Tractor striker Vitaly Kravtsov traded Chelyabinsk for New York by signing a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Rangers. The 22-year-old hockey player will again try his hand overseas. But did Kravtsov draw conclusions from past mistakes?

Attempt #1

The club from New York selected the Russian in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in the first round, making it clear that he was counting on the hockey player in the future. Above Kravtsov, then only one Russian hockey player “left” – Andrey Svechnikov, without whom it is already impossible to imagine “Carolina”. Unlike his peers, Kravtsov did not stay in North America and returned to Russia.

Vitaly Kravtsov / Photo: © KHL / Anton Basanaev

It was assumed that the striker would get stronger in his native Traktor and gain condition for his debut in the NHL, but the 2018/19 season was not brilliant: only 21 (8 + 13) points in 50 games of the regular season. Despite this, 19-year-old Kravtsov decided to rush overseas. But the Russian failed to convince the Rangers coaching staff of his need with talent alone. There was no place for him at the base, Kravtsov went to the AHL, and the power hockey of this league did not fit the style of playing a technical striker. Having survived 5 matches there, Kravtsov made a choice in favor of the KHL. Moreover, in the “Tractor” they were always ready to take him back …

Attempt #2

…But not in bad shape. Upon returning, Kravtsov did not look very confident on the ice, scored only 3 points in 11 matches and went on a business trip to the VHL.

After evaluating the alignment, the Russian decided to return to the United States again – just two months after parting with Hartford. The Russian did not go out on the ice in the AHL so much, but he joined the Rangers in the playoffs, and spent several days with the team in the “bubble”, where, against the backdrop of covid, the Stanley Cup was played.

Attempt #3

Kravtsov compensated for the lack of playing practice in the next season, but again at Traktor: he returned to the best condition, scored 16 goals for the Bears in the regular season and, after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, again went overseas. The third attempt was successful: the Russian at least realized what he had been striving for for so long – to play in the NHL.

Vitaly Kravtsov / Photo: © Icon Sportswire / Contributor / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Playing in the NHL is my childhood dream. I went to her, tried, achieved, – the Russian said after his debut with the Rangers in the 2020/21 season.

Kravtsov played 20 matches at the end of the regular season, in which he scored 4 (2+2) points. Not a bad result for a 20-year-old rookie who didn’t spend much time on the ice.

But in order to stake out a place at the base, this was not enough. But the next year, against the background of an injury in the training camp, he was again sent to the AHL. This time, Kravtsov did not remain silent and refused to leave for the farm club. Everything went to the fact that the paths of the Russian and the Rangers would part: the striker left to train in Russia, and the club from New York began to look for the possibility of exchanging the player. But it was not possible to agree on a deal, and Kravtsov remained on loan at Traktor.

Attempt #4

And now – the Russian is again on the beaten path. In Chelyabinsk, where he had a shock playoff and scored 7 goals in 15 matches, they were ready to offer him the financial conditions that he wanted, but Kravtsov again chose a dream. What awaits him now?

At first glance, the decision of the Russian looks at least strange: The Atheltic last year said that Kravtsov had minor conflicts with Rangers general manager Chris Drury. The first was in 2019, when Vitaly didn’t want to play for Hartford. Then Drury said that the hockey player just throws the team. The second was in the 2019/20 playoffs, when Drury accused the Russian of not giving enough in training.

Against the background of a single delay for the team bus in the same place, in Toronto, and then a categorical refusal to play in the AHL, Kravtsov created a dangerous reputation for himself as a recalcitrant forward. Honored hockey players can be forgiven for this, young ones are unlikely. Apparently, because of this, the further exchange of the Russian in the NHL fell through.

But, judging by everything that was in the past, it remained there. Now the parties claim that a complete understanding has been reached between the club and the hockey player. Drury calls Kravtsov in the media a “global talent”, and the Russian striker is pleased that the new agreement with the Rangers is one-sided, that is, it does not imply a link to the AHL.

Apparently, the parties decided to reset the relationship, and this makes sense. The Rangers, who performed well in the playoffs, finally decided that the team’s foundation should be built on young and promising hockey players like Kappo Kakko and Filip Chytil, who shone in their “kids” line in the matches through. Kravtsov, by age and talent, fits perfectly into this company and can bring a lot of benefits to the team. And if at the same time he also dispels the myths about his laziness and obstinacy, he will no longer have to travel along the New York-Chelyabinsk route.