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What’s going on with Kravtsov, a healthy scratch in Hartford?

By Steve Paulus

Vitali Kravtsov of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Vitali Kravtsov of the New York Rangers (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers makes the third period save on Miles Wood #44 of the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden on September 18, 2019 in New York City. The Devils defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Some AHL notes

  • Igor Shesterkin started the first game, stopping 26 of 29 shots.   Adam Huska had the second game start, allowing three goals on 19 shots.  He failed to stop a penalty shot by Bridgeport’s Matt Lorito in the first period.
  • The Wolf Pack named Steven Fogarty as their team captain before their home opener.  The 26-year old had a brief stint in New York last season and is in the last year of his ELC.
  • The Wolf Pack have an odd schedule, basically playing just on the weekends until the end of the month.  It means a lot of practice time.
  • The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Joseph Morrow to a two-way contract and placed him on waivers with the intent of sending him to Binghamton.   Morrow was at the Rangers training camp on a Professional Tryout, but didn’t make the club or earn an AHL contract.
  • The Wolf Pack’s starting forward line in both games was Boo Nieves with 30-year old Vincent LoVerde and 31-year old Matt Beleskey.   The AHL doesn’t make ice time stats available, but it would be interesting to see how much ice time these veterans are getting compared to their younger counterparts.   Just asking.

Back to Kravtsov

Obviously, there is a lot of pressure on new coach Kris Knoblauch to get the team off to a good start considering all of the negatives associated with the Wolf Pack for the last few seasons. However, it’s vital to remember that the AHL is primarily a developmental league for the NHL and winning isn’t everything.

Observers will be watching the Wolf Pack next weekend to see how they handle Kravtsov.  He should be getting a lot of ice time and it will be interesting to see how the 19-year old handles his time in the AHL.

It’s worth noting is that Knoblauch had Kravtsov playing on the left side in his one game, while he has played mostly on the right wing in his career, though he spent time at center at the World Junior Championships.   He played left wing for the Rangers during the preseason.

Just today, the Sporting News highlighted Kravtsov  as one of the first prospects to be called up this season.  If so, his sitting for one game will merely be a blip in his first season as a Ranger.  Let’s see if it is.

More. Takeaways from the Zibanejad show. light

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