Vitali Kravtsov – Right Winger – 6’2 172lbs - Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL – 9gp 1g 1a 2p
Kravtsov enters the year as the best Russian prospect playing outside of North America. Like more recent top prospects from Russia, he is a large tank like winger with a lethal shot. Nichushkin, Buchnevich, Kostin, Rubtsov and Guryanov all fall into this category. Most being the top rated Russian skater in their draft years. Kravtsov might be the most under the radar top prospect in this draft. Mostly due to the fact that he recently got injured in the VHL when on assignment from Traktor. The VHL is the second tier of Russian Pro Hockey. Similar to Sweden with their Elitserien and Allsvenskan. He had 2 points in 2 games which for a 17 year old is unheard of. He also had a very good showing last year in the VHL in his brief 6 game stint scoring twice and adding 4 points. He also has the dubious distinction of being the youngest player to score a goal in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs. As well as being a winger who plays his off-side as he's left handed.
With little international experience, it’s easy to see why Kravtsov doesn’t have as much of the usual mystique Russian prospects tend to have. I always find it odd that Russian players are simply afforded the idea that they are innately infinitely more talented than others, just lazy or unmotivated. Kravtsov is not one of them and while his skill level is fairly high, his work ethic can match it.
A good way to put his abilities into perspective, I think it’s important to see how he fairs against other top Russian prospects in their pre-draft year. Since it’s a little too early to compare his draft year against theirs. Plus he’s currently injured. All these numbers are the 16/17 year old seasons in the MHL (Russian U20 Junior League).
Vitali Kravtsov – 41gp 13g 23a 36p
Klim Kostin (31st 2017) – 30gp 8g 13a 21p
German Rubtsov (22nd 2016) – 11gp 1g 4a 5p
Yegor Korshkov (31st 2016) – 43gp 12g 10a 22p
Denis Guryanov (12th 2015) – 37gp 7g 9a 16p
Nikita Scherbak (26th 2014) – 50gp 7g 7a 14p
Vladislav Kamenev (42nd 2014) – 36gp 9g 6a 15p
Valeri Nichushkin (10th 2013) – 38gp 4g 6a 10p
Mikhail Grigorenko (12th 2012) – 43gp 17g 18a 35p
Nikita Kucherov (58th 2011) – 53gp 29g 25a 54p
So as you can see; Kravtsov compares favourably to essentially every top Russian prospect at the same age other than Kucherov. Which makes sense, because I’m still uncertain how somebody who so clearly dominated every league and tournament he ever played in could fall so far. Now quite a few of these “top prospects… never really emerged as NHL players, but that’s the roll of the dice. The point is just to illustrate what level he is on in terms of a prospect entering their draft year.
From what I can see, the main issue with Kravtsov is one I have had with several Russian wingers that made waves in the draft. He can skate like the wind. He has a lethal shot on the rush. He’s a big body. He isn’t a very smart player. There’s the issue; much like Nichushkin whom I raked over the coals in 2013 during my annual Mockable Mock Draft. Kravtsov flies up both ends of the ice, but doesn’t show the ability to find space and make creative attacks in the opponent’s zone. Like switching sides or cycling efficiently. This is something he will have to evolve to become a top flight player; however I think he has enough speed and natural ability to become an NHL player. Hopefully he can come back from his injury and continue to impress.
NHL Comparable : Mika Zibanejad