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

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

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.

Gretzky always seemed to know exactly where to be and where the puck was going. So his preparation made up for any top notch speed he might have lacked.

 

[Edge]

Gretzky always seemed to know exactly where to be and where the puck was going. So his preparation made up for any top notch speed he might have lacked.

Gretzky was also incredibly slippery. Even when it looked like he was moving in slow motion, he just seemed to carve around other players.

 

[pld459666]

I'm becoming less and less concerned about the "physicality" of the NHL as compared to other leagues.

Tighter spaces yes, but the game has changed quite a bit and has had a heavy lean towards skill over strength.

 

[Edge]

I'm becoming less and less concerned about the "physicality" of the NHL as compared to other leagues.

Tighter spaces yes, but the game has changed quite a bit and has had a heavy lean towards skill over strength.

I think it's less about skill vs. strength, so much as it might become skill vs. skill with strength.

The big, slow bodies of yesteryear are gone.

BUT, if you can find a big body who can play in today's game, that's a hell of a combination.

It's kind of like the big man vs. small man fight logic you hear many combat observers speak of.

A skilled smaller fighter will beat a less skilled bigger fighter.

But a equally or close to equally skilled bigger fighter will routinely beat a skilled smaller fighter.

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

That thread is just proof that "boom or bust"/"high risk high reward" don't actually mean all that much on draft day. Neither does "safe" for that matter.

While I'm very happy with the player we got in Kreider at that draft pick, he hasn't boomed and he definitely hasn't busted. FWIW, there were people saying that he's not a boom or bust guy... but that seemed to be the overarching feeling with him.

Has anyone ever done a study on all the "boom/bust" prospects and found that 85% of them either bust or become stars? It's probably more like every other prospect, some fail, some boom, some fall somewhere in between.

Boom/bust is kind of just nice way of saying "I have no clue where he'll fall but he's got massive potential despite being very green"

Boom/bust rolls off the tongue better I guess. Boom/green, boom/raw or boom/nooblol might be more accurate.

 

[gravey9]

I think it's less about skill vs. strength, so much as it might become skill vs. skill with strength.

The big, slow bodies of yesteryear are gone.

BUT, if you can find a big body who can play in today's game, that's a hell of a combination.

It's kind of like the big man vs. small man fight logic you hear many combat observers speak of.

A skilled smaller fighter will beat a less skilled bigger fighter.

But a equally or close to equally skilled bigger fighter will routinely beat a skilled smaller fighter.

I agree with this. And beyond that, as the game gets faster the true impact players are the ones that can process it at faster and faster speeds. You look at players like J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes and you understand why you can have size, and in the case of Miller, speed and it's enough to make them good to very good top 9 players but not enough to make them true difference makers. They just don't process the game at the highest speed. If Lias Andersson is able to process the game at an elite level, he'll have a long career. If he can't, he'll be a bottom 6 forward who may struggle to stay in the league given his average foot speed.

 

[Hanji]

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.

What you're describing isn't just a perception.
Nowadays, Europeans, especially Russians, have very lucrative alternatives to the NHL. You'd be hard pressed to find many players willing to spend more than 3 years in the AHL, or even play a 4th line support role in the NHL.
20 years ago the AHL was loaded with guys from the former eastern block willing to stick it out.

 

[Sayba]

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.

How can you say drafting a guy at 9 who was projected lower is a steal? Let's just hope he works out and validates his draft position.

I honestly don't see any physicality to his game at all from what I've seen.

I won't say Kovalev was physical but he was much heavier, Kravtsov has time to catch up but he appears to have a different body type.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Having now seen the SportsNet video, they way underrated Kravtsov compared to the other two picks. They liked our other two picks. Didn't even call them big reaches, which I thought they were. Kravtsov was a slight reach, really not that much. I thought he was fairly right around the top 10. Having him 19th is kind of ridiculous, in my opinion. But I'm not surprised. Their draft expert is Sam Consentino. He's a CHL commentator in Canada. Of course he ranks the CHL players higher than players in Europe.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

How can you say drafting a guy at 9 who was projected lower is a steal? Let's just hope he works out and validates his draft position.

I honestly don't see any physicality to his game at all from what I've seen.

I won't say Kovalev was physical but he was much heavier, Kravtsov has time to catch up but he appears to have a different body type.

Not this again. Every player doesn't have to be physical. This isn't 1995.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

What you're describing isn't just a perception.
Nowadays, Europeans, especially Russians, have very lucrative alternatives to the NHL. You'd be hard pressed to find many players willing to spend more than 3 years in the AHL, or even play a 4th line support role in the NHL.
20 years ago the AHL was loaded with guys from the former eastern block willing to stick it out.

This is very much the case. European hockey is better than it has ever been. The introduction of the CHL gives teams from the major leagues an extra challenge. And they get to play for their country in the Euro Hockey Tour if they are good enough. There's a lot of prestige in those games and players have so much to gain from going back compared to sticking in the AHL for 3-4 years.

Not this again. Every player doesn't have to be physical. This isn't 1995.

I love how the physicality is always brought up. It's ridiculous. So many people are stuck in the 80s and 90s, and out of touch with hockey nowadays. Yes, there is still some physical aspect to the game but the game has changed. The influx of European players has changed the game as a whole, for the better in my opinion

 

[RangerBoy]

Paul Theofanous. He is based in Manhattan.

