The Vancouver Canucks terminated Kravtsov’s contract Tuesday, releasing him from the organization. Kravtsov signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canucks in early August, but he didn’t play a single NHL game this season. The 25-year-old had four points (one goal, three assists) and was minus-7 in 10 games with Abbotsford of the American Hockey League.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that F Vitali Kravtsov has been placed on unconditional waivers for purpose of contract termination.

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 4, 2025

Ironically, Kravtsov’s AHL coach was Manny Malhotra, who also once was a first-round draft pick by the Rangers (in 1998). The Rangers selected Kravtsov in the first-round (No. 9 overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft, 20 years after they landed Malhotra at No. 8 overall.

Malhotra played 991 NHL games with six teams. Kravtsov’s at 66 NHL games with the Rangers and Canucks, and likely not adding to that total. It’s hard to imagine another NHL team pursuing him in the future, nor that Kravtsov yearns to try again to play in the League.

It’s not yet known why Kravtsov had his contract terminated. But respected Vancouver reporter and talk-show host Rick Dhaliwal posted on his X social media account that “Kravtsov wanted to go back home. It’s as simple as that.”

Shortly thereafter, Dhaliwal reported that Kravtsov has a KHL deal in place.

Sound like a 3 year deal for Vitaly Kravtsov with Tractor in Russia.

— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) November 4, 2025

Former Rangers 1st-round bust Vitali Kravtsov released by Canucks

Russia, the KHL, and Traktor are Kravtsov’s comfort zones. He established career highs across the board offensively with 27 goals, 31 assists and 58 points in 66 games last season, and helped Traktor Chelyabinsk advance to the Gagarin Cup Final, where it lost the best-of-7 series in five games to Lokomotiv. Kravtsov was second on Traktor with six goals in 19 postseason games.

He scored 18 goals and finished with 34 points in 55 games with Traktor in 2023-24.

Kravtsov played just 48 games during his tumultuous tenure with the Rangers. He was the first of three first-round picks for the Rangers in 2018. None remain with the organization after they traded K’Andre Miller (No. 22 overall) to the Carolina Hurricanes this summer. Defenseman Nils Lundkvist (No. 28 overall) was traded to the Dallas Stars before the 2022-23 season.

The forward bucked the Rangers at every turn, especially the times they assigned him to Hartford of the American Hockey League for seasoning. Chris Drury, then the assistant general manager of the Rangers, called Kravtsov out in 2019 for quitting on the team. That led to more acrimony. And the talented forward bounced back between Russia and North America for several years.

Kravtsov had four points (two goals, two assists) in 20 games with the Rangers in 2020-21, a season he split between the NHL and KHL — to the organization’s chagrin. He was back in the NHL two years later and managed six points (three goals, three assists) in 28 games before the Rangers decided they had seen enough and traded him to the Canucks.

He played 16 games and had two points (one goal, one assist) for the Canucks in 2022-23.

The Rangers selected Halverson in the second round (No. 59 overall) in 2014, then chose Shesterkin in the fourth round (No. 118). Shesterkin came to North America from Russia in 2019 and had become one of the NHL’s top goaltenders; Halverson made one appearance in relief for the Rangers in a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 17, 2018.

The Rangers let him become a free agent in 2019, and he didn’t resurface in the NHL until last season. Halverson’s second NHL appearance, and first start, came with the Lightning on March 22, when he allowed five goals in a 6-4 road loss to the Utah Hockey Club (now the Utah Mammoth).

With starter Andrei Vasilevskiy sidelined due to injury for much of training camp, Halverson made three appearances for the Lightning during the preseason, going 2-0-0 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. But Tampa Bay claimed goalie Pheonix Copley on waivers from the Washington Capitals earlier this week, and Halverson is headed back to Syracuse, the Bolts’ AHL affiliate.

Halverson was an AHL All-Star last season with the Crunch and was a co-winner of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for allowing the fewest goals in the AHL.

Brandon Halverson, Ryan Graves among ex-Rangers waived

Another Rangers draft pick, defenseman Ryan Graves, is also likely headed for the AHL after he was placed on waivers Saturday by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers’ opponent on opening night at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

The Rangers selected Graves in the fourth round (No. 110) in the 2013 draft. But he never made it to Broadway: After nearly three seasons with AHL Hartford, the Rangers traded him to the Colorado Avalanche for Chris Bigras on Feb. 26, 2018.

Graves joined the Avs for 26 games in the 2018-19 season, then led the NHL in plus-minus (plus-40) in 2019-20. Colorado traded him to the New Jersey Devils in July 2021, and he played two solid seasons in Newark before the Penguins signed him to a six-year, $27 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value, according to PuckPedia) in July 2023.

But the 6-5, 227-pound defenseman’s time in Pittsburgh hasn’t worked out, to say the least. His struggles have been among the reasons the Pens have failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last three seasons – and the term and money left on his contract make him almost untradeable. He’s likely to spend the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Buffalo Sabres waived two former Rangers, defenseman Zac Jones and center Jake Leschyshyn, on Sunday. Jones signed with the Sabres as a free agent this summer after the Rangers didn’t make him an offer. He had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 46 games with the Blueshirts last season. Leschyshyn, son of longtime NHL defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn, spent all of last season in Hartford but had small stints with the Rangers in each of the previous two seasons.

