2:36 p.m.: It’ll be a three-year deal for Kravtsov back with Traktor Chelyabinsk, per Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK.
11:55 a.m.: The Canucks placed winger Vitali Kravtsov on unconditional waivers with the intent to terminate his contract, the team announced. It’s presumably a mutual decision, and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent tomorrow if he clears.
Kravtsov began his second stint in the Vancouver organization when he signed a two-way deal with them in August. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 draft last played in North America in the 2022-23 campaign, during which he was sent from the Rangers to the Canucks for William Lockwood, and had spent the last two seasons playing with Traktor Chelyabinsk in his native Russia. He remained on Vancouver’s reserve list during that time because they issued him a qualifying offer when his contract expired, so they were his only option for an NHL return this year if they didn’t trade his signing rights.
The 25-year-old Kravtsov was coming off a resurgent showing in the Kontinental Hockey League. He made 66 appearances for Chelyabinsk last season, notching 27 goals and 31 assists for 58 points with a +31 rating. He was among the most dominant two-way players in the KHL with the only professional club he’s ever suited up for in his home country. There was understandable optimism that he could be a contributor in Vancouver’s top nine as a result, but he didn’t have a great camp and only got into one preseason game. He cleared regular waivers at the beginning of October and began the year on assignment to AHL Abbotsford.
Kravtsov hasn’t had much of an impact in the minors through 10 games, limited to one goal and three assists with a -7 rating. That performance wasn’t going to get him an NHL recall anytime soon, and he’s already been passed over by options like Joseph LaBate and Mackenzie MacEachern during Vancouver’s recent spree of injuries to its forward group. With very little pathway to minutes and him essentially taking up a contract slot for little return in the minors, the Canucks likely have no qualms about losing his rights and letting him pursue a contract elsewhere, likely back in Russia.
Kravtsov will forfeit the remainder of his salary, which would have been $450K if he spent the remainder of the season in the minors. He’ll easily outpace that with a new deal in Russia.
Guess he succeeded in avoiding Putin’s last draft. Good luck in the K, Vitali!
Draft in russia never ends
The Rangers haven’t been very at drafting for a long time have they?
We’ve been bad (Lias Andersson and Krav were reaches, as was Dylan McIlrath going way back) and also unlucky (Kakko being consensus No. 2 and Laf being consensus No. 1, Othmann should’ve been good)! We’re not bad in later rounds. Laba was drafted in the 4th, Edstrom and Rempe in the 6th, Cuylle in the 2nd, and we have some guys that are sniffing the NHL that were drafted later like Chmelar, Brody Lamb, Dylan Roobroek). And we’ve been good with goalies! We really need Perreault to be good though haha.
Naming rempe is crazy he’s cheeks
Nah he’s good
Rangers drafting high is awful. Late rounds are ok to name a few: cpt. Cally, Buch, Hank, Igor, Fast, Hagelin, Zucc, Stepan, Boyle,
In his interview to some russian sports media in off season he said that he was going to spend a year in NA regardless whether up or down in the A. Another mental case. He’s good in the K tho
Blackhawks should claim him to spoil that KHL deal lol