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

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Would you compare him so to JVR?

No, I don't think he'll be that good.

 

[Edge]

Well said. Speed is merely a component of skating.

"Skating" is the full package.

Exactly.

It’s not all the dissimilar to the argument I make about talent. Skills and talent are not interchangeable for me. Skills are part of the broader concept of talent, but they are not the definition of talent.

It also about application, consistency, adaptability, creativity, practicality and other concepts as well.

 

[Andrei79]

Funny, I can’t say I’ve ever had a single concern about Kravtsov’s skating.

Right now he kind of looks like a crane out there, but he covers a lot of ground and has a very effortless, smooth stride.

I don’t think he’s a blow by defenseman type so much as he smoothly glides around people and then pushes forward in bursts when he gets to openings.

If anything he makes it look so easy that it appears he isn’t even trying — though he is.

Sometimes I feel like we’ve become so fixated on “skating” that we wrongly visualize the concept as exclusively referring to “speed.”

In reality, it’s about mobility and agility and turning. It’s about being able to maneuver and remain in control of a situation.

I’m that regard, Kravtsov is just fine.

I think strength is one of the areas he needs to focus on, because that’s a big reason he’s getting pushed off pucks. If he can add strengths, eventually 20-25 pounds, and maintain the mobility, that will be an strong combination.

Bingo.

He does lack strength, but he's still a teenager who needs to fill out his frame.

When you actually do look at his skating, he has a beautiful, effortless stride. He already can create separation with what power he has right now against pros.

He'll be even faster as he trains for a few off seasons and fills out his frame.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If anyone still doesn't believe that there's an NA and especially a Canadian bias with these networks watch Liam Foudy's analysis. This is a guy that's roundly believed to be a huge reach by Columbus, a 2nd round type player. But he's a good ole Canadian boy so it's nothing but praise. Then go back to one of the video of Kravtsov being drafted. f*** these nationalistic assholes sideways.

 

[Ola]

Bingo.

He does lack strength, but he's still a teenager who needs to fill out his frame.

When you actually do look at his skating, he has a beautiful, effortless stride. He already can create separation with what power he has right now against pros.

He'll be even faster as he trains for a few off seasons and fills out his frame.

When you are growing like him it’s usually a bit of a challenge to get going early. But if you watch highlights of him from the fall and compare with how he looked in the POs, he improved his skating so much last season.

He was a very strong skater in the KHL POs. Actually reminded me of Cally in his prime in that regard, and that is a tremendous compliment for a kid like him. On long shifts he would go low and fetch pucks to drive them up ice and so forth.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a bit more choppy in October. Often these kids grows in spurts when they rest, ie during the summer, and the strength is a bit behind in October. But skating is certainly not going to be an issue, it’s a big strength.

 

[Ola]

If anyone still doesn't believe that there's an NA and especially a Canadian bias with these networks watch Liam Foudy's analysis. This is a guy that's roundly believed to be a huge reach by Columbus, a 2nd round type player. But he's a good ole Canadian boy so it's nothing but praise. Then go back to one of the video of Kravtsov being drafted. **** these nationalistic *******s sideways.

They know these kids better I recon.

Just look at McKenzies final draft ranking, they overvalued the Canadian kids so much. How many Europeans (playing in Europe) was ranked higher than what they went in the draft? Like 1 maybe. On the other side you had like what 30 Canadians...

 

[geoo9]

Is he really similar to Kuznetsov or is that a lazy comparison by Clark due to nationality and team?

he looks like Kuznetsov, skates like kuznetsov (that strange smooth style when he gain speed without visible moves) but overall Kuznetsov have better posession skills and vision. This young kid just play different - more agressive and pace

 

[Lundy HOF]

I ended up really liking this pick. The Rangers definitely didn’t skew towards being risk averse those draft though. Happy this kid has high end skill and has at least a CHANCE to be a difference maker we haven’t drafted in recent memory.

Originally I wanted Wahlstrom like many of us did. However, on hindsight, I think it was smart to pass on him and it speaks volumes about this Orgs thoughts on Mika. Think about it...they can’t both play on the PP1 tryin to hammer home one-times. Maybe they felt he was a slightly redundant piece and wouldn’t bring enough 5v5.