One of the Rangers’ worst draft picks in recent years, forward Vitali Kravtsov, was waived by the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday; he cleared and was assigned to Abbotsford of the AHL. The Rangers took the Russian forward with the No. 9 pick in 2018, but he had just 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 48 games with New York before being traded to the Canucks in February 2023.

Kravtsov played 16 games in Vancouver before spending the past two seasons in the KHL, then signed with the Canucks in August after a 27-goal, 58-point season with Chelyabinsk Traktor in 2024-25.

That’s because Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in 2019, enters his first full season with the Seattle Kraken after showing signs that he could be a more productive player following a trade with the Rangers in mid-December. Additionally, Vitali Kravtsov, the No. 9 overall pick in 2018, signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks after a successful run in the KHL.

Including Kakko and Kravtsov, three of the four top-10 selections the Rangers made over that four-year stretch are no longer with the organization.

Former general manager Jeff Gorton salvaged his misfire on bust Lias Andersson (No. 7 overall in 2017) by turning him into the second-round pick in 2020 that became rising power forward Will Cuylle, who scored 20 goals last season.

Alexis Lafreniere, the No. 1 overall selection in 2020, is the lone top-10 Rangers pick from 2017-20 remaining on the Rangers roster. He’s been inconsistent, but hope remains that the soon-to-be 24-year-old can recapture his 28-goal form from two seasons ago.

Related: How Rangers could best help Gabe Perreault be Calder Trophy candidate as NHL rookie of year

Traded by Rangers, Kaapo Kakko more productive with Kraken

When it comes to Kakko and Kravtsov, however, there’s nothing current GM Chris Drury can do other than sit back and watch. Drury, it should be noted, had little choice but to deal away both players when it became clear that their time on Broadway passed its expiration date.

Drury did manage to bring back valuable right-shot defenseman Will Borgen in the Kakko trade. So, there’s that.

At 24 years old, though, Kakko’s potential ceiling remains high. And the Kraken appear more willing to feed into that potential. He averaged an NHL career-high 17:03 TOI after the trade last season, nearly four minutes more per game than with the Rangers.

KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO pic.twitter.com/CREZxOhxMY

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 11, 2025

Kakko also averaged 0.6 points in 49 games with the Kraken after averaging 0.4 with the Rangers in 330 games over six-plus seasons. The Rangers received plenty of criticism over Kakko’s lack of development during his time on Broadway, though it’s not exactly like he thrived when given a chance to play up in the lineup with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Kakko’s tenure in New York, however, was spent largely on the third line with minimal power-play opportunities.

Seattle wasted little time in finding out what it had, placing Kakko on a top-six line with Matty Berniers and Jaden Schwartz and giving him significant power-play time. The result? Ten goals and 20 assists in 49 games, including three power-play goals – a career high.

Kakko still doesn’t shoot the puck enough – he didn’t have more than two shots on goal in any of his final 16 games last season – which is a problem that dates to his Rangers tenure and might prevent him from ever becoming a top offensive player in the NHL. Yet that problem remains correctable.

Again, it was clear that Kakko’s time with the Blueshirts was up. He had grown frustrated with the organization and publicly complained that he was being scapegoated after being scratched from a game Dec. 17 amid an ugly stretch for the Rangers. The Rangers traded Kakko the next day, receiving Will Borgen, whose steady, physical play helped stabilize the defense corps, along with third- and sixth-round picks.

Where the Rangers didn’t see a player worth investing in anymore, the Kraken signed Kakko to a three-year, $13.575 million contract this summer.

The danger for the Rangers is that the light goes on for a player who was regarded as a near-equal prospect to eventual No. 1 pick and current New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes going into the 2019 draft. The Rangers signed Borgen a five-year, $20.5 million contract extension last season, but he’ll be a footnote if Kakko breaks out in the Pacific Northwest.

Related: Why Rangers could turn to Urho Vaakanainen as under radar lineup regular

Vitali Kravtsov’s unexpected NHL return with Canucks followed his best KHL season

While Kakko has actually shown that he can produce some in the NHL, Kravtsov is a much bigger wild card. Like Andersson in 2017, the Rangers’ selection of Kravtsov at ninth overall in 2018 failed miserably. The talented forward from Russia proved to be a sullen enigma, who appeared immature and mentally and emotionally unprepared to succeed in North America.

His decision to leave the Rangers and play in the KHL instead of accept an assignment to Hartford of the American Hockey League never sat well with the organization. Kravtsov played just 48 games over two seasons with the Rangers before they traded him to the Canucks on Feb. 25, 2023, for the underwhelming return of undersized forward Will Lockwood and a seventh-round pick.

He played 16 games with the Canucks and headed back to Russia to play the past two seasons. It appeared his NHL career was over after 64 games, six goals and 12 points.

Crafty KHL goal Vitaly Kravtsov scored two years ago. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/EdNgUPxwHi

— Grady Sas (@GradySas) February 25, 2023

So why should the Rangers worry about a player who inked a one-year, two-way contract for $775,000? For the same reason why Kakko could burn the club that drafted him: raw talent. With a powerful shot, outstanding hands and strong skating, there was a reason why the Rangers grabbed Kravtsov where they did in 2018. He’s coming off his best season in the KHL, with career highs of 27 goals and 31 assists in 66 games for Traktor in 2024-25.

