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'High Risk of Being Claimed': Former Top-10 Pick's Days With the Canucks May Be Coming to an End Due to Waiver

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Aug 21, 2025 9:24 AM ET

Vitali Kravtsov was brought back to the NHL by the Canucks this off-season, but now they're at risk of losing him on waivers ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Back in 2018, Vitali Kravtsov was a first-round pick of the New York Rangers, with many believing that he could be the next top Russian winger to enter the National Hockey League.

Unfortunately, he didn't quite live up to that hype, return ing to the KHL for the past two seasons, including an impressive 2024/25 campaign that saw him tally 58 points in 66 games played.

This off-season, he was then signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Canucks, the last NHL team he played for before returning to Russia, with the hopes that he can bring that KHL form to Vancouver this time around.

Vitali Kravtsov May Not Even Play a Game for the Canucks Next Year

However, concerns have now been raised by Thomas Drance of The Athletic, with notes that there was plenty of interest in him this off-season, and if by chance the Canucks place him on waivers, it could be the end of his time with the organization.

'There was a fair bit of interest in Kravtsov expressed by rival teams around the NHL before the Canucks signed him. If he were to hit waivers ahead of the season, he'd be at high risk of being claimed.'

In two seasons in the KHL, the 25-year old put up a very impressive 92 points, making him one of the most productive players in the league, and as a result, it's no surprise that teams around the NHL were taking note.

As a result, the Canucks are likely to do whatever they can to keep Kravtsov on the NHL roster ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but if they can't do that, don't be shocked to see other teams swooping in on him.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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