Vitali Kravtsov
Born (1999-12-23) 23 December 1999
Vladivostok, Russia
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 189 lb (86 kg; 13 st 7 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
KHL team
Former teams		 Traktor Chelyabinsk
New York Rangers
Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft 9th overall, 2018
New York Rangers
Playing career 2017–present

Vitali Yuryevich Kravtsov (Russian: Виталий Юрьевич Кравцов, IPA: [vʲɪˈtalʲɪj ˈjʉrʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈkraftsəf]; born 23 December 1999) is a Russian professional ice hockey winger for Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He was drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Kravtsov made his KHL debut during the 2016–17 season. During the 2018 KHL playoffs, Kravtsov tied the KHL record for most points by an 18-year-old in the postseason,[1] and later broke it on 21 March 2018.[2]

On 22 June 2018, Kravtsov was drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[3] He was signed by the Rangers to a three-year, entry-level contract on 3 May 2019.[4]

After attending the Rangers 2019 training camp, Kravtsov was assigned to make his North American debut with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to start the 2019–20 season. Registering 1 assist in 5 games, Kravtsov opted to continue his development back in Russia, securing a loan for the remainder of the season with former club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, on 28 October 2019.[5] Kravtsov appeared in 11 games in his return to Chelyabinsk, recording 3 points, before his loan was ended prematurely by the Rangers and he was re-assigned to re-join the Wolf Pack on 13 December 2019.[6]

On 30 August 2020, Kravtsov signed a one-year extension with Traktor Chelyabinsk.[7] Kravtsov made his NHL debut in the Rangers' 3–2 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on 3 April 2021.[8] He scored his first NHL goal against the New Jersey Devils on 18 April 2021.[9]

On 12 October 2021, after not making the Rangers' 2021–22 opening night roster, and being sent down to the Hartford Wolf Pack, Kravtsov refused to report to Hartford and was given permission to contact other teams to facilitate a trade.[10] On 3 November, Kravtsov was loaned to Traktor Chelyabinsk.[11] On 13 June 2022, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Rangers.[12]

Having rejected a contract extension to remain with Traktor, Kravtsov opted to return to the Rangers and signed a one-year, $875,000 contract for the 2022–23 season on 12 June 2022.[13] Unable to cement a role within the Rangers, after collecting 3 goals and 6 points through 28 appearances, on 25 February 2023, Kravtsov was traded from the Rangers to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Will Lockwood and a seventh round draft pick in 2026.[14] Kravtsov played out the remainder of the season with the Canucks, registering 1 goal and 2 points in 16 games.

As an impending restricted free agent with the Canucks, on 25 May 2023, Kravtsov opted to return to Russia and rejoin Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL on a two-year agreement through 2025.[15]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Russia
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2019 Canada

Kravtsov represented the Russian national junior team at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada.[16] He ended the tournament with 6 points in 7 games, helping Russia claim the bronze medal against Swiss national junior team on 6 January 2019.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 Chelyabinsk Polar Bears MHL 4113233618 52460
2016–17 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 30000 61014
2016–17 Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL 62240 —————
2017–18 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 354376 1665118
2017–18 Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL 94374 —————
2017–18 Chelyabinsk Polar Bears MHL 11230 21340
2018–19 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 50813216 40220
2019–20 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 3969154 —————
2019–20 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 112132 —————
2019–20 Chelmet Chelyabinsk VHL 30220 —————
2020–21 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 491682412 52240
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 202244 —————
2021–22 Traktor Chelyabinsk KHL 1967130 1573102
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL 283366 —————
2022–23 Vancouver Canucks NHL 161124 —————
KHL totals 16736326826 4616122814
NHL totals 64661214 —————

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2019 Russia WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 7 2 4 6 6
Junior totals 7 2 4 6 6

References

  1. ↑ "Kravtsov equals record, Makarov ties series. Conference SF, March 17". en.khl.ru. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kravtsov sets record, Traktor ties series. Conference SF, March 21". en.khl.ru. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  3. ↑ Calamia, Matt (22 June 2018). "Rangers Take Russia Forward Vitali Kravtsov Ninth at 2018 Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms With Vitali Kravtsov and Igor Shesterkin". NHL.com. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Виталий Кравцов вернулся в "Трактор"". hctraktor.org (in Russian). 28 October 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Rangers recall Kravtsov from loan in KHL". New York Rangers. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  7. ↑ "Виталий Кравцов вернулся из НХЛ в "Трактор"". 74.ru (in Russian). 30 August 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Olofsson ties it late, Sabres top Rangers 3-2 in shootout". ESPN. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021. Rangers: New winger Vitali Kravtsov was recalled from the taxi squad and made his NHL debut.
  9. ↑ "New York Rangers v. New Jersey Devils". Yahoo!. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Walker, Mollie (12 October 2021). "Rangers could trade Vitali Kravtsov with tensions rising over demotion". New York Post. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Rangers Loan Vitali Kravtsov to Traktor of KHL". NHL.com. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Rangers Agree to Terms with Vitali Kravtsov". NHL.com. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Rangers agree to terms with Vitali Kravtsov". New York Rangers. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Canucks Acquire Vitali Kravtsov from NY Rangers". NHL.com. 25 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Vitaly Kravtsov returns to Traktor" (in Russian). Traktor Chelyabinsk. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Russia announces team roster for 2019 World Junior Championships". tass.com. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  17. ↑ "Russia tops Swiss for Bronze". IIHF. 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
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