The KHL isn’t the NHL, of course, but it’s also possible that Kravtsov has grown up, having seen how his shot at playing in the best hockey league in the world was slipping away.

The 25-year-old appears considerably less likely to make the Rangers regret dealing him away, but if he does develop into an effective player, they’ll essentially have nothing to show for it. But GM Chris Drury can’t be blamed for offloading the troublesome winger for pennies on the dollar. There was little to no market for Kravtsov at that time.

The reasons that led to the Rangers trading Kakko and Kravtsov were legitimate, and could end up being barriers to both players becoming highly-productive NHL forwards with any team. Kakko has yet to show the high-end scoring touch that he exhibited in Finland’s Liiga in 2018-19, his 18 goals in 2022-23 remain an NHL career high. And Kravtsov’s played one full NHL season to date.

Untapped ability, though, remains for both 20-somethings. Either player ascending to above-average status in 2025-26 will add fuel to longstanding perceptions that the Rangers struggle to develop young players (non-goaltenders, that is) into roster mainstays. That will be especially so if Lafreniere again struggles to completely break out in his sixth NHL season.

The 25-year-old forward established career highs across the board offensively with 27 goals, 31 assists and 58 points in 66 games. He helped Traktor Chelyabinsk advance to the Gagarin Cup Final, where it lost the best-of-7 series in five games to Lokomotiv. Kravtsov was second on Traktor with six goals in 19 postseason games.

Kravtsov scored 18 goals and finished with 34 points in 55 games with Traktor in 2023-24.

“Vitali had a strong season in the KHL and was an impact player for his team,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. “In his two seasons in Russia, he has worked hard on his game, and we look forward to seeing where Vitali is at when he comes to training camp in Penticton.”

Kravtsov played 16 games and had two points (one goal, one assist) for the Canucks after they acquired the mercurial former first-round pick in a trade with the Rangers on Feb. 25, 2023.

Related: Jimmy Vesey lands 2-year contract in Switzerland

Vitali Kravtsov had tortured Rangers tenure, gets another NHL chance

The Rangers selected Kravtsov No. 9 overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, but he played just 48 games during his tumultuous tenure with the organization. He was the first of three first-round picks for the Blueshirts that year. None remain with the Rangers after they traded K’Andre Miller (No. 22 overall) to the Carolina Hurricanes this summer. Defenseman Nils Lundkvist (No. 28 overall) was traded to the Dallas Stars before the 2022-23 season.

Kravtsov bucked the Rangers at every turn, especially the times they assigned him to Hartford of the American Hockey League for seasoning. Chris Drury, then the assistant general manager of the Rangers, called out Kravtsov in 2019 for quitting on the team. That led to more acrimony. And the talented forward bounced back between Russia and North America for several years.

The Canucks are hoping that his third — and most recent — return to his native Russia finally has him on the path to success in the NHL.

Kravtsov had four points (two goals, two assists) in 20 games with the Rangers in 2020-21, a season he split between the NHL and KHL — to the organization’s chagrin. He was back in the NHL two years later and managed six points (three goals, three assists) in 28 games before the Rangers decided they had seen enough and traded him to the Canucks.

There’s no questioning Kravtsov’s talent. But it will be interesting to see how he’s matured since his his Rangers days, or even his last venture in the NHL with Vancouver. The two-way contract limits the Canucks’ risk, and gives them the opportunity to properly evaluate where Kravtsov sits at this moment in what’s likely his final chance in the NHL.

Those misfires include back-to-back failures to hit on top-10 picks in the late 2010s, selecting one of the few duds in the talent-filled first round in 2003, and two top-10 selections who had long careers in hockey but never lived up to their draft status.

So, perhaps it’s a good thing the Rangers sent their first-round pick, No. 12 overall, to the Pittsburgh Penguins this year!

Here’s a look at five of the Rangers’ biggest first-round disappointments in the past 25 years.

Related: NHL insider provides Jarome Iginla reason why Rangers shouldn’t give up on Alexis Lafreniere

Lias Andersson (2017; Round 1, No. 7)

The Rangers had made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons when they selected Swedish forward Lias Andersson with the seventh pick in 2017. Andersson had helped HV-71 win the Swedish Hockey League title earlier that spring.

Andersson became the youngest player in Rangers history to score a goal in his NHL debut when he tallied against the Washington Capitals on March 26, 2018. But that was just about the only thing that went right for him in New York. He was immature — and not nearly as skilled as the Rangers hoped. Andersson chafed at demotions to AHL Hartford, failed to make any NHL impact and worked his way back to Sweden before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in October 2021.

Unfortunately for the Kings, Andersson was no better on the West Coast than he was on the East Coast. He signed with the Montreal Canadiens in the summer of 2023, spent all of 2023-24 in the AHL, then signed to play in Switzerland, where he remains today. His seven goals and 17 points in 110 games, including three goals and nine points in 66 games with the Rangers, look like they’ll be his final numbers in the NHL.

Andersson’s most lasting impact on the Rangers is positive one, though; the player they drafted with the second-round pick they got in the trade with the Kings was Will Cuylle.

Vitali Kravtsov (2018; Round 1, No. 9)

The only thing worse than whiffing on a top-10 pick is doing it again the next year. That’s what the Rangers did with Vitali Kravtsov, a Russian forward who never came close to becoming the star the Rangers hoped he’d be after taking him with the ninth pick in 2018.

