The Rangers’ season just ended Saturday night, but they’re already making moves to build for 2022-23.
According to multiple reports, the Rangers are re-signing winger Vitaly Kravtsov to a one-year, $875,000 extension. It’s a one-way deal, which means he can’t be sent to the AHL without clearing waivers, and prevents Kravtsov from hitting restricted free agency.
Kravtsov, 23, was the No. 9 overall pick back in 2018, and made his NHL debut at the end of the 2020-21 season, scoring two goals and notching two assists in 20 games.
However, when the Rangers tried to assign him to the AHL at the beginning of 2021-22, he refused the assignment to Hartford, and ended up suspended by the Blueshirts. He was later loaned out to his old team in Russia’s KHL, Traktor Chelyabinsk, where he had six goals and seven assists in 19 games.
“I want to thank the Rangers for working with me, and appreciate the open and honest conversations we have had during this process,” Kravtsov said in a statement released by the Rangers back in October. “While this has been a challenging time for me personally, I believe having the opportunity to return to Traktor and work on my game is the best thing for me right now. My main focus is getting better every day to continue towards my goal of playing hockey for the New York Rangers.”
Kravtsov’s return could be a prelude to a trade, but if he remains on Broadway he could be a big piece for the Rangers with six of their 12 playoff forwards – including their top three right wings – heading to free agency and a cap crunch coming.
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Kaapo Kakko, who was inexplicably scratched for Game 6, is only a restricted free agent, but fellow wings Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, and Frank Vatrano are unrestricted, as is center Ryan Strome and fourth-liner Kevin Rooney.
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