Vitali Kravtsov’s timing couldn’t have been any better.
The Russian forward has been an intriguing prospect all season long, but his post-season surge with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL turned heads at the best possible time and made him a strong candidate for the first round of the NHL Draft. He’s the No. 3-ranked European skater on the final NHL Central Scouting list, a jump of seven spots from the mid-term rankings.
He is a playmaking power forward with plenty of room to grow — it’s no surprise almost every team wanted to meet with him at the Scouting Combine. His NHL-ready size and strong skating allows him to bring a little grit to his skillset, and his game will only get more physical as he fills out.
Here’s what you need to know about the winger.
Team: Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL)
Position: Right wing
Shoots: Left
Age: 18
From: Vladivostok, RUS
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 183 pounds
HE’S A PLAYOFF PERFORMER
Kravtsov wrote his name into the KHL’s record books with his first career goal in February 2017, becoming the youngest player to score in the Gagarin Cup as a 17-year-old (and 61 days).
That set the stage for a remarkable post-season scoring spree a year later, which saw him register an impressive six goals and five assists in 16 playoff games, earning comparisons to Washington Capitals star (and Chelyabinsk alumnus) Evgeny Kuznetsov in the process. Kuznetsov also happens to be the NHLer Kravtsov models his game after.
The regular season leading up to this playoff performance, while not as productive on the scoresheet, proved vital for his development.
“I feel like I’m a smart player and was able to overcome the fear of making mistakes playing a full season in the KHL,” Kravtsov told NHL.com’s Mike Morreale through an interpreter. “I think that will translate well over to any league in the future. I got the experience against big, strong men.”
Still, the winger’s four goals and three assists through 35 regular season games was enough to earn him KHL Rookie of the Year honours.
He was also awarded the title of “top rookie” after each round of the playoffs before being eliminated in the conference finals, on top of being named best rookie for the months of March and April. No surprise, when you’re a teenager in a league of men scoring goals like this:
Vitaly Kravtsov got us like pic.twitter.com/Mpf5A5cqOd
— KHL (@khl_eng) March 18, 2018
Talk about a resume booster. He’s signed with Chelyabinsk for one more year, and we’re already looking forward to the highlights.
WHAT THE SCOUTS SAY
Per European Scouting Services’ Goran Stubb: “Kravtsov matured and improved a lot over the season and was extremely strong in the KHL playoffs. He is a power forward who plays an agressive, no-quit style of hockey.”
Elite Prospects said Kravtsov “can play up and down the lineup and provide scoring in a number of roles” and “has the potential to develop into a staple top six forward that can produce at the next level.”
Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, who projected Kravtsov to land in Florida at pick No. 15, said the winger “already has NHL size and a shot to go with it” while Sam Cosentino penciled him in at No. 19 with the Flyers.
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