The Rangers will get a good look at three of their top prospects from Russia – forward Vitali Kravtsov, goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Yegor Rykov – when the trio suits up against Columbus in the first game of the Traverse City tournament in Michigan on Friday.
Six days later, they’ll team up with newcomer Artemi Panarin and holdovers Pavel Buchnevich and Vlad Namestnikov as the 2019-20 Rangers training camp opens.
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The Rangers haven’t had a Russian contingent like this since the early 1990s, when Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Zubov, Sergei Nemchinov and Alexander Karpovtsev became the first Russians to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup.
In addition, the Rangers have Bulgarian-born but Russia-trained goalie Alexandar Georgiev and Chris Kreider, who speaks enough Russian to exchange barbs but also help his teammates.
Panarin and Finnish teen Kaapo Kakko are going to take up a lot of the attention in the early part of Rangers camp, but there is certainly a chance that 2018 first-round pick Kravtsov, 19, makes a lot of noise. The kid has a chance to be something special.
Kravtsov has shot up about an inch to almost 6-foot-4, packed on some muscle, and has shown some sweet hands and skills since that draft day in Dallas.
He has also shown the leadership skills that he was known to have while playing for Russia’s international youth teams. Kravtsov and Rykov, 22, lived together this summer and trained with Shesterkin, 23, who would commute to workouts with the group.
In June, Kravtsov waved off Rangers interpreter and director of European scouting Nik Bobrov and bravely did an interview in English during the team’s prospects camp. Over the summer, he arranged the trio’s rides and helped Rykov and Shesterkin with their English during workouts and in life in general.
On Thursday, before the Rangers’ prospects boarded the flight for Traverse City, both Kravtsov and Shesterkin – who was too shy to try it in June – did their own interviews.
“I’m so excited,” Kravtsov said. “I wanted for this all summer because we worked hard and I need to show something in Traverse City.”
Kravtsov and Kakko have gotten to know each other pretty well – they are seated together in the locker room for now – and they could very well end up both being in the Rangers’ top six forwards on opening night or soon after.
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Rykov – obtained in the trade with the Devils for Michael Grabner in 2018 — surely isn’t being ruled out as a Ranger on Oct. 3, but it seems likely he will start the season in Hartford.
Shesterkin most likely will, too, having to wait his turn as Henrik Lundqvist and Georgiev man the nets.
Shesterkin, the heir apparent, showed his penchant for wisecracks in his first English interview sans interpreter – though Bobrov was by his side for some help. Bobrov also noted that the kid has a great sense of humor, which will become more obvious with time.
Asked if he’d met Lundqvist, Shesterkin said “He is King.
“He’s a very good guy. He helped me. I’ve talked with him every time.”
What has Lundqvist told him?
“It’s a secret,” Shesterkin smiled. “I’m not telling you.”
Asked how much of a help Kravtsov had been during the summer’s workload, Shesterkin cracked, “He doesn’t help me. We don’t talk.”
And about his workouts, Shesterkin pointed to his mid-section and said “I have less.”
As far as adjusting to North America, the language and culture, and the size of the rinks, Shesterkin said he feels better about the rink size, but added, as he did at prospects camp in June, that he’s still adjusting to the number of pucks that whistle past his head. He smiled, again, when he said it.
Kakko, 18, was under the weather and didn’t participate in Friday’s practice, but is expected to be able to play in the four-game tournament.
By the way, he’s going to Traverse City wearing No. 45, as he wore in prospects camp, and it’s likely he will wear 45 in preseason too. But Kakko’s number in Finland was 24. That belongs to Boo Nieves at the moment. So it’s subject to change. Just don’t go out and buy a Kakko No. 45 jersey yet.
Kravtsov will wear No. 74, which he wore in Russia, and Rykov No. 57, at least in Traverse City.
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New Hartford coaches Kris Knoblauch and assistants Gord Murphy and David Cunniff will run the team in Traverse City, though Rangers goalie coach Benoit Allaire and Hartford goalie coach Eric Raymond were also on the ice Thursday with Shesterkin and Adam Huska, who are likely to be the Wolfpack’s two goalies.
Among others worth watching – the Detroit Red Wings website streams the tournament – are Adam Fox, projected to take Kevin Shattenkirk’s spot on the big club’s top six, and big Matthew Robertson, the defenseman taken with the Rangers’ second-round pick last June, who is likely headed back to junior hockey in Edmonton (WHL) but is highly regarded.
Many of the Rangers’ regulars are skating at the team’s practice facility – even unsigned Brendan Lemieux was there Thursday. The Rangers report to camp for physicals and off-ice testing next Thursday.
(Top photo: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
