Each day over the next month leading up to the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 22 in Dallas, we will be taking a look at the top 31 prospects available, starting with the 31st and leading up to number one.
Next in the series of prospect profiles is our 16th-ranked prospect, right wing Vitali Kravtsov.
Vitali Kravtsov
2017–18 Team: Chelyabinsk (Russia)
Date of Birth: December 23, 1999
Place of Birth: Vladivostok, Russia
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 170 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: RW
NHL Central Scouting Final Ranking: 3 (European Skaters)
NHL Central Scouting Midterm Ranking: 10 (European Skaters)
NHL Comparable: Nathan MacKinnon
Kravtsov skyrocketed up draft boards with a phenomenal showing in the KHL playoffs this season, registering six goals and five assists in 16 games. After tallying just four goals and three assists in 35 regular season games, the postseason rampage came as a pleasant eye-opening surprise.
Kravtsov is a high-end skater with great speed and acceleration, often times creating space between himself and opponents. He has the ability to burn around defenders to drive to the goal or weave around the ice by using his good edge work. Kravtsov has a pretty strong base, giving him good stability and power.
Stickhandling is perhaps the most dangerous weapon Kravtsov possesses. His elite hands are among the best in the draft class. Kravtsov is able to use his stickhandling ability to make defenders look silly. He thrives in one-on-one situations because of his hands and skating. Kravtsov excels at making skilled plays at top speeds, which often creates high-quality scoring opportunities for his team and significant problems for the opposition. Kravtsov also uses his top-notch hands to set up his teammates, though he generally has a shoot-first mentality on the ice.
Kravtsov possesses a nice variety of shots. His wrist shot and snapshot are his best shooting weapons because they feature good power and accuracy and he is able to get both off very quickly. Kravtsov fits the mold of a sniper, but also has the ability to set up his teammates for opportunities as well. His high-end stickhandling also allows Kravtsov to be a big-time threat when he finds himself close to the net, as he is able to fake out the goaltender seemingly with ease.
While Kravtsov is very much an offensively minded player, he is not a huge liability in his defensive end. He does still have a long way to come in this area, but has shown signs of improvement. His top-notch skating allows him to transition play from defense to offense quickly. His skating also allows for him to be a good backchecker, when he chooses to.
Overall, Kravtsov is a very intriguing prospect because of his high-end offensive skills. Consistency and his defensive play are certainly concerns, and the “Russian factor” could come into play for him as well, as he is still under contract to play in Russia, which could see his draft stock fall a bit. But, the top-end skating, stickhandling and shooting are too much to ignore.
Implications for the Blackhawks
Although performing exceptionally in the playoffs, Kravtsov does not quite come to the level of the other top prospects who will be available when the Hawks are on the clock with the 8th pick. Some experts feel Kravtsov is likely to be taken in the middle of the first round, whereas some others have him toward the end of the first round or even into the second round. So, it is entirely possible Kravtsov could still be available when the Blackhawks make the 27th pick. He could be a really good addition to the organization’s prospect pool, especially if the Hawks select a defenseman with the 8th pick.
Timeline
Kravtsov is still under contract to play in Russia, so he will not be coming to North America right away. He still has some important aspects of his game to improve as well. Although the contract situation is a bit difficult to predict, do not expect to see Kravtsov in the NHL until at least 2020–21 or 2021–22, perhaps along the lines of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s journey to the NHL.
Projection
Kravtsov has the offensive tools needed to be a high-end scoring threat in the NHL. If he is able to reach his potential, there is no reason he cannot be a top-six winger. But, Kravtsov could also prove to be a bust if he does not develop more consistency and round out his game or if he opts to stay in Russia for a while and then is unable to transition his game to North America. Time will tell.
What others are saying
“An incredibly talented player, Kravtsov has the potential to become an elite playmaker in the NHL. He is the player that many teams will regret not taking – passing on the young Russian will come back to haunt them. Although we will not be seeing him in the NHL for a few years, he will have a true impact when he arrives. After he develops his complete game in the KHL, he will be one of the most dangerous Russian forwards in the NHL. He will be the steal of the 2018 NHL Draft.”
— Tim McKinnon/The Hockey Writers
“Kravtsov is a skilled offensive player. He pairs his great skating ability with outstanding hands. He can stickhandle in a phone booth. This makes him absolutely deadly in one-on-one situations. The best part of his game is that he can make all these moves and handle the puck while moving at top speed. If defenders back off to respect his speed and stickhandling, he has a deadly arsenal of shots that he can put on net. Kravtsov has a very good wrist shot and snapshot. Both shots feature a quick release. With the hands to also score in tight, he’s a natural sniper.”
— Ben Kerr/Last Word on Hockey