 

[offdacrossbar]

this kid is the real deal. i think many here are now selling wahlstrom short a bit, but this is a great pick.

krav had more than a few references to "steal of the draft" or the like period to draft day. he was widely viewed as a late riser with enormous offensive upside. he came fast after his KHL playoffs where he went off big time. that run he had was one of the best ever for a teenager in the K. ever.

his skills and overall package were top 10 in this draft. perhaps higher. had he played world juniors tournament, he likely is in the discussion for a top 5 pick. he was kind of an unknown until late in the season. the "russian thing" helped allow us to grab him at 9. i am not surprised he was our guy - sounded like he was always our guy, and we are fortunate he was there at 9. he wouldn't have lasted another 2 picks thats for sure.

hes a classic russian off wing rw who will play at 6'2-3 and approaching 200 lbs. thats "power forward" territory. his game is equal parts power and finesse. he's more skilled than buchnevich imo.

his comparables would be a more physical kuznetsov and perhaps kovalev. not bad.

his upside is there. for all of us who wanted skill and skating, we got it. he just needs some time to marinate, get stronger and get over here.

 

[NYR Viper]

I've been saying all season, and really back to last season, that Wahlstrom was overrated. The guy can really shoot the puck, but the rest of his game is rough.

He's not even that good of a goal scorer. He's not Ovechkin, not Laine. He could be a 30-35 goal guy in the NHL, but I'm also not sure he has enough else to his game to not be like a Pirri type who shoots really well, but does nothing else at an NHL level.

I found it a little funny when watching the draft. The panel guys mentioned James Neal as a comparable for Kravtsov and I thought Wahlstrom was more James Neal while Kravtsov was more of a distributor who skated better.

 

[JayMan82]

What I like most about Kravtsov is his ability to make something out of nothing (just like Chytil). You can never have enough players like this.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

If anyone still doesn't believe that there's an NA and especially a Canadian bias with these networks watch Liam Foudy's analysis. This is a guy that's roundly believed to be a huge reach by Columbus, a 2nd round type player. But he's a good ole Canadian boy so it's nothing but praise. Then go back to one of the video of Kravtsov being drafted. **** these nationalistic *******s sideways.

Well, I doubt they have seen Kravtsov play even once.

 

[chosen]

Funny, I can’t say I’ve ever had a single concern about Kravtsov’s skating.

Right now he kind of looks like a crane out there, but he covers a lot of ground and has a very effortless, smooth stride.

I don’t think he’s a blow by defenseman type so much as he smoothly glides around people and then pushes forward in bursts when he gets to openings.

If anything he makes it look so easy that it appears he isn’t even trying — though he is.

Sometimes I feel like we’ve become so fixated on “skating” that we wrongly visualize the concept as exclusively referring to “speed.”

In reality, it’s about mobility and agility and turning. It’s about being able to maneuver and remain in control of a situation.

I’m that regard, Kravtsov is just fine.

I think strength is one of the areas he needs to focus on, because that’s a big reason he’s getting pushed off pucks. If he can add strengths, eventually 20-25 pounds, and maintain the mobility, that will be an strong combination.

Gretzky remains the ultimate example of a great skater without great speed.

 

[Edge]

If anyone still doesn't believe that there's an NA and especially a Canadian bias with these networks watch Liam Foudy's analysis. This is a guy that's roundly believed to be a huge reach by Columbus, a 2nd round type player. But he's a good ole Canadian boy so it's nothing but praise. Then go back to one of the video of Kravtsov being drafted. **** these nationalistic *******s sideways.

It's funny, just the other day I was thinking about how our board has a mix of North American and European posters and both tend to gravitate toward players who come from closer to home.

I think there's a location bias, even unintentionally, because we tend to be more familiar with the players to whom we have somewhat regular access.

Even Bob McKenzie's list tends to favor North American kids. Not because he doesn't like or value European players, but because his access to North American scouts is likely to be significantly better than his access to European scouts.

I think there's also a perception, albeit one that is changing, that North American kids are more likely to settle into supporting roles if they don't become stars. In contrast, there's the perception that it's a little more "all or nothing" with many European prospects. If they're not NHL ready, they're going back home. If the skills don't translate, they aren't as likely to find a different role.

 

[Edge]

Gretzky remains the ultimate example of a great skater without great speed.

You hear so many stories of coaches yelling at players to hit or contain Gretzky because it doesn't look like it would be complicated and players emphatically responding that they'd love to if they could catch him.

 

[chosen]

You hear so many stories of coaches yelling at players to hit or contain Gretzky because it doesn't look like it would be complicated and players emphatically responding that they'd love to if they could catch him.

By the time players were making a move to contain him, he was already on his next move.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

It's funny, just the other day I was thinking about how our board has a mix of North American and European posters and both tend to gravitate toward players who come from closer to home.

