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

[Calad]

work on your reading and capacity to understand.

i never said anything about purpose. you did. i never said anything about any "primary reason" for anything.

i said that all other leagues are defacto developmental leagues for the nhl. i said nothing about that being the "purpose" of those leagues. they develop players for their league, other leagues and the nhl. period. whether thats their intention or desire is irrelevant. these young kids mostly want to play here. those leagues lose players they develop to the nhl. fact.

the question was where does he play. i said these young russians are in no hurry to come over here and play in the ahl. i stand by that.

these young kids playing in euro mens leagues are developing BETTER than they would be coming over to the ahl for a variety of reasons. again, i stand by that statement.

im a huge russian hockey guy, so check your attitude at the door.

"ethnocentric attitude" ? you sir, are mistaken.

thanks and have a great day

I call things how I see them. A few kids playing in a mens league for developmental purposes doesn't designate these leagues as "developmental" or "feeders". You may not outright say something like that, but the language you use to describe them is very telling. If you think your words are being misconstrued, I suggest you choose them more carefully.

thanks and have a great day

 

[RangerBoy]

That highlight on the goal is very nice

2018 NHL Draft prospect profile: Vitali Kravtsov — The KHL Rookie of the Year

 

[Polar Bear]

Aside from doing insane things in the KHL Playoffs once he got more minutes, he played incredibly well in tournaments and in the lower divisions. The latter is most important in showing that the playoffs weren't just an out of the blue thing for him.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[Harbour Dog]

For everybody freaking about TSN "going off" on Kravtsov:

I'm pretty sure it was Sportsnet, not TSN. They said he was 19th on their rankings, but TSN had him 12th.

 

[Edge]

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.

I think they warm up as the shock wears off.

I'm sure they heard the same stuff about Wahlstrom and the Rangers, and figured the backup option was at least Dobson or Bouchard.

Now the work begins for Kravtsov.

Some of his flaws go back to the MHL and unfortunately I don't know how much of a chance he's going to get to work on them in the KHL.

 

[Edge]

Aside from doing insane things in the KHL Playoffs once he got more minutes, he played incredibly well in tournaments and in the lower divisions. The latter is most important in showing that the playoffs weren't just an out of the blue thing for him.

I would say my biggest criticisms at the lower levels were consistency and playing with authority.

For as talented as he is, he never quite led the play the way you think he was capable of. Now in his defense, that was one of the criticisms that Chytil came with and you saw what he did when he started pushing back.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He really went into overdrive from January onwards.

2G, 1A in 5 games for the Russian II*
1G, 3A in 2 games in the MHL play offs
4G, 3A in 9 games in the VHL
5G, 5A in 11 games in the KHL play offs

He was promoted to the 2nd line in January, showing that his on-ice performance was rewarded. Like Kotkaniemi, he just kept improving throughout the season. Climbing and working his way up. That's very promising. I've always been a fan of picking risers.


* Be aware that this isn't the junior team. This is the senior Russian national team. In the lead up to the Olympics, they had 2 teams playing international games against other countries and Kravtsov had 2 goals and 1 assist in 5 games.

 

[Polar Bear]

I would say my biggest criticisms at the lower levels were consistency and playing with authority.

For as talented as he is, he never quite led the play the way you think he was capable of. Now in his defense, that was one of the criticisms that Chytil came with and you saw what he did when he started pushing back.

You have seen him more than I have likely, but his production was still great in lower competition, which is the most important thing at the end of the day. Obviously there is room to grow and skill to tap into, which actually just makes him more exciting.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I think they warm up as the shock wears off.

I'm sure they heard the same stuff about Wahlstrom and the Rangers, and figured the backup option was at least Dobson or Bouchard.

Now the work begins for Kravtsov.

Some of his flaws go back to the MHL and unfortunately I don't know how much of a chance he's going to get to work on them in the KHL.

I have a feeling that could be why the Rangers are trying to get him here sooner.

 

[Edge]

You have seen him more than I have likely, but his production was still great in lower competition, which is the most important thing at the end of the day. Obviously there is room to grow and skill to tap into, which actually just makes him more exciting.

Very good production, would like to see a more consistent effort.

I said it before the draft and I'll say it again --- Kravtsov and Denisenko both have the natural talent to go head to head with just about any forward in this draft.

Denisenko knows he's good enough to be that guy, and has said as much. If Kravtsov can harness the same belief, even if he doesn't express it, he's right up there from an ability standpoint.

But I do have some concern that over the last two years, I don't quite see that as often as I'd like.

 

[Polar Bear]

Very good production, would like to see a more consistent effort.

I said it before the draft and I'll say it again --- Kravtsov and Denisenko both have the natural talent to go head to head with just about any forward in this draft.

Denisenko knows he's good enough to be that guy, and has said as much. If Kravtsov can harness the same belief, even if he doesn't express it, he's right up there from an ability standpoint.

But I do have some concern that over the last two years, I don't quite see that as often as I'd like.

Who has more talent overall between both Russians in your eyes?

 

[Edge]

Who has more talent overall between both Russians in your eyes?

Denisenko probably has more pure, natural ability.

Kravtsov has done more with his talent to this point and "appears" to be more mature in his approach.

 

[kovazub94]

He really went into overdrive from January onwards.

