Rangers prospect Vitali Kravtsov appears ready to return to North America.
Kravtsov, the Rangers' first round selection in 2018, posted on social media his gratitude for fans for their support during "such a difficult time," indicating an end to his time in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). According to Sport Express' Igor Eronko, Kravtsov plans to return to the Rangers' organization with AHL Hartford as the likely destination.
In September, the 19-year-old was assigned to Hartford following Rangers' training camp. He was scratched after a few games,
reportedly due to his unhappiness with his demotion to the Wolf Pack. Instead of staying with the Rangers' minor league affiliate, Kravtsov exercised an assignment clause in his contract to return to Russia, signing a one-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
Vitali Kravtsov saying goodbye to Traktor Chelysbinsk via his Instagram profile. pic.twitter.com/gbuJBrkm1G
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins)
December 12, 2019 He tallied three points in 11 games and a -4 rating for Traktor. Kravtsov, rated the third-best European skater at the 2018 draft, faced another demotion. This time it was to Traktor Chelyabinsk's affiliate, Chelmet.
Former Rangers' goalie Stephen Valiquette, whose career took him to Russia, compared the league to "playing on the moon."
I played in the #KHL for two years. This is unprecedented. The VHL is like playing hockey on the moon. https://t.co/iQRqQpIjSF
— Stephen Valiquette (@VallysView)
December 8, 2019 Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton maintained an open dialogue with Kravtsov's representatives.
“I will say we’ve had a number of conversations with his agent recently just to revisit what’s best for him right now,” Gorton told the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis on Dec. 9. “I’ll leave it to the conversations I’m having behind the scenes right now, and we’ll have to make a decision. Obviously we want the guy to play. If he’s not playing enough, then yes, we’d like to control his ice time a little bit.”
Hartford sits atop of the AHL's Atlantic Division standings at 15-4-2-5.
