Detroit Red Wings 2018 draft prospect: Vitali Kravtsov

The Detroit Red Wings are looking at a lot of similar players fo the number six overall pick in the 2018 NHL draft. Vitali Kravtsov is yet another left shot right winger who can score.

Vitali Kravtsov is a left-hand shooting right winger who is currently playing in the KHL. He is one of the more likely European skaters to go around the Detroit Red Wings number six overall pick. His rookie season as a professional hockey payer was not all that productive. For a teenager playing in one of the top-tier men’s hockey leagues on earth, that is not surprising. During the regular season, he managed only four goals and seven points in 35 games. In the VHL, like the AHL for KHL teams, Kravtsov was far more productive. He scored four goals and seven points in nine games.

During the KHL playoffs, however, Kravtsov showed why he is NHL Central Scouting’s number three European skater in the draft. In 16 playoff games for the Traktor Chelyabinsk Kravtsov put up six goals and 11 points. His team made it to the conference finals before losing to the eventual Gagarin Cup Champions. Kravtsov’s play was a major reason why.

Kravtsov is a very quick skater. His initial burst and top speed are both above average. He also varies his speed when attacking, which often lulls defensemen to sleep. He changes direction on a dime, this trait puts him among the best in the draft. His ability to handle the puck at high speed is also phenomenal. On the rush, one on one, Kravtsov can make defenders look very bad. He relies on his hands far too often, however. He holds the puck too long rather than passing it off when trouble comes his way.

Kravtsov doesn’t ignore the his own end, but he isn’t a defensive guru either. He immediately transitions to offense when his team gets the puck. He is like a shark that smells blood in the water. That single-minded focus can be detrimental to overall team breakout concepts at the NHL level. He has the look of a potential top-six NHL forward, but until his transitional focus is cleaned up he may not see the light of day. The colloquial term for him would be a “cherry picker.” He is just defending while he waits for another chance to score.

Next: Wings draft prospect: Evan Bouchard

Kravtsov would not be my first choice for the Wings. He is likely two or three years away from his first steps in the NHL. He is four or five away from any significant contribution. When he arrives, he may be as good as any player in this draft, but there will be a wait. He was unable to secure a spot on the Russian World Junior roster in his draft year. That isn’t terminal for a player’s future but it’s not a good sign that he’s worthy of a top ten pick either. He could be Alexi Kovalev, or he could be Nail Yakupov. This would be a risky pick for the Red Wings. His lack of immediate impact potential drops his value to Detroit in my mind.