Could the turbulent Rangers tenure of Vitali Kravtsov be coming to an end soon? Perhaps, because according to multiple outlets, Kravtsov has requested a trade, the second time that scenario has come up in the last three seasons.
The 23-year-old, who was the ninth overall pick in 2018, has three goals and three assists in 28 games this season, but was benched again after basically a one-game audition following the Rangers’ acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko, head coach Gerard Gallant saying at the time that the Russian had not done enough to warrant continued time.
Kravtsov came over from Russia in the 2019-20 season and had 15 points in 39 games at AHL Hartford, then made his NHL debut with 20 games for the Rangers in 2020-21. However, when he did not make the Blueshirts’ opening night roster in 2021, he refused an assignment to Hartford and was given permission to seek a trade.
The Rangers ended up loaning him back to Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, where he had played parts of the previous four seasons, and last summer he signed a one-year, $875,000 deal to return to New York. However, he has been used sparingly this season, and would become a restricted free agent next year.
The NHL trade deadline is March 3, so GM Chris Drury has a little less than three weeks to facilitate a deal if he so chooses.
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