Prospect Info: With the 9th Overall Pick the New York Rangers Select Vitali Kravtsov

[Ori]

HF was a mess last day and unstable, and not surprising too many posts due to draft, but overall with picks and Gordie Clarke decisions - and not sure if all is his alone which I doubt, but overall we had one of the best wingers in this draft in Vitali Kravtsov. And some will utter a lesser Nash, but I strongly disagree with that reasoning. I believe he will develop quite nicely, and history of some Russian hockey players are usually better technical than Nash will ever be in his career with the same type of moves. I`m positive he is more creative too and higher IQ, but not certain how good Vitali is to finish yet.

He is also a right wing who might replace Mats Zuccarello I know some don`t like that I mention that, but it`s good drafting decision since we lack quality wingers when Mats era is over. But don`t discuss Mats here in this topic based on that drafting decision and Rangers future.

Vitali Kravtsov at eliteprospects.com

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Right after you hear Gordie Clark name the team (Traktor Chelyabinsk) you hear some moron in the background yelling "OH YEAH!!!".

That's me

I don't know enough about him, but sounds like those guys are a bit harsh on him if everything I read was true. Not that I think that it was because he's Russian, but I bet if he's a good ole Canadian boy they're ooh and ahhing about his skill.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Kind of annoyed that all that draft choice they focused on was what a reach he was. They fell in love with their ratings so much that they could barely name one positive in his game. I hate when these draft analysts only focus on the positive, but when there's clearly positives and you only focus on the negative because of your worthless draft board you're a friggin egomaniac.

 

[Inferno]

Rick Nash is a borderline hall of fame player....I don't think it's fair to compare kravtsov to him...Nash was a 1oa pick with zero questions of who would be taken ahead of him.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Kind of annoyed that all that draft choice they focused on was what a reach he was. They fell in love with their ratings so much that they could barely name one positive in his game. I hate when these draft analysts only focus on the positive, but when there's clearly positives and you only focus on the negative because of your worthless draft board you're a friggin egomaniac.

It's funny. If you listen all the way to the end, all of a sudden they start getting more positive as the highlights come on and they show him straight up undressing KHL defensemen.

 

[Mikos87]

He played center prior to moving onto the KHL.

Might be back there in the future, but he's a winger as a draftee.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Rick Nash is a borderline hall of fame player....I don't think it's fair to compare kravtsov to him...Nash was a 1oa pick with zero questions of who would be taken ahead of him.

Not true, Jay Bowmeester was considered the #1 pick for a very long time. I think Rick Nash passed him pretty late. The analysts were even discussing how painful it must be for JB who was considered the #1 pick for most of the process.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

People complain about the Islanders getting Wahlstrom and Dobson LOL. Yeah, they had 2 picks. Makes it a bit easier. We could only grab one. I would have loved to get the Oilers pick and get Dobson at 10, just to see this board in meltdown the way it is now, even though there's absolutely no guarantee that Wahlstrom:

a. will be an elite player
b. plays in the NHL before Kravtsov

Those are the 2 things I keep reading time and time again about why we screwed up. It's baseless non-sense

 

[SnowblindNYR]

It's funny. If you listen all the way to the end, all of a sudden they start getting more positive as the highlights come on and they show him straight up undressing KHL defensemen.

Even then they basically said he'll take 3 years and he shouldn't have been drafted that high. If the dude was playing in the OHL and undressing teenagers but his name were Vinny Clifford from Toronto they'd be talking about how he was a diamond in the rough. f*** these guys. They don't have to drink the Kool-Aid but to not have a single positive thing to say without a qualifier was unprofessional.

 

[Ori]

Rick Nash is a borderline hall of fame player....I don't think it's fair to compare kravtsov to him...Nash was a 1oa pick with zero questions of who would be taken ahead of him.

Yes true, I don`t talk down Nash, but he is a very different player than Vitali Kravtsov, and Nash was 1st overall at the time from Canada which always create a lot more hype and media attention. But I`ve a notion that the younger generation of players now have a better chance to be successful compare to 2002 era when Nash was first drafted due to better trainers and in general knowledge how to develop players.

 

[Inferno]

Not true, Jay Bowmeester was considered the #1 pick for a very long time. I think Rick Nash passed him pretty late. The analysts were even discussing how painful it must be for JB who was considered the #1 pick for most of the process.

I don't remember that but you're probably right..

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I don't remember that but you're probably right..

To be honest, I don't know or remember when he got passed. I just remember them talking about how it must be hard for JB because he was supposed to be the #1 pick for a while. I think Nash became a better pick in the end.

I believe that Kovalchuk had a late push too. I think Spezza was considered the #1 pick for most of the process.

 

[Ghost of jas]

To be honest, I don't know or remember when he got passed. I just remember them talking about how it must be hard for JB because he was supposed to be the #1 pick for a while. I think Nash became a better pick in the end.

I believe that Kovalchuk had a late push too. I think Spezza was considered the #1 pick for most of the process.