Kravtsov played his post-draft year with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL, then came to North America and played 39 games for Hartford in the American Hockey League before he was loaned back to Traktor. He wound up there again in 2020-21 after failing to make the Rangers out of training camp, but ended up playing 20 games for New York, finishing with two goals and four points.

Like Andersson, Kravtsov was at odds with the Rangers and it was back to Traktor and the KHL for him in 2021-22, as it was obvious he wasn’t ready for the NHL. But he returned the Rangers in June 2022 and played 28 games for them in 2022-23. However, after putting up just three goals and six points, the Rangers traded him to the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 25, 2023.

Kravtsov has played the past two seasons with Traktor and figures to attract NHL interest after a 27-goal, 58-point, plus-31 season in 2024-25. Don’t expect the Rangers to be one of the interested parties.

Hugh Jessiman (2003; Round 1, No. 12)

The first round of the 2003 draft is regarded by many as among the best, if not the best, in NHL history. It included the second-winningest goaltender all-time (Marc-Andre Fleury) and four players who scored at least 400 goals (Eric Staal, Jeff Carter, Zach Parise and Corey Perry). Of the 30 players taken in the first round that year, 13 played at least 1,000 games.

And then there was Hugh Jessiman.

The Rangers, mired in a stretch that saw them miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for seven straight seasons, took the 6-foot-6 power forward after a sensational first season at Dartmouth that saw him score 23 goals and finish with 47 points in 34 games. But his offensive number dropped in 2003-04, and an ankle injury limited him to 12 games in 2005.

Jessiman turned pro after that but never caught on with the Rangers, splitting four seasons between Hartford and Charlotte, then an ECHL team. The Rangers gave him away to the Nashville Predators in October 2008, he signed with the Chicago Blackhawks in August 2010 and was traded to the Florida Panthers in February 2011.

Florida finally gave him a cup of coffee in the NHL. He played two games for the Panthers, going scoreless while playing a total of 14:42 but becoming the last of the 2003 first-rounders to play an NHL game.

Jessiman remained in the AHL through 2012-13, then played two seasons in Europe before retiring in 2015. His name is guaranteed to elicit groans from Rangers fans of that era.

Dylan McIlrath (2010; Round 1, No. 10)

There were a lot of heads shaking after the Rangers used the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 draft on Dylan McIlrath, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defenseman who many felt was too slow and not skilled enough to succeed at the NHL level. The skeptics were right. Especially after a severe knee injury early in his career made him even less mobile.

McIlrath has had a long pro hockey career, but just 92 games of it have come in the NHL – and only 38 of those were for the Rangers. His only offensive production came in 2015-16, when he had two goals and four points in 34 games.

His greatest success has come with his current employer, the Washington Capitals. He captained Hersey, their AHL farm team, to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024, and earned a role as a seventh defenseman in the NHL this past season, fighting Matt Rempe, among others, playing 17 games for the Eastern Conference regular-season champs and being a healthy scratch on most other nights. It was enough to earn him a new two-year contract through the 2026-27 season.

McIlrath’s career would be a good one if he were a late-round pick. As a first-rounder, he was the Rangers’ third top-10 bust in a four-year span.

Al Montoya (2004; Round 1, No. 6)

Drafting goaltenders high in the first round was in vogue early in the 21st century. But for every goalie like Fleury, who figures to be a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer as soon as he’s eligible, there are guys like Al Montoya, who never matched his draft position.

With Mike Richter’s career over and the Rangers having missed the playoffs for seven straight seasons, they were excited for the chance to draft Montoya, who had led Team USA to its first World Junior Championship gold medal in January 2004. He had also won 56 games in two seasons at Michigan.

However, the Rangers and Montoya were unable to agree on a contract in the summer of 2004, and he returned to Michigan for a third season before the two sides came to terms in the summer of 2005. Unfortunately for Montoya, that was the same year a seventh-round pick from Sweden named Henrik Lundqvist arrived in North America. Lundqvist won the starting job and went on to a Hall of Fame career. Montoya went on to … Hartford. And San Antonio. And six NHL teams (including the New York Islanders) as a decent backup goaltender before he retired from professional hockey in 2018-19.

Montoya’s career was hurt by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But his career numbers (168 games played, 67-49-24, 2.65 GAA, .908 save percentage) look more like those of a sixth-round pick, not the sixth player picked in his draft year.

This represents an important game and an intriguing time for the Rangers for multiple reasons.

First is to see how the Rangers rebound after blowing a late one-goal lead in the third period before losing in overtime to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. It was just last week that the Rangers bounced back nicely from a pair of blown leads and another OT defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars. So, let’s see if they follow suit in this case.

Second is trying to put on a bow on their three-game road trip. A win Thursday, and the Rangers grab five of six points (2-0-1). Pretty darn good. A regulation loss cuts into their recent mojo and leaves them heading back to New York with just three points (1-1-1). Believe it or not, that’s a big difference.

Third, well there’s a point streak to consider. They’re 3-0-2 in the past five games, a solid building block after a terrible two-month stretch of hockey. They desperately need points, and the past two weeks have been getting points on a nightly basis.

