NHL Rumors: Rangers top pick Kravtsov asks for a trade; and are the Red Wings willing to move big pieces?
Anthony Scultore
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The New York Rangers finalized their roster yesterday and excluded 2018 first round draft pick Vitali Kravtsov from the big club. Initially it was perceived as move to utilize his waiver exempt status in order to work on trades for other players like Libor Hajek and Julien Gauthier.
Today, Elliotte Friedman is reporting that the Rangers have granted permission to Kravtsov to speak with other clubs in order to facilitate a trade. Additionally, Larry Brooks of the NY Post reports that Kravtsov will be suspended for refusing to go to the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL.
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NHL Rumors: Rangers Kravtsov seeks a trade
Red flags started to arise with the Rangers 9th overall pick in 2018 the first time he was sent to Hartford in 2019. He used his European out clause to return to the KHL, only to have the Rangers work to get him back after he was demoted there.
Yesterday’s news obviously didn’t sit well with the 21 year-old again, so he is on his way out. This is also not the first time he’s been mentioned in trade talks.
Back in November of 2020, Kravtsov was asked about potential trade rumors to which he said, “I can’t say anything about this.”
Per a source, Kravtsov feels very strongly that he belongs at the NHL level and is a very confident, maybe too confident hockey player to accept this demotion. A trade should not be hard to facilitate, but NY won’t just give him away.
This news hurts his trade value and GM Chris Drury may only be able to get a 2nd round pick for him at this time.
Red Wings open to big trades?
The Red Wings are still in a rebuild and using their cap space as a weapon. They continue to take on players like Marc Staal from the Rangers to get assets for relieving teams of salary.
In a recent podcast, Max Bultman who covers the team for The Athletic believes GM Steve Yzerman would be open to move anyone.
“I could see them moving another top-six piece, absolutely,” said Bultman. “They’re not at the place where you could see the rebuild is done. I just don’t think there are many untouchables in Detroit.”
via The Fourth Period
While things can change, last season Yzerman’s seemed to be fairly transparent on whom he feels are untouchables.
“And I think it’s important, our core of our team is still relatively young with Dylan Larkin, with Filip Hronek and now you see the Zadinas and Rasmussens and other players coming along. We want to surround them with players that help them grow and develop as well.”
The Athletic
The 25 year-old center has two more seasons on his deal that comes with a $6.1 million AAV. It was always highly doubtful that Detroit would move him. But things can change.