Kovalchuk was 2001, as was Spezza. Nash and Bouwmeester were 2002.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Kovalchuk was 2001, as was Spezza. Nash and Bouwmeester were 2002.

Yeah, I know. I was talking about separate drafts and separate #1/2 picks.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Yeah, I know. I was talking about separate drafts and separate #1/2 picks.

Okay, I read it wrong.

 

[RangerBoy]

I don't think Kravstov is on the 5 year plan...but we will likely be waiting a couple years to see him on Broadway.

You can use the same 2 year time period with some of the other players taken around the same area as Kravstov.

 

[GregSirico]

I'm very happy with the pick despite really wanting Wahlstrom. I also don't think it's irrational to dislike this pick. There's a lot more risk with this player than there is with Wahlstrom. There seems to be more upside too though, which is why I'm good with it.

This is the most fair take about it.

It's not irrational to dislike it based on Wahlstrom falling to you at 9. Rangers went edgy and took the higher ceiling player, granted I give them credit for being ballsy but if Kravstov busts and Wahlstrom becomes a solid top 6 scoring winger that is a bad look for the scouting dept. A lot at stake here.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Even then they basically said he'll take 3 years and he shouldn't have been drafted that high. If the dude was playing in the OHL and undressing teenagers but his name were Vinny Clifford from Toronto they'd be talking about how he was a diamond in the rough. **** these guys. They don't have to drink the Kool-Aid but to not have a single positive thing to say without a qualifier was unprofessional.

Was this on TSN? I don’t remember the NBC broadcast being that negative. Maybe I was just not hearing anything bc I wanted Wahlstrom.

I thought Pierre said how Kravtsov isn’t far away at all he could even play in the NHL as soon as this season.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Was this on TSN? I don’t remember the NBC broadcast being that negative. Maybe I was just not hearing anything bc I wanted Wahlstrom.

I thought Pierre said how Kravtsov isn’t far away at all he could even play in the NHL as soon as this season.

I think it was TSN. Absolutely pathetic that they could barely find a good thing to say about him. Even if he's a reach, most people think his upside is as high as almost anyone in this draft. And you only hear that in the end and even that is derided. f*** these people.

 

[Thirty One]

To be honest, I don't know or remember when he got passed. I just remember them talking about how it must be hard for JB because he was supposed to be the #1 pick for a while. I think Nash became a better pick in the end.

It was basically draft day. Florida was picking first, they wanted Bouwmeester. Atlanta was picking second, the wanted Lehtonen. Columbus was picking third, they wanted Nash. Think Columbus got spooked some team was going to trade into that #2 spot to scoop Nash and got spooked.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I think it was TSN. Absolutely pathetic that they could barely find a good thing to say about him. Even if he's a reach, most people think his upside is as high as almost anyone in this draft. And you only hear that in the end and even that is derided. **** these people.

He wasn’t even that much a reach, McKenzie had him at 12. Kotkaniemi and Hayton were bigger reaches at 3 and 5 than Kravtsov at 9.

NBC was definitely not as negative about it, Bob McKenzie even predicted it right before it happened. Button has Kravtsov 28th on his list but McKenzie talked about how a ton of scouts had him 5-10 range.

Oh well, hopefully he becomes a star and then we can repost that clip of the TSN idiots. Like when Pierre McGuire lost his mind crapping on the Carey Price pick for Montreal.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

He wasn’t even that much a reach, McKenzie had him at 12. Kotkaniemi and Hayton were bigger reaches at 3 and 5 than Kravtsov at 9.

NBC was definitely not as negative about it, Bob McKenzie even predicted it right before it happened. Button has Kravtsov 28th on his list but McKenzie talked about how a ton of scouts had him 5-10 range.

Oh well, hopefully he becomes a star and then we can repost that clip of the TSN idiots. Like when Pierre McGuire lost his mind crapping on the Carey Price pick for Montreal.

Funny you mention Pierre, and I could be misremembering who brought it up, but when they picked Kotkaniemi he brought up Kopitar going 11th and them taking Price 5th and was like “imagine where they’d be now if they took kopitar instead of price”

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Funny you mention Pierre, and I could be misremembering who brought it up, but when they picked Kotkaniemi he brought up Kopitar going 11th and them taking Price 5th and was like “imagine where they’d be now if they took kopitar instead of price”

Yup I caught him saying that too. Pretty hilarious considering it’s nit like Price has been a slouch he’s won a Hart trophy and he’s been their best player for a the last number of years. Pierre was saying that as if the Habs took a bust over Kopitar lol

 

[EdJovanovski]

Do the people complaining about us taking him over Wahlstrom when we need a goal scorer realize Kravtsov is also a shoot first player who is a goal scorer?

 

[haveandare]

Do the people complaining about us taking him over Wahlstrom when we need a goal scorer realize Kravtsov is also a shoot first player who is a goal scorer?

And who has had success against men in a vastly superior league? That’s huge to me, can’t be overstated