Finally, this is the start of a crucial five-game stretch against mediocre opponents. Now keep in mind that the Rangers (20-20-3) are mediocre, too. So, there are no givens here. But these next five games — against Utah, Columbus, Montreal, Ottawa and Philadelphia — represent a huge opportunity for the Rangers to gain ground and could define their season.

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New York Rangers news

Breaking down the positives and negatives from the Rangers’ overtime loss in Denver on Tuesday.

Braden Schneider believes there were “plenty of positives” for the Rangers to carry forward from their loss to the Avalanche.

Our John Kreiser took the opposite side, and wrote about how damaging it is for the Rangers to cough up standings points with a pair of bitter OT losses.

Remember Vitali Kravtsov? Well, the former Rangers first-round pick has finally found his footing as a pro — in the KHL.

Which players deserve to be on the Rangers quarter century team? Here’s my breakdown.

NHL news

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed their No. 1 goalie, Tristan Jarry, on waivers. Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas says if he clears, Jarry will be sent to Wilkes Barre-Scranton in the American Hockey League. Quite a fall from grace for the two-time NHL All-Star. Colleague Dan Kingerski expertly breaks it all down at Pittsburgh Hockey Now.

Team president Cam Neely said Wednesday that the Boston Bruins “may be retooling a bit” before the NHL trade deadline March 7, as opposed to being heavy buyers. The Bruins are 3-6-1 in their past 10 games and own the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.

Speaking of trades, rumors and the upcoming deadline, Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall said he’s “ready for anything” as a pending UFA, and seems resigned to being traded.

The Winnipeg Jets acquired defenseman Isaak Phillips from the Blackhawks for minor league defenseman Dmitry Kuzmin.

John Tavares exited Toronto Maple Leafs practice early on Wednesday after getting tangled up with defenseman Chris Tanev. He’s been placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least a week although the consensus seems to be he’ll be out longer than that.

Sheldon Keefe returns to Toronto on Thursday for the first time since he was fired as Maple Leafs coach and subsequently took over behind the New Jersey Devils bench. “I’m excited for it,” Keefe said Wednesday.

The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-3 and Connor McDavid passed Jari Kurri for second on the Oilers all-time scoring list with 1,044 points. McDavid trails only Wayne Gretzky, who had 1,669 points with the Oilers before he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

The Buffalo Sabres skated to a 4-2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes, though remain last in the Eastern Conference with 39 points.

Watch Ryan McLeod record his first NHL hat trick in the Sabres win.

Kravtsov was seen as a highly-skilled selection when the Rangers selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He was expected to have a great career for New York, but things never really panned out for the Russia-born forward.

Kravtsov scored eight goals and 21 points in 50 KHL games with Traktor Chelyabinsk before arriving in North America. He originally debuted with Traktor in 2017, making him the youngest player in team history. That only heightened expectations on Broadway.

Vitaly Kravtsov's best season is now!

The 25-year-old recorded career high 35th point in 46 games. pic.twitter.com/xj0YEgZyz8

— KHL (@khl_eng) January 15, 2025

He began his career in the Rangers organization with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League in 2019-20, when he scored six goals and finished with 15 points in 39 games. He was then loaned back to the KHL, where he scored just three points.

It was the beginning of major disappointment on both sides of the relationship.

Related: Rangers ‘can’t win Stanley Cup with Mika Zibanejad as a 1C’: NHL insider

Vitali Kravtsov sets career-high in points with Traktor in KHL

Dissatisfied at not having made the Rangers’ opening-night lineup for the 2020-21 season, Kravtsov returned to the KHL once again and scored 16 goals and had 24 points in 49 games. Deciding to make another run at the NHL, he played 20 games for the Rangers later in the season, producing only two goals and two assists.

The following season, 2021-22, saw Kravtsov go back to the KHL, as it was clear he was not ready to play in the NHL. That, and the fact that he outwardly expressed his disappointment about not being given an opportunity to play regular minutes in the NHL. So, instead of playing in Hartford, he scored six goals and had 13 points in 19 games for Traktor that season, leading to another crack with the Rangers.

2022-23 was as close as Kravtsov got to becoming a regular in the NHL. He played in 28 games for the Rangers, managing three goals and three assists before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. He played another 16 games there, where he had just one goal and one assist.

The Canucks, while not electing to sign Kravtsov, still hold his NHL rights. However, he’s spent the past two seasons with Traktor in the KHL once again — and he’s really started to find his game.

In 2023-24, he had 14 goals and 34 points in 55 games, and tacked on another three goals and five points in 14 playoff games. Now at 25 years old, he’s followed that up with a very good start this season, and just set a new career-high with 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in his 46th game of the season.

Kravtsov is projected to finish this season with 21 goals and 51 points in 67 games, all of which would be career highs. Seeming to have finally found his game in the KHL, perhaps a return to the NHL in the near future is in the cards.

However, after a young career filled with so much back and forth between the NHL and KHL, it’s possible that Kravtsov will stay put where he’s clearly most comfortable — back home in Russia. After all, he’s become a very good player and a fan favorite for the team he’s played for since he was 17.

If you guess Lias Andersson, you are correct!

Who can forget the infamous silver medal toss by Sweden’s captain, and Rangers’ first-round draft pick, after they lost to Canada in the 2018 World Junior Final?

