Canucks sign Vitali Kravtsov to one-year contract after strong KHL season

Kravstov, 25, last NHL games were played as a member of the Canucks at the end of the 2022-23 season following a trade from the New York Rangers. Kravtsov spent last season with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, where he put up 27 goals and 31 assists through 66 games played. His 58 points ranked sixth in KHL scoring last season.

Kravtsov’s agent Dan Milstein confirmed the deal to CanucksArmy, adding that Kravtsov informed him of the decision to come back to Vancouver today and that the Canucks were very excited to get this deal done.

While the Canucks’ forward corps is fairly busy, they are set to have some interesting battles for final roster spots, and you can now throw Kravtsov’s name into the mix of players who could fill out the NHL roster. If Kravtsov doesn’t crack the Canucks’ NHL lineup, he should be able to help out plenty with the Abbotsford Canucks, who are coming off a Calder Cup Championship and should see at least a couple of players graduate to the big club this season.

Kravtsov was originally selected ninth overall by the Rangers at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The Rangers traded Kravtsov to the Canucks back in February 2023, receiving Will Lockwood and a 2026 seventh round pick in return.

What are your thoughts on this deal?