I think there's a location bias, even unintentionally, because we tend to be more familiar with the players to whom we have somewhat regular access.

Even Bob McKenzie's list tends to favor North American kids. Not because he doesn't like or value European players, but because his access to North American scouts is likely to be significantly better than his access to European scouts.

I think there's also a perception, albeit one that is changing, that North American kids are more likely to settle into supporting roles if they don't become stars. In contrast, there's the perception that it's a little more "all or nothing" with many European prospects. If they're not NHL ready, they're going back home. If the skills don't translate, they aren't as likely to find a different role.

I am always surprised, and very skeptical when people living in the US/Canada claim to watch regular European hockey because those games are played at 1 PM EST most of the time. The only way you can watch those games is if you are unemployed.

I never claim to know the NA prospects because I honestly don't watch enough aside from WHL (as a Thunderbirds fan). That's why my picks are usually the European prospects because those I have actually seen in action.

 

[Edge]

I am always surprised, and very skeptical when people living in the US/Canada claim to watch regular European hockey because those games are played at 1 PM EST most of the time. The only way you can watch those games is if you are unemployed.

I never claim to know the NA prospects because I honestly don't watch enough aside from WHL (as a Thunderbirds fan). That's why my picks are usually the European prospects because those I have actually seen in action.

(Cough, cough) You have to travel a lot and have access to ...uh...footage that doesn't not have the express written consent of the respective leagues.

 

[kovazub94]

I am always surprised, and very skeptical when people living in the US/Canada claim to watch regular European hockey because those games are played at 1 PM EST most of the time. The only way you can watch those games is if you are unemployed.

I never claim to know the NA prospects because I honestly don't watch enough aside from WHL (as a Thunderbirds fan). That's why my picks are usually the European prospects because those I have actually seen in action.

Lunch break is around 1 pm, plus new sports channels in US broadcast lots of Euro sports. DVR to the rescue. Last year there was a lot of KHL and SHL games on.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

disagree.

kids playing with men in europe are developing. period.

they develop in the K, SEL, extra liga, etc and they come here.

question is where should they be ? there or here. more and more players are staying there and the coming here after they are "developed".

either way they are developing, and thus that league they are playing in is a developmental feeder for the nhl.

end of that story.

Kids playing the NHL develop too. Sometimes they come here, develop further and go back to Europe.

Crosby developed in the NHL for longer than most. Even guys like Kreider, Hayes, JT Miller, Cally, Dubs, on and on and on at some point have to develop further in the NHL too.

I get what you're saying but I think the term "Feeder league" might be closer than developmental otherwise pretty much every league ever is developmental which would be a silly definition.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Lunch break is around 1 pm, plus new sports channels in US broadcast lots of Euro sports. DVR to the rescue. Last year there was a lot of KHL and SHL games on.

Yes. And that's true. But I was referring to people who claim to watch every prospect out there. To do that, you have to watch 7-8 games a day.

 

[9darter]

I found a list. Elite Prospects - AHL Stats All-time season

Of recent players, the list is filled with mostly busts, except for Anisimov and Voynov.

Perfect, thanks!
And wow, that's a depressing list. So KHL rather than AHL for our Russian young'uns, then.

 

[kovazub94]

Let’s get it straight: concerns that Kravtsov’s minutes will be somehow suppressed is a false narrative. Traktor is not a financial powerhouse and it is known as a club with strong prospect academy. The club’s success is directly related to performance of its prospects, most of whom wind up moving on soon after. Suppressing ice time of youngsters would work against Traktor’s financial goals. Next season results would depend on Kravtsov performance. He’ll be in top 6, if not the top line.

Secondly, I’d be concerned about Kravtsov’s readiness to deal with much more physical style of AHL and a smaller ice. As much success Chytil had last season and how he’s looked more physically developed compared to Kravtsov, he had to miss games as a result of the physical aspect of playing in the AHL. I’d be more comfortable if Kravtsov had another year of maturation and skills development overseas before coming over.

 

[kovazub94]

Yes. And that's true. But I was referring to people who claim to watch every prospect out there. To do that, you have to watch 7-8 games a day.

I just try to follow Rangers prospects or someone who’s been linked to NYR.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I just try to follow Rangers prospects or someone who’s been linked to NYR.

Yes. And that is definitely possible. I am planning trips to Sweden and Russia (if Kravtsov goes back). I may even go to the World Juniors again, assuming we have 3 players there (Chytil, Lundkvist, Kravtsov)