The New York Rangers have released their prospect report for September 28, 2020. In this edition, the Swedish prospects take center stage while Vitali Kravtsov cools down.
Below are excerpts from the official report provided to the media via the New York Rangers.
Scoring Swedes
- Lias Andersson recorded a point in each of HV71’s two games during the past week (one goal, one assist). The Rangers’ first round pick (seventh overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied two points (one goal, one assist) and has registered 10 shots on goal in three SHL games thus far in 2020-21. Andersson’s 10 shots on goal are the second-most on HV71 and his two points are tied for the third-most on the team through the first three games of the season.
- Nils Lundkvist tied for the game-high with four shots on goal, led all skaters with seven shot attempts, and posted a plus-two rating in 18:27 of ice time to help Lulea earn a win on Sept. 26 against Oskarshamn. The Rangers’ first round pick (28th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has registered one assist and 10 shots on goal through the first two SHL games in 2020-21, and he has averaged 19:16 of ice time in the two contests.
- Karl Henriksson tallied an assist (his first assist of the 2020-21 season and the second assist/point of his SHL career) and posted a plus-one rating in 14:24 of ice time to help Frolunda win its game on Sept. 27 against Djurgardens.
Vitali Kravtsov cools down in the KHL
- Vitali Kravtsov skated in three games with Traktor during the past week, and he logged at least 19:00 of ice time in each game (19:08 of ice time on Sept. 22 against Severstal, 19:41 of ice time on Sept. 24 against Salavat Yulaev, and 19:16 of ice time on Sept. 27 against Dinamo Minsk). The 19:41, 19:16, and 19:08 of ice time Kravtsov logged in those contests were the second-most, third-most, and fourth-most amounts of ice time he has played in a single game, respectively, in his KHL career. The Rangers’ first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has recorded seven points (six goals, one assist) and 38 shots on goal in 10 KHL games in 2020-21, and he has tallied a goal/point in five of the 10 games.
I spoke with KHL Reporter, Gillian Kemmerer for her insights on Vitali’s season so far with Traktor. Here’s what she said:
“One of Traktor’s players described the change within Kravtsov as a migration from “cute hockey” to a more aggressive, North American game. Another joked about trading dipsy-doodles for being first in on the forecheck. Beyond his on-ice performance, he is working harder than ever.“
“Aside from the regular Traktor routine, he pulls up the Rangers’ workouts on his phone and is logging extra time in the gym. Players who have known him for years see the change in his work ethic, but also his mentality. One teammate commented that he seems to put less unproductive levels of his pressure on himself. The results are (thus far) self-evident in his numbers.“
Other Rangers prospects
- Olof Lindbom earned a win in each of his two pre-season appearances with Mora (Allsvenskan) during the past week, stopping 83 of 87 shots (.954 SV%) in the two contests. He stopped 39 of 40 shots and earned a win on Sept. 25 against Karlskoga, and he made 44 saves and earned a win while playing the second half of a back-to-back-set on Sept. 26 against Karlskoga.
- Yegor Rykov was credited with two blocked shots and posted a plus-one rating in 17:54 of ice time to help CSKA Moscow win its game on Sept. 27 against Jokerit.
- Adam Huska only allowed two goals and earned a win while making his first pre-season appearance with HKM Zvolen in Slovakia on Sept. 22.