Lias Andersson’s disappointing tenure with the New York Rangers

At the time, the Rangers had to hope that Andersson’s actions characterized his competitiveness and hatred for losing. Selected by the Blueshirts with the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NHL draft, there was much anticipation for how Andersson would be a big part of their rebuild.

It was not to be.

Andersson had three goals and nine points in 66 games over three seasons with the Rangers. Not that the two-way center was expected to be an offensive force, but he disappointed in all facets of the game.

During the rebuild, Andersson never found his way and requested to be traded. Who can forget his official fall from grace after tripping over the camera chord during opening night ceremonies in 2019?

The Rangers cut their losses and traded Andersson to the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 60 pick in the 2020 draft. That pick was used to select Will Cuylle. Consider that a major win for the Blueshirts.

Related: Rangers need to pull off another big deal ahead of NHL trade deadline

Rangers also made mistake by selecting Vitali Kravtsov in 2018

The 2017-18 season marked a new phase for the Rangers. The “Letter” was published laying out the organization’s plan to fully rebuild. The Rangers finished last in the Metropolitan Division and ended up with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 draft.

After trading captain Ryan McDonagh during the season, the Rangers entered the draft with a need for a defenseman. But the Rangers selected forward Vitali Kravtsov, who was projected to be a big-time scoring threat up front.

Mock Drafts did not have Kravtsov in the top 10, though, so it was a bit of a surprise pick for the Blueshirts. And it turned into a disastrous selection.

Kravtsov didn’t make his NHL debut until April of 2021 and he finished that season with only four points in 20 games.

After failing to crack the Rangers’ opening night roster in 2021-22, Kravtsov refused to report to Hartford in the American Hockey League and instead returned home to play in Russia. The Rangers loaned Kravtsov to Traktor Chelyabinsk in the KHL. 

Holding no grudges, the Rangers gave a fair shake to Kravtsov to start the 2022-23 season. The Russian forward contributed six points (three goals, three assists) in 28 games and was then traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Will Lockwood and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2026 draft. He finished his Rangers career with 10 points in 48 games.

Related: Rangers prospect Gabe Perreault leads Boston College to sweep over rival

Players Rangers passed up by selecting Lias Andersson

• Martin Necas (Center) selected 12th overall by Carolina Hurricanes

A divisional rival made the right pick! Necas has been a staple in the top six for a team that has had much success the past few seasons. In 328 NHL games, the center from Czechia has 86 goals and 221 points.

• Nick Suzuki (Center) selected 13th overall by Vegas Golden Knights

Suzuki has two 20-goal seasons under his belt and is captain of the Montreal Canadiens, after being part of the trade that sent Max Pacioretty to Vegas in September of 2018. He is the leader that the Rangers hoped Andersson would become and much more of a complete player, who has 251 points (88 goals, 163 assists) in 340 NHL games. Ironically, Andersson is part of the Canadiens organization now, though stuck in the minors.

• Robert Thomas (Center) selected 20th overall by St. Louis Blues

The London Knights product is yet another center the Rangers could have had on their roster. With 281 points in 362 NHL Games, Thomas has been a consistent point producer in St. Louis. This season he leads the Blues with 17 goals and 52 points in 48 games and will play in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.

Players Rangers passed up by selecting Vitali Kravtsov

• Evan Bouchard (Defenseman) selected 10th overall by Edmonton Oilers

Bouchard has blossomed into an upper-tier offensive defenseman in the NHL. He’s scored 40+ points in three straight seasons and is well on his way to establishing a new NHL career high this season. Bouchard is fifth among NHL defensemen with 43 points (11 goals, 32 assists) in 45 games. In 229 NHL games, Bouchard has 132 points.

• Noah Dobson (Defenseman) selected 12th overall by New York Islanders

If you think Bouchard is good, then how about Dobson? Playing for the rival Islanders, Dobson is third among NHL defensemen this season with 52 points (six goals, 46 assists) in 49 games and is averaging 25:50 in ice time. Plus, he’s already had seasons with 51 and 49 points and right-shot defenseman to boot. In 287 NHL games, Dobson has 173 points).

• Joel Farabee (Left Wing) selected 14th overall by Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers got a sniper in Farabee, who has 172 points in 302 NHL games, including 17 goals and 40 points this season. He’s a middle-six winger whose production would have fit nicely on the Rangers.

Two members of the New York Rangers opted to compete in the tournament but only one is still playing. Kaapo Kakko and Team Finland are in the quarterfinals which begins on May 25. Meanwhile, Czechia have also made it to the next stage and will play without Filip Chytil, who suffered a facial injury.

Editor’s Note: Corrections made to Kravtsov portion of story and improved headline. Also fixed Kakko’s stats.

Rangers Roundup: Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil

Kakko, 22, registered 18 goals, 22 assists, for 40 points in 82 games this season. All were career-highs. During the postseason, he added just 2 points (1 goal, 1assist) in 7 matches. Currently, he’s notched 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points in the tournament.

The second overall pick in 2019 is entering the final season of a two-year deal with an AAV of $2.1 million. He will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer.

Kaapo Kakko gets his first goal of 2023 #IIHFWorlds 🚨😎 #HUNFIN 0-2@Trekronorse @NYRangers pic.twitter.com/zsFJfZmoQh

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 19, 2023

Chytil, 23, recorded career-highs this year for goals (22), assists (23), and points (45). The Rangers signed him to a four-year contract extension back on March 29 with an AAV of $4.4375 million. In the playoffs, Chytil notched 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points.

