Vitali Kravtsov trade rumors: 3 potential trade matches for the Rangers

If you listened to our podcast this morning, and if not, you should, Arthur Staple gave some great insight into the Vitali Kravtsov trade rumors and how they impact the Rangers. With reconciliation seemingly out the window, a Kravtsov trade seems to be the only path forward for both player and team. But what kind of team trades for a disgruntled winger who hasn’t played much in the NHL? Even if he is a top-ten pick with a high ceiling, it’s a significant risk for any team.

The concern with any Kravtsov trade is return. The Rangers just went through this process with Lias Andersson, and the return was only the #60 pick. If we are talking straight up draft picks, that doesn’t mean the Rangers get two second round picks. HockeyStatMiner broke this down for us:

“Double the return” for Andersson is just moving up 15 spots in the draft. That is, if the Rangers go the draft pick route. They could always try to upgrade the current roster, using Kravtsov as a chip. That might be their best bet, given the cap space they currently have.

Currently, there are no teams directly linked to Vitali Kravtsov in any trade rumors. While nothing appears imminent, and all signs point to this taking a while, there are a few teams that make logical sense.

Arizona Coyotes

The Yotes are the first team that might make sense for Kravtsov and the Rangers in a trade. They are in a full tear it down rebuild, and have so many open roster spots they can slide him into their top line almost immediately. He’d fit the mold there, as young, cheap talent that they can use to jump start their rebuild.

The question here is cost. Luckily, the Yotes have both NHL players to bolster the Rangers’ current roster and draft picks. If we use the above cost estimate, then the Rangers might be looking at one of their four second round picks, preferably avoiding the Isles or Flyers pick that the Yotes own.

If we are looking at NHL players, Brandon floated the idea of Phil Kessel. He’d be an instant offensive upgrade in the top-six at a positional need for the Rangers. But he’s all offense and no defense. Plus the question then shifts to trading Kravtsov for a rental.

Barret Hayton is an intriguing option in a potential change of scenery prospect swap. Both are former top-ten picks.

St. Louis Blues

Staple floated this option on the podcast, as the Blues also have Kravtsov’s friend Pavel Buchnevich now. Is there a match for Vladimir Tarasenko, who still wants out? One for one likely isn’t happening, since Kravtsov has no significant value and Tarasenko is still a top winger. How much would the Rangers need to add for two years of Tarasenko? They certainly have the prospects to make this work.

If Tarasenko isn’t in the cards, then the Blues may not make sense. The Rangers already own their second round pick from the Buchnevich trade. Perhaps there’s room to be creative, sending that second rounder back to St. Louis with Kravtsov for their first rounder?

Toronto Maple Leafs

I always throw the Leafs in here because Leafs fans are very Jekyll and Hyde with Marner and Nylander. Depending on which day you talk to Leafs fans, they either love them or hate them. Plus, while the Leafs don’t necessarily need cap relief, it wouldn’t hurt given some pending free agents in the next year or two.

Marner’s $10.9 million likely isn’t in the cards for the Rangers, as they have some key free agents of their own. Nylander’s $6.9 million is more manageable, but of course the Leafs know this as well. It would be a difficult trade to make if Toronto doesn’t retain salary. And both cost more than just Kravtsov.

The Leafs look like they could use blue line help, and the Rangers have that in spades. There could be blockbuster potential here if the Rangers start to use their defense prospect depth in addition to Kravtsov.

Expect a bunch of Vitali Kravtsov trade rumors

Unfortunately this is likely to drag out for both Kravtsov and the Rangers. We are going to hear a lot of trade rumors involving Vitali Kravtsov, be it from the Rangers media or other team’s writers. What the Rangers have going for them is that he is still a top-ten pick. But as Staple pointed out on the podcast, out of sight, out of mind is their biggest challenge.

Kravtsov is going to be traded at some point. Given how things played out with Andersson, we may be hearing rumors all the way up to the 2022 draft. Be ready for the long haul here.