2G, 1A in 5 games for the Russian II*
1G, 3A in 2 games in the MHL play offs
4G, 3A in 9 games in the VHL
5G, 5A in 11 games in the KHL play offs

He was promoted to the 2nd line in January, showing that his on-ice performance was rewarded. Like Kotkaniemi, he just kept improving throughout the season. Climbing and working his way up. That's very promising. I've always been a fan of picking risers.


* Be aware that this isn't the junior team. This is the senior Russian national team. In the lead up to the Olympics, they had 2 teams playing international games against other countries and Kravtsov had 2 goals and 1 assist in 5 games.

MHL playoffs in your list is “out of sequence” but you’re exactly right. Playing for Russia 2 gave him confidence that translated into more dominant plays at all levels from about January on. Someone on TV actually noted that improvement and level of consistency from that point and I think getting chosen for Russia 2 had something to do with it.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

MHL playoffs in your list is “out of sequence” but you’re exactly right. Playing for Russia 2 gave him confidence that translated into more dominant plays at all levels from about January on. Someone on TV actually noted that improvement and level of consistency from that point and I think getting chosen for Russia 2 had something to do with it.

Yes. That moment seemed to spark something.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Very good production, would like to see a more consistent effort.

I said it before the draft and I'll say it again --- Kravtsov and Denisenko both have the natural talent to go head to head with just about any forward in this draft.

Denisenko knows he's good enough to be that guy, and has said as much. If Kravtsov can harness the same belief, even if he doesn't express it, he's right up there from an ability standpoint.

But I do have some concern that over the last two years, I don't quite see that as often as I'd like.

Why was Denisenko rated and taken lower? You make him sound like a better prospect.

 

[kovazub94]

Hmm. I'm torn. I know we want to get him used to playing in a NA rink, against NA players as soon as possible – and you obviously want to eliminate the chance that he might get pressured into signing another contract over there – but the AHL is a very rough league. Chytil had the advantage of a Jagr-esque physique and Andersson (who only came over later, remember) was one of the most physically developed players in last year's draft; Kravtsov is something of a beanpole. It might be better to let him spend another year developing physically while still playing in the second best league in the world.

Like I said, I'm torn.

I’m worried that many stories that have a too young prospect move to AHL (when he’s not ready for whatever reason) turn into disappointments. For every Chytil there are two Kovac.

With another year on his KHL contract I’d rather him play it out and continue to mature at home. I don’t see any evidence that his icetime will be supppressed because of his age or for other similar reasons. To Chelyabinsk he’s a second coming of Kuznetsov, if only on a slightly smaller scale.

 

[Polar Bear]

Why was Denisenko rated and taken lower? You make him sound like a better prospect.

That's just his opinion though. Other could think Kravstov has the better package.

 

[Krams]

Watched a handful games of his and beanpole is an apt description. Flashes of game breaking talent, but he should spend another year physically maturing in the K before we think about Hartford.

 

[kovazub94]

I believe his path will be similar to Chytil's. He will make the team out of camp...

The problem is that it’s 50/50 if he will attend the main camp because KHL season would already start so this decision would have to be made probably based on what they know now plus what they see during the prospects camp.

 

[kovazub94]

Bob McKenzie mentioned Kravstov in his draft podcast and TSN draft preview. His selection shouldn’t be a huge shock. Carpiniello wrote about the Rangers taking a player with other more known players left on the board. The hints were there. McKenzie had him at #12 which is right where the Rangers took him. They also have Nik Bobrov who is one of Gorton’s top lieutenants. He has deep KHL ties. Kravstov is also represented by Paul Theofanous who is very close to Slats. The Rangers know about Kravstov’s contract status. The player isn’t spending the next 4 years in the KHL like Kuznetsov did. They can get him out of the contract. Kravstov has a desire to play in the NHL ASAP.

Definitely hints were there. That’s why it was smart thinking on their part to purposely feed Larry misinformation. This is another dynamic in the NYR-Brooks relationship.

 

[kovazub94]

Very good production, would like to see a more consistent effort.

I said it before the draft and I'll say it again --- Kravtsov and Denisenko both have the natural talent to go head to head with just about any forward in this draft.

Denisenko knows he's good enough to be that guy, and has said as much. If Kravtsov can harness the same belief, even if he doesn't express it, he's right up there from an ability standpoint.

But I do have some concern that over the last two years, I don't quite see that as often as I'd like.

I think he started exhibiting this consistently in the second half of the season. Likely what sold NYR to make him their choice at 9.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Definitely hints were there. That’s why it was smart thinking on their part to purposely feed Larry misinformation. This is another dynamic in the NYR-Brooks relationship.

"And while the cost of doing business could change on the draft floor, the price of moving up 3-8 spots appears prohibitive for the Blueshirts, who may be able to get their man — perhaps winger Oliver Wahlstrom, committed to BC; perhaps righty defenseman Evan Bouchard of OHL London — right where they are."
- Larry Brooks

He managed to mention the 2 players that were picked after we got Kravtsov haha. Some insider

 

[kovazub94]

"And while the cost of doing business could change on the draft floor, the price of moving up 3-8 spots appears prohibitive for the Blueshirts, who may be able to get their man — perhaps winger Oliver Wahlstrom, committed to BC; perhaps righty defenseman Evan Bouchard of OHL London — right where they are."
- Larry Brooks

He managed to mention the 2 players that were picked after we got Kravtsov haha. Some insider

Exactly insider. You don’t think these names were “mentioned” to him?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Exactly insider. You don’t think these names were “mentioned” to him?

I think he was just guessing.