12/13 | 3:22PM: The Rangers have confirmed that Kravtsov has been recalled and assigned to Hartford.
11:50AM: The KHL announced that Kravtsov’s contract with Traktor has been terminated.
12/12 | 5:47PM: David Quinn said of Kravtsov on Thursday, “There is a lot of talent there and a lot of guys go through an adjustment period when they come from Europe to adapt to the North American style hockey. He’s a 20-year old kid that is learning what it takes to have success over here.” (NYR)
2:30PM: Vitali Kravtsov is returning to North America after spending the last month or so playing in Russia. (Eronko)
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Kravtsov will fly to North America tomorrow and will play with Hartford. (Sport-Express)
In a post on Instagram, Kravtsov wrote “I would like to say to the fans, thank you very much for supporting and experiencing in such a difficult period !! To thank the coaching staff, management, team staff, and of course the players who were pleasant to play with in the same team and see each other in the locker room, this is the situation, so I wish the team great victories without injuries, and the fans patience and faith in the team, thanks Chelyabinsk , behind the black stripe is always white.”
The Rangers loaned Kravtsov to the KHL in late October but retained the right to call him back to North America if they chose to.
Rangers GM Jeff Gorton said earlier this week that the Rangers were interested in bringing Kravtsov back, especially if he was going to play in the KHL’s minor league.
Adam Rotter: It has been a very odd Fall season for Kravtsov but he is going to be back where the Rangers want him and can work with him day to day. He’s going to Hartford and will hopefully embrace it, work hard and force the Rangers into calling him up with strong play. The Wolf Pack have had a terrific start to the year and he will likely step into a top-nine role and produce offensively.