New York Rangers: Concluding Vitali Kravtsov’s KHL Season

With five games remaining in Traktor Chelyabinsk’s season, let’s explore what that means for the imediate future of New York Rangers star prospect Vitali Kravtsov.

The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived: Vitali Kravtsov’s season in the KHL is winding down. All New York Rangers scouts’ eyes are on the KHL, in anticipation of what the next step may be for the young Russian.

At present, Traktor Chelyabinsk sits in 8th place, two points in a playoff spot with five games remaining, the last of which is on February 22. They have had a mostly unsuccessful season, but the massive success of the top KHL teams, as well as the point structure there, has given them a potential in for a playoff spot.

Now, with this season winding down in Russia, we must take a look at what Kravtsov’s options are. He will either make the playoffs, or miss them and join the Rangers, as he has previously stated he would like to once his team is no longer in contention.

So, what does each result mean for him?

Making The Playoffs

If the teams behind Traktor lose, and Traktor wins even one or two games, that could lock them into an 8th place playoff spot. We witnessed Kravtsov play spectacularly well in last year’s KHL playoffs, so in reality, a playoff run may not be bad for his development. It would at least give some insight into his ability to raise his game in clutch situations.

However, a playoff run for Traktor is, more than likely, grim at best. Kravtsov is third on the team in scoring as a teenager, with 20 points in 44 games. The team leader, Ryan Stoa, has 27 points in 56 games. This is a team that does not score very much; their 96 goals for is second worst in the league. That Kravtsov managed a .45 PPG pace is incredible, especially  for someone so young. That Traktor is even sniffing a playoff spot at all is equally amazing.

Save for a miracle, Traktor will be eliminated rather swiftly from the playoffs, especially since they will have to face Yekaterinburg Avtomobilist, the best team in the East and the third best team in the entire KHL. Should his playoffs end quickly, he will simply terminate his contract a little later than if they’d missed, and join the Rangers. We will discuss what he might do in North America later on.

Missing The Playoffs or Early Elimination

Should Traktor lose down this stretch, and miss the playoffs, or should they be eliminated by Avtomobilist, Kravtsov has stated that he will play in North America for the remainder of the NHL/AHL season. Obviously, Kravtsov is going to want to step into the Rangers lineup, as his skill level would imply he probably should, but there is a catch.

If Kravtsov plays even one game for the Rangers, he will burn a year off of his entry level contract. It would also force the Rangers to protect him in the upcoming NHL expansion draft. This is a scenario the Rangers would hopefully like to avoid, and can be avoided if Kravtsov plays in the AHL. The team obviously wants to do what is best for them, but they also should want to start off on a good note with their best prospect in years.

If Kravtsov is to play in Hartford for the remainder of the year, he would have to sign an ATO with Hartford. This would, in theory, help him to get acclimated to North American hockey without burning a year off of his entry level contract and make him expansion draft eligible.  However, there is another catch: Hartford is very bad.

Do the Rangers want Kravtsov jumping into a team where he would immediately be the best player there? Are they aware of the losing environment that exists in Hartford, one that is considerably more dreadful than anything the Rangers may be facing? If they would rather avoid that, Kravtsov could learn much more from the Rangers veteran leaders, at the expense of a contract year.

Whatever the Rangers value most with Kravtsov’s development will determine what they will do. If gaining experience through veteran leadership is more important to them, and keeping kind relations with Kravtsov is also in mind, he will play for the Rangers. If they want to squeeze his contract, and aren’t worried about the toxic environment there, they will send him to Hartford, hopefully in a mutual understanding. Kravtsov seems like a kid with a good head on his shoulders, and would probably be receptive to a move like that.

Either way, excitement is building to see the Rangers most gifted offensive prospect in years make the trek to North America. All eyes will be on Traktor, and then, all eyes will be on the Rangers to make the next move.