Russian ice hockey player Vitaly Kravtsov switches from "Traktor Chelyabinsk" to "Vancouver Canucks"
Vitali Kravtsov, the Russian forward, is set to make a comeback in the National Hockey League (NHL) after signing a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks. This marks Kravtsov's fifth attempt to establish himself in the world's top league.
Kravtsov, who was drafted ninth overall by the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, has played 64 games split between the Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, scoring 12 points (6 goals and 6 assists) with 14 penalty minutes accumulated over his NHL career.
In the 2024-25 KHL season, Kravtsov had an exceptional performance with Traktor Chelyabinsk. He tallied 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) in 66 games, leading the team in goals and finishing second in points. His contributions were instrumental in helping Chelyabinsk reach the Gagarin Cup final. Additionally, he added 7 points in 19 postseason games.
Last season, Kravtsov was unable to secure a permanent spot in the Vancouver Canucks' lineup, playing only 16 games. However, his strong performance in the KHL caught the attention of the Canucks' management, who expressed confidence in his abilities.
Kravtsov's decision to sign with the Canucks indicates a desire to establish himself in the NHL once again. His return to the organization comes after two seasons in Russia’s KHL, where he played 288 career games, scoring 160 points (81 goals, 79 assists), with a +35 plus/minus rating.
Here's a summary of Kravtsov's key statistics across the NHL and KHL:
| League | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Plus/Minus | Penalty Minutes | |--------|--------------|-------|---------|--------|------------|-----------------| | NHL (Rangers + Canucks) | 64 | 6 | 6 | 12 | -3 | 14 | | KHL (Career) | 288 | 81 | 79 | 160 | +35 | 46 | | KHL (2024-25 season) | 66 | 27 | 31 | 58 | +31 | 4 |
Kravtsov's impressive performance in the KHL demonstrates his potential as an impactful scorer with offensive upside, both in the NHL's limited sample size and in his significant KHL experience.
Meanwhile, another leader of Traktor, Maxim Shabanov, has signed a contract with the New York Islanders. Shabanov was the most productive player of the Chelyabinsk club last season, and his departure leaves a significant void in the team.
With Kravtsov's return to the NHL, fans are eager to see how he will perform in the upcoming 2025-26 season with the Vancouver Canucks. His previous unsuccessful attempts to break into the lineup of the New York Rangers will undoubtedly fuel his determination to make a lasting impact this time around.
I'm not sure if Vitali Kravtsov will be able to consistently perform at a high level in the NHL, given his mixed results in the past. Despite his impressive statistics in the KHL, hockey is a different game in the National Hockey League (NHL), particularly in sports like hockey where the level of competition is tremendously high.