Before being injured after taking a stick to the face, Chytil had just 1 assist for Czechia. Per Larry Brooks of the NY Post, the Rangers have said this will not impact his offseason training.

Here’s what Chytil had to say in an Instagram post:

After being eliminated from this year’s Play-offs, which still annoys me about how it turned out, I did not hesitate to join the national team. I believed that I could help the team to achieve one of the medals after a year, preferably the most valuable one.
I’m very sad that I only managed to play one full match and one third of the next one. I was hoping that the injury I suffered wasn’t so serious and I could continue the tournament further. I have done my best to get back into the game but unfortunately it got to a point where I knew it can’t go anymore. Nevertheless, thank you all for your support and I continue to cheer for the guys!

Filip Chytil via IG

Vitali Kravtsov will sign with KHL

The Rangers finally moved on from disappointing first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov this past season near the trade deadline. On February 25, he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks for forward William Lockwood and a 2026 seventh round selection.

At the time, many were disappointed with the return but it now looks like a steal.

According to Russian outlet Championat, Kravtsov will leave the Canucks to sign a two-year deal with his old KHL team Traktor. Vancouver still retains his rights if he decides to play in the NHL.

The 23 year-old registered just two points in 16 matches for the Canucks after the trade. His NHL stats stand at 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points in 64 games over parts of four seasons.

Update: It’s now been confirmed that Kravtsov will sign in the KHL.

Can remove the 'reportedly' now, as Dan Milstein, who repped him in the NHL, confirms to me Kravtsov has signed in the KHL and has different representation in Russia. https://t.co/qtV2BUl0dE

— Patrick Johnston (@risingaction) May 23, 2023

Hartford’s success started in December, which was a turning point for the club after struggling significantly in the first two months of the season. The offense is churning and producing consistently. Defensively, the young core has been putting together a strong number of quality games. Meanwhile the goaltending remains steady as it has all season with superb performances by veteran Louis Domingue and rookie Dylan Garand.

Looking ahead in the upcoming weeks, the final stretch of the season will be an exciting finish. Hartford is battling for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and only a couple of points separate multiple clubs. As Hartford enters the stretch, this is the right time to heat up, which will bode well for the club’s postseason aspirations.

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly

Lauri Pajuniemi Secures Hat Trick in Strong Win

After being held off the scoresheet for four games, the 23 year-old prospect had a strong outing against the Springfield Thunderbirds last Wednesday. Pajuniemi secured his first hat trick in North America during Hartford’s 5-1 win.

The forward continues to develop in his second season with the organization with a strong efforts. Pajuniemi is now in the top six and continues to be strong in all aspects of the game to maintain his spot.

Offensively, he’s never been afraid to shoot and has a nifty shot. He’s also able to help set up plays and establish sequences throughout each contest. Defensively, Pajuniemi keeps it simple and has been effective against opponents.

Through 48 games, the prospect has secured 14 goals and eight assists for 22 points. Pajuniemi is four points away from tying his last season’s production at 26. He is also three shots away from tying his number of shots on net.

Another game, another 1st AHL hat trick to celebrate! Congrats, Paju 🎉 pic.twitter.com/hCqGQFcPqU

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 23, 2023

Also of note, Hartford had back to back games where a player on the roster had a hat trick. That is impressive! The streak was broken last Saturday. Jonny Brodzinski recorded two goals in the contest and fell short.

Captain Brodzinski and Louis Domingue lead vs Syracuse

For the first time since December 21st, 2016, Hartford secured a regulation win against the Syracuse Crunch. The Wolf Pack struggled against the Crunch for multiple seasons in their two game season series. Brodzinski had an active night on the scoresheet, tallying two goals and helped the group extend their winning streak. Louis Domingue held the fort down with another excellent outing in net.

what an angle for Jonny 🤯 pic.twitter.com/90RuJqi5dz

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 26, 2023

For Brodzinski, the veteran converted a power play goal in addition to securing the game wining goal with a short-handed tally. Syracuse peppered shots on Domingue, who played well and kept cool when the Crunch pressured him and the defense.

Louis is locked in 🔒 pic.twitter.com/EHFFGxPWCs

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 26, 2023

The win is another signature one for the club as this was a well-rounded effort. From goaltending to offense, Hartford chugged along and are able to secure two points from multiple situations which is encouraging to see.

Louis Domingue picked up his 13th win of the season as he stopped 37 of 38 shots.

Wolf Pack Trade Acquisitions

Announced in the Vitali Kravtsov trade by the New York Rangers on February 25th, the organization received forward Will Lockwood from the Vancouver Canucks. The newly acquired prospect was assigned to Hartford and will debut with the club in Friday’s game.

OFFICIAL: #NYR have acquired forward Will Lockwood and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 Draft from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Vitali Kravtsov.

Details ⤵️ https://t.co/GwfIdbkVdC

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 25, 2023

The 24 year-old plays right wing and has spent most of this season (and last) in the American Hockey League. Lockwood is a good addition to Hartford’s roster as he provides an offensive pop and adds further dynamic to the lineup.

