Rangers’ Kravtsov’s Strong Start Is a Sign of What Is to Come

3 years ago  /  The Hockey Writers  /  Read Time: 3 minutes 19 seconds

• The New York Rangers got one step closer to finishing their rebuild when one of their top prospects in Vitali Kravtsov made his NHL debut back on April 3 against the Buffalo Sabres.
• Given how poorly his first experience in a Rangers jersey went, the strides Kravtsov’s game after just one season has been nothing short of outstanding.
• (From ‘Vitali Kravtsov was ‘nervous’ before strong Rangers debut,’ New York Post, April 5, 2021).
• So far, Kravtsov has played primarily on the fourth line with Kevin Rooney and Brett Howden but he has seen some shifts up and down the lineup.
• Even when he is down on the fourth line, Kravtsov has been making plays happen and has by far been the driving force of that line.
• Kravtsov has the ceiling of a top-six offensive winger, he will not be on the fourth line for long considering how good he has been.
• At this point, it looks less like “will Vitali Kravtsov be an impact player” and more a matter of when he will be an important part of the team

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