For way too long now, Vitali Kravtsov has been at odds with the New York Rangers franchise. Being unhappy with the Rangers management and coaching staff for not giving him a chance to prove himself in a major role at the NHL level, Kravtsov asked for a trade a while ago. While nothing has come of that, there needs to be a conclusion to this back-and-forth argument between the two sides.
Kravtsov was the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry draft and has one of the highest potential ceilings of any winger in the organization. In order to take that next step this year, he’s going to need to be dealt, or he’s going to have to play at the NHL level. There’s no in-between. New York needs him to either play his way into the top six and accept that he’ll get the chance if he earns it, or flip him.
Now, I’ve talked about flipping Kravtsov before and a lot of people are hesitant because of the diminished value from his trade request, and that makes a lot of sense. But a former ninth overall pick that is only 22 years old is going to have a ton of value. There are teams all over the league that is known for taking on reclamation projects and getting the best out of them. You can get something for the Russian forward.
While it likely won’t be as much as Chris Drury and the front office would want, I doubt it’s because of the trade request. The fact Kravtsov has played in 20 NHL games and tallied just two goals and two assists for four points in those games is probably more influential to his value than the fact he has asked to be moved. If you’re thinking I’m delusional and know nothing, please let me explain.
Kravtsov is just 22, the Rangers hold his rights until his 27th birthday, or until they trade him. With 5 years of team control, there’s no leverage to just say a team can wait it out, because, by the time they do, Kravtsov won’t be a reclamation project for them anymore. He’ll be a bust without the proper development. That isn’t to say he is a bust or reclamation project now, but he needs to be developed more.