SAN JOSE, Calif. — According to his Instagram page, Vitali Kravtsov, the 2018 first round pick who left AHL Hartford in October to return to Russia, is coming back to North America and will be assigned to the Wolf Pack.
The Rangers would not confirm that he is definitely returning, but on Monday, GM Jeff Gorton had said he was working with Kravtsov’s agent and that the Rangers would be able to bring the 19-year-old (he turns 20 on Dec. 23) back.
Kravtsov last week was sent to Russia’s minor leagues by his KHL club, Traktor Chelyabinsk, and Gorton said the AHL is a better league and a better environment for Kravtsov and the Rangers would prefer to have more control over the winger’s ice time.