When the news broke that Vitali Kravtsov did not make the Opening night lineup and would start the year in Hartford, we had a feeling this might not sit well with him. We all got a better sense of just how poorly that decision has gone over based on Elliotte Friedman's tweet this am, followed by Larry Brooks' update. Poor asset management has been an issue in the past, which apparently has not improved with the changeover in management.

Hearing NYR have given Vitali Kravtsov permission to contact other clubs in seek of a trade. Kravtsov did not make the Opening Day roster.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 12, 2021

Kravtsov has refused assignment to Wolf Pack and is expected to be suspended, Post has learned. https://t.co/78IsOQTc0m

— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) October 12, 2021

Just spoke to Gallant, who made it sound like Kravtsov being sent down was more about other guys beating him out for spots. He mentioned Hunt and Gauthier specifically. #NYR

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) October 12, 2021

New York mishandled Lias Andersson and were likely fortunate to get a second round pick from LA for the former seventh overall selection, which they turned into Will Cuylle. This has all the hallmarks of a similar scenario. In 2019, New York sent Kravtsov to Hartford. Communication for that decision was exceedingly poor, contributing to Kravtsov's decision to head back to Russia before he rejoined the Wolf Pack later that year.

Last season, Kravtsov got into 20 games with the parent club, scoring twice and dishing out a pair of assists. Pavel Buchnevich's trade to St. Louis was made to free up cap room but also a space in the top-six or -nine for Kravtsov. Yet, that proved not to be the case as Chris Kreider was moved to the right side, swamping with Alexis Lafreniere who was tried there first, rather than moving Kreider down to the third line. Doing so would have moved Kaapo Kakko to the first line and Kravtsov to the second. Even if a change wasn't made, now Kravtsov has lost his spot in the top-nine to Sammy Blais with Barclay Goodrow on the right side.

This preseason, Kravtsov was far from elite and also missed a few games with an injury, but he returned to snipe a one-timer for a PPG against the Isles on Saturday. Yesterday, came the news of his demotion, as he was beat out for the one remaining forward spot. I get not wanting to expose Julien Gauthier or Dryden Hunt to waivers and lose them for nothing, with per Gallant both of them making the team over Kravtsov was due to them earning the spots. What I don't get is the need to keep Libor Hajek rather than keeping Kravtsov, who we know needs to be supported possibly slightly more than others given past history.

Gerard Gallant says Vitali Kravtsov was left off the opening night roster because other players performed better in camp:

"The Gautiers and Hunts and those guys, they earned those positions" pic.twitter.com/ijBdPGpIZa

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 12, 2021

The third line now has become a grinding line, which doesn't seem to align with Filip Chytil skill set. As I have said in the past why can't the third line be a hybrid line or a scoring line, especially with the fourth line now a checking line. Playing Kravtsov with Chytil was and is the way to go.

What did you not see from Kravtsov in camp? Was something lacking you expected? Yesterday, we thought this might be a one day or short-term blip until Hajek was dealt. Now, who the heck knows and questions of how this message was delivered to Kravtsov have to be raised again. Is it possible the org also has tired of him and wants to offload a player who may need more hand holding, which clearly looks not to be a strength of Chris Drury and Gerard Gallant?

One burning question also is what Kravtsov meant to be part of a deal - maybe with Zac Jones - for Jack Eichel? With Zib signed, now that deal is off the table, so did the Rangers end up in an uh-oh what do we now situation? If yes or no, again, poor asset management, poor player development and poor communication.

On the flip side, though, the message Kravtsov has sent won't endear him to the fan base. Despite the challenges of mental illness, he may come across immature and entitled, largely because he refused to report to Hartford for the second time. I wrote last time that he should have gone down and forced his way back up. The same applies here, so in that regard, not a good optic for him. Kravtsov should have reported, but I can understand his mental state of being, especially when he was held out if prospect camp since he looked to be viewed as a key member of the squad moving forward.

Now what? Your bargaining position has been weakened to deal Kravtsov, just like Andersson. Plus, has granting that ability to seek a trade now ended any possibility of him rejoining the team or being part of the future. All in all a messy situation just got way worse.

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