According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the New York Rangers are going to loan Vitali Kravtsov to Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL for the upcoming 2020-21 season. This will give Kravtsov a chance to get some ice time as the KHL has just started their preseason. Kravtsov was drafted ninth overall by the Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Brooks also reported that the decision to assign Kravtsov to KHL a collaborative effort with his agent and that he will play for Coach Gitiatulin, the same coach as he had in his draft year.
Rangers are loaning Kravtsov to KHL Traktor for 20-21, Post has learned. Will play for coach Gitiatulin, same coach as he had in draft year.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) August 21, 2020
Playing in the KHL will allow him to continue developing in a comfortable environment until he is NHL ready.
After attending the Rangers 2019 training camp, Kravtsov was assigned to make his North American debut with AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, to start the 2019–20 season. Registering 1 assist in 5 games, Kravtsov opted to continue his development back in Russia, securing a loan for the remainder of the season with former club, Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, on October 27, 2019. Kravtsov appeared in 11 games in his return to Chelyabinsk, recording 3 points. Kravtsov was then demoted to Traktor’s VHL affiliate, Chelmet. His loan was ended prematurely by the Rangers and he was re-assigned to re-join the Wolf Pack on 13 December 2019. He finished the season in Hartford with 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points in 39 games played.
Kravtsov has a nice international resume, representing the Russian national junior team at the 2019 World Junior Championships in Vancouver, Canada. He ended the tournament with 6 points in 7 games, helping Russia claim the bronze medal.