Rangers Rumblings: A hot start for Kravtsov & no Clancy Trophy for Lundqvist

New York Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov scored in his second KHL game

While the New York Rangers wait for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to end so they can focus on the NHL Entry Draft and any roster moves, they will be watching the progress of their star prospect, Vitali Kravtsov who is playing in the KHL.

While he was scoreless in the season opener for his Traktor Chelyabinsk team,  Kravtsov dented the twines in his second game as Traktor beat Kunlun Red Star by a 3-1 score.  The Ranger prospect finished off the scoring for Traktor with a hardworking third period goal.  Watch the goal, it’s a good one.

Kratsov scored almost four minutes into the third period as Traktor had jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Kunlun. Kravtsov (#74) made his way to the front after the net after getting knocked down and was in position to score on the rebound off a point shot by Roman Manukhov.

He finished the game with a team high six shots on goal and played 17 shifts for  ice time of 14:09, slightly down from the 16:41 he played in his first game.

The win evened Traktor’s record at 1-1 as they beat Kunlun Red Star, coached by former Ranger Alexei Kovalev.   Traktor will be in action next on September 8 as they take on Sochi.

A solid KHL season for Kravtov will be helpful when the Rangers begin their 2020-21 season. The KHL season is scheduled to conclude by February 27, followed by two months of playoffs.  If Traktor misses the playoffs as they did last year, Kravtsov could be ready to rejoin the Blueshirts by the beginning of March if he is to play the full KHL season.

At the rate the NHL is going, the next season may not begin until January or February as opposed to the target date of December 1. The Rangers do have the right to recall Kravtsov if they want him on the roster at the beginning of the season.

No Clancy Trophy for Lundqvist

For the second straight season, Henrik Lundqvist was beaten out by a member of the Minnesota Wild for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.  Matt Dumba of the Wild was named the winner.

The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is given annually to a player who shows “Leadership qualities on and off the ice and humanitarian contributions within their community.”  Lundqvist was looking to join Adam Graves as New York Rangers who have won the Award.  Graves was honored in 1994.

If Lundqvist’s career in New York is over, he will have won only one league award in his 12 seasons with the Rangers.  In 2011-12 he was named the winner of the Vezina Trophy.

The only other Ranger up for any awards is Artemi Panarin who is a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.