When the Rangers drafted Vitali Kravtsov with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, there were more than a few eyebrows raised around the hockey world. Oliver Wahlstrom was falling into the Rangers’ lap — he of the 94 points in 62 games played in his draft year. The right-handed shooting goalscorer that the Rangers had been seeking seemingly forever was right there for them, and they went with this tall, lanky kid from the KHL that put up 7 points in 35 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
At first, there was a curious concern that the Rangers reached for Kravtsov at nine and then the New York Islanders strode up to the podium behind the Rangers and immediately snagged the American sniper.