Rangers prospects update: Russia and Finland

New York Rangers prospects have been playing for months in Russia and Finland with good results.  It’s all positive news when it comes to the Blueshirts’ top prospects.

The KHL has not been immune to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are playing regularly and allow spectators into the arenas.   Some teams have been shut down for long periods, but most of the KHL squads have been able to play over 40 games since the season started in September.

There are two prospects playing in Russia and we should at least one if not both in North American in the coming months.

Vitali Kravtsov (RW) – 2018 1st round – #9

Vitali Kravtsov has restored his ranking as the top forward prospect in the organization with an excellent KHL season.  He has played in 37 of Traktor’s 44 games and has 13 goals and 18 points.  Three of his goals are on the power play and he has a plus/minus of +4.

He has taken 106 shots on goal for an average of 2.7 per game.  He is playing 16:49 minutes per game, averaging 20 shifts.

After a fast start when he scored six goals in his first seven games, his scoring slowed down and he missed seven games with a leg injury.  He  has turned it on again with four goals and two assists in his last 10 games. Against Spartak on January 6, he tied his season high of six shots on goal.

Traktor also got off to a good start, but has run into trouble recently. On November 26, they were contending for first place in the West with a 20-8-2 record.  Since then, they have gone 6-9-3, dropping into sixth place.  Traktor is still in contention for a playoff spot as the top eight teams in each conference makes the postseason.

If Traktor continues to stumble, even if they make the playoffs they could face an early ouster. That would mean that Kravtsov would be eligible to return to North American to join the Rangers as early as mid-March.  There is no doubt that they will bring him over. He is on the second year of his Entry Level Contract and on loan to the KHL. The only question is whether he will come back to North America and play with the Rangers or end up in Hartford.

His return would complicate an already crowded right side since the Rangers move Alexis Lafrenière to the off wing in their last game.  Of course, it’s a great problem to have.

Yegor Rykov (D) – 2016 5th round (New Jersey) – #122

Yegor Rykov has played regularly on defense for one of the best teams in the KHL, though he has not been in the lineup in four of the last six games. .  He has appeared in 38 games for CSKA and has yet to score a goal on 34 shots on goal, but he has notched nine assists and has a plus/minus of +10 on the season.  he has been credited with 31 blocked shots and has three hits.   Rykov is averaging 15:52 minutes per game, playing on the third defense pairing.

CSKA has opened a five point lead on SKA for first place in the KHL’s West Conference.  They have won 29 games against only seven regulation losses and five losses in overtime or by shootout. CSKA is a powerhouse this season with the second best goal differential (50 goals) in the KHL.

Rykov will stay with CSKA through the playoffs, due to begin on March 2.  The last possible date for the Gagarin Cup to be awarded is April 30 and CSKA has to be considered a favorite.

Rykov played last season in Hartford so he is used to North American ice surfaces.  He is also in the second year of his Entry Level Contract and at age 23, he has to be considered ready for the NHL if he is going to make it.  He is a left handed shot and could be a depth addition to the Rangers at the end of the season.