Report: Canucks forward Vitali Kravtsov signs two year deal in KHL

Vitali Kravtsov’s time as a Vancouver Canuck was short-lived.

On Monday, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team reported that the Russian forward has signed a two year deal in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

The Canucks acquired Kravtsov ahead of the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline from the New York Rangers in exchange for Will Lockwood and a seventh round pick.

The ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Kravtsov was never able to live up to his draft billing at the NHL level. With the Rangers, it essentially came down to either the NHL or the KHL for him. Kravtsov appeared in 16 games with Vancouver after being acquired, and while he showed flashes of his talent at times, he never looked like a player who was going to grab a spot in the Canucks’ winger-heavy lineup at the NHL level next season.

Head coach Rick Tocchet spoke numerous times about how this would be a big summer for Kravtsov, and last week, we wrote about how it was basically make or break time for Kravtsov when it came to his NHL hopes. The KHL flight risk was obviously a major factor for that.

Kravtsov is slated to become a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning he needed a new contract to be a Vancouver Canuck again this season. The Canucks will still need to qualify Kravtsov after the Stanley Cup Final to retain the 6’3 Russian’s NHL signing rights.

Through 64 career NHL games, Kravtsov tallied six goals and six assists. One of those goals and one of those assists came during the 16 games he suited up for Vancouver.