Vitali Kravtsov’s Traktor Chelyabinsk club was swept out of the first round of the KHL playoffs by Avtomobilist on Monday, but it is unclear whether the Rangers will get an up-close and personal look at their 2018 first-rounder by bringing him to North America before the season ends.
Kravtsov, who turned 19 two days before Christmas, is not eligible for an entry-level contract slide. Hence, the Rangers would burn the first year of his deal by signing him this year, regardless of how many NHL games, if any, he would play.
This assumes greater relevance because of the 2021 expansion draft regulations for Seattle that are the same as were in place for Vegas in 2017. Players who have completed one or two years of their entry-level deals are exempt, but those coming off entry-level must be protected or are eligible to be claimed.
Kravtsov thus would have to be protected, as would Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil and Brett Howden, presuming the three rookies are still with the organization at that time. Clubs will be permitted to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender, or eight skaters and one goalie.
The Blueshirts could sign Kravtsov to an amateur tryout and bring him over to play in Hartford for the AHL Wolf Pack in order to begin the acclimation process to small ice and North American life, but it is unclear whether that will occur.It is also not known whether the winger’s contract with Traktor expired upon the team’s elimination or whether it runs through the end of April (or the completion of the KHL playoffs).
Kravtsov, the ninth-overall selection in the 2018 entry draft, recorded 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 50 games during the KHL season.
Brendan Smith has lined up as fourth-line left wing for five straight and seven of his past eight games, though he has rotated back to his customary spot on defense for occasional shifts and on the penalty-kill unit.
“I’m not thinking about what this might mean for my future. I’m just trying to do what the coach thinks is the best for me to help the team,” No. 42 said. “And I think I’ve done a good job of it so far.“I just want to play. Whether it’s left wing, right wing, defense, it doesn’t matter. Truthfully I’d rather be on the back end, but if this is what they want from me, then I’m fine with it. I want to help.”
David Quinn, who has reminded people he recruited Smith as a forward out of the OHL for BU, said he was pleased with his work up-front.
“I think he’s done a good job,” the coach said. “He’s been effective, he’s been in the middle of everything, he’s been physical.
“There’s a lot to like in Brendan as a hockey player. He’s been a good player for a long time. He gives us an element up there that we really don’t have a lot of.”
Alexandar Georgiev, 4-1-2/.920/2.78 over his past seven outings, will get the call in Dallas on Tuesday for his eighth start in the Rangers’ past 14 games. Quinn, who preferred not to commit to a starter for Thursday’s match in Detroit, said Georgiev and Henrik Lundqvist would come close to splitting the remaining 17 contests.