Vitali Kravtsov’s Traktor Chelyabinsk club was swept out of the first round of the KHL playoffs by Avtomobilist on Monday, but it is unclear whether the Rangers will get an up-close and personal look at their 2018 first-rounder by bringing him to North America before the season ends.
Kravtsov, who turned 19 two days before Christmas, is not eligible for an entry-level contract slide. Hence, the Rangers would burn the first year of his deal by signing him this year, regardless of how many NHL games, if any, he would play.
This assumes greater relevance because of the 2021 expansion draft regulations for Seattle that are the same as were in place for Vegas in 2017.