Keep in mind that C.J. Smith and Patrick Khodorenko are likely to be out for the season from their injuries. The forward will have an opportunity to prove himself further with Hartford as his contract is up at the conclusion of the season.

In addition, the forward brings speed and a well-rounded game, especially on defense. He can also be physical when needed. It will be exciting to see how he performs with the organization.

Lockwood should be a big help for Hartford. The Pack need that scoring pop. Getting those prospects to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2015 is an important goal for the organization. https://t.co/carlmZImku

— PATRICK WILLIAMS (@pwilliamsAHL) February 25, 2023

Austin Rueschoff Dealt to Nashville

Announced by the Rangers on February 28th, forward Austin Rueschoff was traded to the Nashville Predators organization. In return, New York will receive future considerations.

UPDATE: Braden Schneider has been recalled from @WolfPackAHL and Ryan Carpenter has been assigned to Hartford. In addition, Austin Rueschhoff was traded to Nashville for future considerations.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 28, 2023

The 25 year-old prospect participated in three seasons with Hartford. Throughout this season, Rueschoff was often bumped out of the lineup as the club had multiple extra forwards. Of the 52 games played, Rueschoff participated in 31 outings, collecting two goals and nine assists for 11 points.

The Wolf Pack have strong depth in addition to the newly acquired Lockwood and recently assigned Jake Leschyshyn. At the moment, Hartford has 17 forwards on the roster. Of the 17, two are out long-term. On defense, they have eight defenseman.

Additionally, Ryan Carpenter has been returned to the Wolf Pack and late yesterday they added defenseman Adam Clendening. Andy Welinski was dealt to the Blackhawks in the Patrick Kane trade.

TRADE: The Wolf Pack have acquired defenseman Adam Clendening from the IceHogs in exchange for forward Zach Jordan. In addition, #NYR has acquired Cooper Zech from Chicago in a three-team deal.

📰 https://t.co/fxBy7Cewh3#RunTogether pic.twitter.com/9GJIZTWrZh

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) March 1, 2023

Wolf Pack News and Notes

Standings Update

Entering the week, Hartford is 23-20-3-6 for 55 points. That ranks the club 6th in the Atlantic Division, 10th in the Eastern Conference, and 19th in the AHL. The Wolf Pack are 6-4 in the last ten outings and is on a four game winning streak. Hartford is holding onto the final playoff spot in the division.

The Bridgeport Islanders are one point behind Hartford entering the week. Bridgeport is 23-21-7-1 for 54 points and in seventh. The Islanders are on a two game skid and are 5-4-1 in the last ten outings.

The playoff primer is expected to be released soon.

One Timers

• Turner Elson has points in the last two of three outings (one goal, two assists).
• Will Cuylle is on a three game point streak (three goals, two assists). The prospect has points in the last five of six games (four goals, three assists).
• Ryan Carpenter has points in the last three of five games (two goals, four assists).
• Tim Gettinger recorded an assist in two straight games.
• Ty Emberson is on a three game point streak (three assists).

Upcoming Games

Hartford has a three-in-three weekend coming up. March features critical games against rivals. Hartford will face Springfield five games, followed by Bridgeport with four meetings. March will be a make or break it month for the club.

Friday, March 3rd vs Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis) at 7:05pm, Mass Mutual Center

• This is the seventh of 12 games in the season series. Hartford is 2-3-0-1 against Springfield. The eighth meeting will be on March 8th in Springfield.
• Entering the week, Springfield is 26-20-2-4 for 58 points. That ranks the group fourth in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Thunderbirds are 6-3-1 in their last ten outings. However, the group lost their last three of five games.
• Forward Matthew Highmore leads the Thunderbirds in points with 48. Through 49 games, the experienced forward secured 13 goals and 35 assists. He is ranked 16th in the AHL for points. Veteran Martin Frk is second on the team for points with 46. Through 47 games, Frk has 20 goals and 26 assists. Frk is 19th in the AHL for points.
• Listen – Mixlr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, March 4th vs Bridgeport Islanders (New York) at 7pm, Total Mortgage Arena

• This is the eighth of 12 games in the season series. Hartford is 2-5 against Bridgeport. The ninth meeting will be held on March 15th in Hartford.
• Entering the week, Bridgeport is 23-21-7-1 for 54 points. That ranks the group seventh in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders are 5-4-1 in their last ten outings. However, in the last five games, Bridgeport is 3-2.
• Veteran Chris Terry leads the Islanders in points with 50. Through 47 games, Terry has 17 goals and 33 assists. Andy Andreoff is second for points with 42. Through 49 games, the forward has 21 goals and 21 assists.
• Listen – Mixlr. Watch – AHLTV.

Sunday, March 5th vs Charlotte Checkers (Florida) at 3pm, XL Center

• This is the eighth and final meeting in the season series. Hartford is 3-1-1-2 against the Checkers.
• Entering the week, Charlotte is 30-18-3-2 for 65 points. That ranks the group third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Checkers are 6-3-1 in the last ten games. However in the last five games, Charlotte is 2-3.
• Experienced forward Riley Nash leads the Checkers in points with 42. Through 48 games, Nash secured 18 goals and 24 assists. Panthers prospect Aleski Heponiemi is second in points with 34. Through 45 games, the forward has nine goals and 25 assists.
• Listen – Mixlr. Watch – AHLTV.