 

[Edge]

Has anyone ever done a study on all the "boom/bust" prospects and found that 85% of them either bust or become stars? It's probably more like every other prospect, some fail, some boom, some fall somewhere in between.

Boom/bust is kind of just nice way of saying "I have no clue where he'll fall but he's got massive potential despite being very green"

Boom/bust rolls off the tongue better I guess. Boom/green, boom/raw or boom/nooblol might be more accurate.

I think it generally refers to players whose odds are probably a lot more iffy than the guys you view as being likely stars, and aren't likely to reinvent themselves in other roles.

 

[Sayba]

Not this again. Every player doesn't have to be physical. This isn't 1995.

I wasn't saying he does, I was disagreeing with the post saying he was physical.

 

[Sarge13]

I haven't seen it anywhere so I'm just asking, did Sather say anything about this draft or this player ?

 

[Polar Bear]

I haven't seen it anywhere so I'm just asking, did Sather say anything about this draft or this player ?

Sather has nothing to do with the drafting these days. His President role seems more advisory than anything.

 

[kovazub94]

Paul Theofanous. He is based in Manhattan.

Kravtsov has two agents - Paul T is North American and former hockey player Zevakhin is his KHL agent. They have opposite "goals" for where Kravtsov will play (next season). In the link below there's an article from Russian media that has a bit about prior to the draft Traktor offering to renew Kravtsov's contract with two-year term (18-19 and 19-20) with an option to opt out after one year in case of relocation to NA. Kravtsov declined this contract and instead signed for one-year (18-19) only with better financial terms than his previous contract. The article also mentions that there's is a path way to buy out of this contract however the procedure could take an extended time as it requires multiple approvals by Russian Hockey Federation, KHL and Traktor itself among others.

Уйти нельзя, остаться. Почему Кравцову нужно на год забыть о НХЛ

 

[Mac n Gs]

Let him play one more year in Russia. No need to rush him over here at all, even if it’s to play in the AHL

 

[Edge]

Let him play one more year in Russia. No need to rush him over here at all, even if it’s to play in the AHL

Not going to lie, I’m always somewhat skeptical about how some of our prospects are handled in the KHL.

Personally, I’d vote to send him to Hartford. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went to the KHL.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Not going to lie, I’m always somewhat skeptical about how some of our prospects are handled in the KHL.

Personally, I’d vote to send him to Hartford. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went to the KHL.

Buchnevich' handling was fine when he was in Cherepovets. It's only after he moved to Petrograd that he was limited to a 4th line role. I think Kravtsov, on a smaller team like Traktor Chelyabinsk, could be beneficial.

 

[Mac n Gs]

Not going to lie, I’m always somewhat skeptical about how some of our prospects are handled in the KHL.

Personally, I’d vote to send him to Hartford. But it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he went to the KHL.

Like AK said below, the escalation in his role with Traktor should bode well for his potential play next season. I won’t complain if he’s in the AHL because it worked well for Lias and Chytil last season and there will be depth to insulate him.

It also means he’ll actually be in NHL 19

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Like AK said below, the escalation in his role with Traktor should bode well for his potential play next season. I won’t complain if he’s in the AHL because it worked well for Lias and Chytil last season and there will be depth to insulate him.

It also means he’ll actually be in NHL 19

What worked well for Lias was to go back to Sweden. But (and I've said this earlier) Chytil comes from an inferior league so for him there was a huge benefit from playing in Hartford. Kravtsov playing in the KHL, and Lias last year playing in the SHL, do not need to be in Hartford to play at a level where they are challenged.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Not going to lie, I’m always somewhat skeptical about how some of our prospects are handled in the KHL.

I would say Buchnevich, Shestyorkin and Rykov have developed well in that league. Nobody we've had all that recently in that league hasn't developed well.

Its a better league than the AHL, and there is actually a terrible track record of Russians developing in NA. The overwhelming majority of them become busts.

I really don't get the insistence on European players developing in North America. Its one thing if we are talking about Extraliga or the Slovakian League or German league, its completely different, if its KHL, SHL, Liiga. Those are pretty decent leagues that have very good track records of developing players. No way I'd want Kravtsov or Lundkvist coming to NA until they are ready to play in the NHL.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I would say Buchnevich, Shestyorkin and Rykov have developed well in that league. Nobody we've had all that recently in that league hasn't developed well.

Its a better league than the AHL, and there is actually a terrible track record of Russians developing in NA. The overwhelming majority of them become busts.

I really don't get the insistence on European players developing in North America. Its one thing if we are talking about Extraliga or the Slovakian League or German league, its completely different, if its KHL, SHL, Liiga. Those are pretty decent leagues that have very good track records of developing players. No way I'd want Kravtsov or Lundkvist coming to NA until they are ready to play in the NHL.

Busts like Provorov or Sergachev? I agree we should keep Kratsov over in the KHL but is there really that bad of a track record of Russians developing in Na?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Busts like Provorov or Sergachev? I agree we should keep Kratsov over in the KHL but is there really that bad of a track record of Russians developing in Na?

Kravtsov is a forward. I'm speaking about examples that are relevant towards him, not guys that play different positions. But you are right, those two developed well. The defenseman track record is somewhat better, but its still not good. The forward track record, the position Kravtsov plays, is abysmal.