All three of the Rangers’ first-round picks this summer made their respective national teams for the World Junior Championships --winger Vitaly Kravtsov (Russia), defenseman K’Andre Miller (United States) and defenseman Nils Lundkvist (Sweden). Third-rounders Jacob Ragnarsson and Joey Keane were among the final cuts for Sweden and the USA, respectively.
Kravtsov, who turned 19 Sunday, was the ninth pick overall this summer. He has played 33 games in the KHL for Traktor Chelyabinsk, and has six goals and 11 assists, for 17 points, which leads all players 20 years old and younger in that league. Miller, 18, was 22nd overall, and he has been tearing it up in his freshman season for the University of Wisconsin.