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How will Kravtsov’s success in the KHL compare to the NHL?

By Steve Paulus

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 30: Vitali Kravtsov #14 of Russia celebrates with teammates Dmitri Samorukov #5 and Alexander Romanov #26 after scoring a goal against Switzerland in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action on December, 30, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 30: Vitali Kravtsov #14 of Russia celebrates with teammates Dmitri Samorukov #5 and Alexander Romanov #26 after scoring a goal against Switzerland in Group A hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship action on December, 30, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals and Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
Evgeny Kuznetsov #92 of the Washington Capitals and Jesper Fast #17 of the New York Rangers (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

Evgeny Kuznetsov

Evgeny Kuznetsov is a star for the Washington Capitals. He peaked with 27 goals and 83 points in 2017-18, the year the Caps won the Stanley Cup.  Drafted in the first round in 2010 (#26 overall), he spent most of five seasons with Traktor before coming to North America for good in 2014.

As a 20 year old he had his best season in the KHL when he scored 19 goals and added 25 assists for 44 points.  It took him two seasons in the NHL to  get to the season when he scored 20 goals and 57 assists for 77 points, almost double his best total in the KHL.

Statistically, Kravtsov is headed to a better season than Kuznetsov at the same age and that is an excellent sign.  It’s important to note that the Capitals let him play regularly in the KHL until he was almost 22 years old, a wise development strategy.

Alexandar Georgiev #40 and Boo Nieves #24 of the New York Rangers defend against Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Alexandar Georgiev #40 and Boo Nieves #24 of the New York Rangers defend against Vladimir Tarasenko #91 of the St. Louis Blues (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Vladimir Tarasenko

Vladimir Tarasenko is one of the most gifted scorers to come over from Russia in the last decade.  He made the jump from the KHL directly to the NHL after being drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round in 2010 (#16), ten slots ahead of Kuznetsov.

Tarasenko came over to the NHL when the league resumed play in 2013 after the lockout.  He played four and a half seasons in the KHL, finishing his career there with powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg.

His best KHL season was 2011-12 when he scored 23 goals and added 24 assists for 47 points in 54 games.   After scoring eight goals as a rookie in the shortened season in the NHL, he scored 21 goals in his second year with the Blues and has scored over 30 goals every year since, topping out at 40 goals in 2015-16.

Ranger fans will remember this goal in 2014, one of the prettiest goals ever scored against the Blueshirts.

This season was a disaster for him as he missed most of it with a shoulder injury.

In comparing Tarasenko to Kravtsov, his best season was when he was 20, like the Ranger prospect.  Like Kuznetsov, the Blues didn’t rush Tarasenko to North America, as he played in the KHL until he was 21 years old.  That strategy appeared to be to his benefit as he was ready for the NHL when he made the move.

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