Well, that didn’t take long. Less than two months into his North American comeback, former New York Rangers first-round bust Vitali Kravtsov is heading back to Russia.
The Vancouver Canucks terminated Kravtsov’s contract Tuesday, releasing him from the organization. Kravtsov signed a one-year, two way contract with the Canucks in early August, but he didn’t play a single NHL game this season. The 25-year-old had four points (one goal, three assists) and was minus-7 in 10 games with Abbotsford of the American Hockey League.
Ironically, Kravtsov’s AHL coach was Manny Malhotra, who also once was a first-round draft pick by the Rangers (in 1998).