Rangers Roundup: Graves Discusses Lias Andersson, Blueshirts In Da Beauty League and More

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Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Graves Appears On TSN Radio

Rangers icon Adam Graves joined Landsberg In The Morning on TSN1050 and discussed one of the Blueshirts’ top prospects while promoting the SmileZone organization’s golf outing. Graves spoke on the competitive nature of Lias Andersson and where the organization stands in the grand scope of things.

• On Andersson’s character and competitive spirit: “When you have character young kids like Andersson, it’s much easier on the development side. He is a kid that will find a way to have an impact on the game every night because he is so hungry.”
• The discussion on Andersson turned to the now famous medal-throwing incident, on which Graves had this to say: “On a stage like that there is going to be some negative feedback but like anyone else, he’s competitive, a great character kid and that is part of life.”

To listen to the full interview, click here.

Vitali Kravtsov

The 2018 first-round pick is heading back to the KHL to continue his development, and Larry Brooks of the New York Post says that it isn’t as simple as it may appear. Brooks says that there had been disputes between the Rangers and Kravtsov’s KHL team HC Traktor regarding the final year of the 18-year-old’s contract. Reports are that the KHL side had been ready to file a grievance, which would have prevented Kravtsov from playing for either organization while any potential court case was being settled. Kravtsov will be playing against grown men over in the KHL which will certainly aide him as he matures in hockey.

Another thing to look forward to will be the 2019 World Junior Championships in British Columbia where Kravtsov will have every opportunity to showcase his talents to the world while representing Russia. Kravtsov played last season in all three levels of Russian hockey (KHL, VHL, MHL) and should be eager to make a name for himself in the KHL before coming over to North America.

Rangers Playing Summer Hockey

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Now in its fourth year, Da Beauty League in Minnesota plays host to an unofficial hockey summer league for NHLers, AHLers and more. This year’s league contains a few members of the Rangers organization in forwards Steven Fogarty, Tyler Nanne, and Vinni Lettieri, as well as defenseman Brady Skjei. Each team has played one game so far during this DBL season, and Nanne has already scored a goal and picked up an assist. Fogarty and Lettieri have also scored goals for their teams, while Brady Skjei has yet to crack the scoresheet. Lettieri’s goal, a laser over the goaltender’s glove, was listed in the DBL’s top-ten plays of the first week of action.