Former 9th overall pick abandons the NHL just months after finally being traded to new team

When a team selects a player in the top 10 of the NHL Entry Draft they always have high hopes for that player. That was no different for the New York Rangers when they selected Vitali Kravtsov 9th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft. However, Kravtsov never found a place in the Rangers lineup.

On multiple occasions Kravtsov requested a trade from the Rangers. After sitting out an entire season, Kravtsov returned to the NHL before finally being traded to the Vancouver Canucks. With the Canucks came new life or so it appeared.

Today though, news broke out of the KHL that Kravtsov had officially given up on his NHL dream and signed a 2-year deal to play in the KHL.



The Canucks will retain Kravtsov's rights, but will have to be disappointed by this development.