decision and it’s going to set him back.

I can see this happening initially, and didn't expect much this game from him either way. There is a lot of travel involved and adjusting back to being at home. Next game is Saturday and I'd hope the stat line is better.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Screamed a shot at kravtsov to me.

He didn't have to say the sulking part...that is definitely a shot at kravtsov...at least to me it is

There was definitely as chain of events leading to the return home.

It was noted when Chytil, Krav, Shesty, Lindgren were sent down, someone on Management said some weren't happy, but they understood and management understood why they were unhappy. Then is came out Kravy posted a photo of his buds on Traktor with a sad emoji and removed it later, then he gets benched after one game in Hartford "not for injury reasons." as reported. One assist later in a handful of games and he bolts. His motivation to stick it out was nill. That's a problem and concerning.

I don't care how much he "tried" this summer with the English, helping Rykov/Shesty adjust, ect...that's great if he wants to be a Human Resources Director, not an NHL player.

If Hartford is teaching the same system Quinn is so the next few years we can have kids bounce back and forth as needed seamlessly, then Kravtsov should be here learning what it takes to play in NYR's system at the B level so he can make a healthy transition to the A level. Going back to a club like Traktor, with no notable skilled help, and being given free reign to dangle, cherry pick, and hang around the blue line in a larger rink in an undisciplined system is NOT going to make him any more NHL ready next year, or next decade, than he was this year. Age has very little to do with that.

 

[Kovalev27]

How’s it an overreaction? His stat line is exactly like his Hartford stat lines. I fully believe leaving to go back to the tire fire that is Traktor is a terrible decision that will set him back. They get their doors blown off every night.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

He played his first KHL game today. His team won 4-1, no points and no shots but played the 2nd most ice time among forwards on the team (just over 19 min)

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I think he’s a good kid but needs an attitude adjustment. There are 3 things that will make you welcome on any team sport team, assuming you have the ability:

1. Put the team/club first
2. Work hard for your teammates
3. Be reliable on and off the pitch

Hope he learns from this.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I think he’s a good kid but needs an attitude adjustment. There are 3 things that will make you welcome on any team sport team, assuming you have the ability:

1. Put the team/club first
2. Work hard for your teammates
3. Be reliable on and off the pitch

Hope he learns from this.

Oh yeah and # 4, there are no emojis in team sports

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I don't disagree with any of you. That being said, Kravtsov's actions have demonstrated that he at the very least takes criticism to the heart and can see how he would take that as a pot shot.

I just cannot possibly fathom him being THAT immature. I just can't.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

I mean, I can see how Kravtsov’s camp might take it as a shot, but by the same token, how does Quinn praise Chytil and Lindgren without providing potential ammo for that narrative?

Wow, put the quote in context and it has nothing to do with Kravtsov and everything to do with the play of Chytil and Lindgren in the game last night and the month they spent in Hartford.

Once again, Kravtsov wasn't ready for the type of game played in the NHL. For him what he does or doesn't do with his time back in Russia matters for next season. Hopefully, he comes back and wins a spot out of training camp and all the fallout from him returning to Russia now disappears.

And in the meantime, we get to watch the development of the prospects currently playing here. Some nights it's tough, some nights we get to watch some pretty exciting hockey.

 

[Trxjw]

If Kravtsov isn't ready to change his game, there's nothing anyone in the Rangers org can do to change that. He had the out-clause in his contract and chose to execute it. We can debate the nuance of it as much as we like, but it really comes down to the fact that he's not ready to adapt his game yet.

I can understand if the Rangers brass and coaches are a bit miffed at him, but I see Quinn's comment primarily as praise for Lindgren and Chytil, while also being a shot across the bow for some of the other young players on the roster who could be sent down. If Zib comes back next game, that means one of Howden or Andersson are on the outs or moving to wing. That could mean one of them is heading to the AHL and Quinn is letting them know he expects similar results.

 

[kovazub94]

He probably will get a lot of first line minutes with Traktor. His teammates will look to him for leadership as it will be his 3rd season there. It will be another way for him to hopefully mature faster.

I might have stated it before but my biggest concern is actually the 160 bps heart rate comment. I'm well into my 40's and I still can maintain this rate for a long period of time while doing cardio. Kravtsov must find a way to train his heart to be able to get his heart rate way higher than this for 40 sec - 1 min and do it for 15-2o intervals within one practice.

 

[Zine]

Telling you right now he’s going to go out there and realize this league sucks (in comparison to what he now has experienced over here). He’s going to be dying to get back here. It’s going to feel like a major step back. I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually struggles over there.

Kravtsov's not gonna realize anything new. He knows exactly what it's like to play in KHL/Chelyabinsk and how it differs, correlates, etc. to the NHL/AHL.
It's not like he's returning to the KHL after a 10-year stint in the NHL; he played 5 AHL games. For right or wrong, he chose to return to develop in a familiar and comfortable environment.
The only change is that Skudra is now coach, and the guy is about as old-school hard-ass as it gets.

 

[RangersFan1994]

what if Kravtsov decides to resign with the KHL Traktor after this season, can he do that although he has a concert with NYR? what if he breaks that NHL contract?

 

[Zine]

Ho


Honestly if Kravstov can't handle this type of heat into the future (as a result of his own actions mind you) then he isn't cut out to be a professional player in NA and especially not in the New York market.

He is an exciting prospect and is still very young, but I wouldn't be one for protecting a player unnecessarily because getting into that habit will only hurt him and the team in the end if he is strung along and wasting the Rangers time.

They tested Chytil and Lindgren and they responded. Kravstov didn't get what he thought he earned and bolted home. I'm not sure if Quinn's comments were an aimed jab at him, but if they were then good for him for the way he said it.

In many ways, direct and harsh criticism is what Kravtsov needed in Hartford. This is how coaching works in Russia, and what he's used to receiving. From his interviews it sounds like NYR were babying him more than he's used to; constantly praising him, constructive criticism, etc....and he took that literally. Then he gets benched and he's like WTF.
I think NYR were expecting a certain level of professionalism from him, which they have every right to. That said, it's also easy to see how a immature 19 year old, coming in with an entirely different world-view, would see things differently.

 

[GAGLine]

what if Kravtsov decides to resign with the KHL Traktor after this season, can he do that although he has a concert with NYR? what if he breaks that NHL contract?

He can't re-sign in the KHL after this year. He has 2 years left on his ELC and doesn't have an EAC (European Assignment Clause) after this year. The NHL and KHL have agreed to honor each other's contracts, so they won't sign him as long as he is under contract in the NHL (and in the absence of an EAC).