Gerard Gallant Admits He is Unimpressed with Vitaly Kravtsov's Play
New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant is known for his preference toward older, veteran players and for being critical of younger players as they develop.
The struggles of top draft picks Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière are well documented, but there is another youngster finding the leap to the NHL difficult.
2018 9th overall pick Vitaly Kravtsov has managed just 6 points in 27 games this season after spending the entire 2021-22 season in Russia. The Rangers loaned Kravtsov to Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL after reported tension between player and coach.
Well, that situation doesn't appear to be getting much better. Gallant recently told reporters - begrudgingly - that Kravtsov will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The problem therein is that the Rangers' top-nine forwards are jam-packed, leaving Kravtsov as the odd-man. Specifically, Gallant directed his lack of faith in Kravtsov to his lack of finishing ability and his inability to finish checks.
According to NaturalStatTrick, Kravtsov has played a total of 290:40 this season. What's concerning regarding his lack of offensive production is that more than half of his ice-time has been played with Artemi Panarin, who leads the Rangers with 50 points.
Personally, I don't see the value in asking smaller, skilled players to finish checks, as that does not suit their skillsets (typically, anyway). That said, if you aren't scoring, you have to find a way to make a difference, which is an adjustment Kravtsov has yet to make.
Rangers reporter Vince Mercogliano writes that an eventual split seems inevitable and that both sides could benefit from it. Perhaps, the Rangers opt to make a trade deadline splash using the talented 23-year old as bait.
Although, Gallant's comments don't exactly buff Kravtsov's trade value.
Source: Vince Mercogliano, Lohud.com
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 25 | 148 ANSWERS Gerard Gallant Admits He is Unimpressed with Vitaly Kravtsov's Play Should the Rangers move on from Kravtsov this season? | ||
| Yes | 61 | 41.2 % |
| No, too early | 55 | 37.2 % |
| See results | 32 | 21.6 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Patrick Maroon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Lukas Reichel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Travis Konecny | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Anze Kopitar | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Quinton Byfield | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Noah Cates | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Sean Couturier | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Marcus Johansson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matvei Michkov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Martin Pospisil | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Kevin Rooney | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Matthew Boldy | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Bobby Brink | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Kevin Fiala | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tyson Foerster | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nazem Kadri | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Justin Kirkland | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Daniil Miromanov | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 20 | 17 | 3 | - | 34 | |
Wild | 19 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 29 | |
Hurricanes | 19 | 14 | 5 | - | 28 | |
Devils | 22 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 28 | |
Capitals | 19 | 13 | 5 | 1 | 27 | |
Golden Knights | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Maple Leafs | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 26 | |
Rangers | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 25 | |
Panthers | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 25 | |
Flames | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 25 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||