Rangers Prospect Report: 03.11.19

Vitali Kravtsovtallied an assist, recorded four shots on goal, and posted a plus-two rating in Game 4 of Traktor's Quarterfinals series against Avtomobilist; the game was Kravtsov's final contest of the KHL season, as Traktor was eliminated. The Rangers' first round pick (ninth overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft tied for the team lead in assists (two), ranked second on Traktor in shots on goal (12), and tied for second in points (two) and plus/minus rating (plus-one) in the playoffs this year. Kravtsov is tied for first among KHL players younger than 20 years old in assists and points in the playoffs this year. Kravtsov skated in 50 regular season games with Traktor in 2018-19, registering eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points, along with six penalty minutes. He led all KHL players younger than 20 years old in goals, assists, and points this season. Kravtsov's 21 points in 2018-19 are tied for the ninth-most by a KHL player younger than 20 years old in league history (tied with Artemi Panarin, who recorded 21 points in 2010-11), and his 13 assists in 2018-19 are tied for the eighth-most by a KHL player younger than 20 years old in the league's history. In addition, Kravtsov represented Traktor at the 2019 KHL All-Star Game. He tied for the team lead in game-winning goals (three), ranked third on Traktor in points and shots on goal (114), tied for third in assists, and tied for fourth in goals during the regular season in 2018-19. Kravtsov has recorded 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 26 career playoff games in the KHL. During the 2018 Gagarin Cup Playoffs, he tallied 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 16 games; in the process, he recorded more playoff points in one year than any other teenager has in their careerin KHL history. Kravtsov's seven career playoff assists and 14 career playoff points are the most by a teenager in KHL history, and his seven career playoff goals are the second-most in KHL history, trailing only Evgeny Kuznetsov (eight).
K'Andre Miller's freshman season concluded on Mar. 10 when the University of Wisconsin was eliminated by Penn State in the Big Ten Quarterfinals. Miller, who missed the final nine games of the season due to injury, registered 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) and posted a plus-seven rating in 2018-19. Among NCAA freshmen defensemen who have skated in at least 25 games this season, Miller ranks first in assists per game (0.65) and points per game (0.85). In addition, in the 26 games Miller played with Wisconsin this season, he was on the ice for 37 of the 76 goals the team scored (48.7%).
Here is how Miller, who finished the 2018-19 season with 26 games played, compares to other defensemen recently selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft through their first 26 career games in the NCAA:
!
Morgan Barronfinished the regular season with 30 points (13 goals, 17 assists) in 29 games with Cornell, and Cornell will begin the ECAC Quarterfinals on Mar. 15. Entering the ECAC Quarterfinals, the Rangers' sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered a point 15 of the last 19 games, and he has recorded 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) over the span. Barron has tallied a point in 20 of 29 games in 2018-19 (Cornell has posted a 14-4-2 record in games which he has recorded a point this season). He leads Cornell in several categories this season, including goals, points, power play goals (six), and shots on goal (131). Barron also ranks second on Cornell in assists and ranks third in plus/minus rating (plus-10) in 2018-19. He ranks third in the NCAA in shots on goal per game this season (4.52). Barron is averaging 1.03 points per game in 2018-19, and he is tied for eighth in points per game among NCAA players who are either in their freshman or sophomore year.

Quick Hits

• Tarmo Reunanenled Lukko with 24:36 of ice time on Mar. 9 against KooKoo. The Rangers' fourth round pick (98th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft has logged at least 24:00 of ice time in 18 of the last 29 games. Reunanen ranks 12th in Liiga in average ice time in 2018-19 (21:16), and he also ranks second among players who are in their U21 season or younger in the league in average ice time this season. He has recorded 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 56 games with Lukko in Liiga in 2018-19, and he has established Liiga career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season. Reunanen, who turned 21 years old on Mar. 1, ranks first among Liiga defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in goals and points, and he ranks second among Liiga defensemen who are in their U21 season or younger in assists this season. He has notched 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in the last 30 games, including 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in the last 21 contests. Reunanen enters the final week of the regular season in Liiga this week (his final regular season game is on Mar. 14 against Ilves). Reunanen's 23 points this season are tied for the seventh-most by a U21 defenseman in Liiga over the last 10 seasons (since 2008-09). Over the span, only four U21 defensemen in Liiga have tallied more than 23 points in a season (Sami Vatanen, Esa Lindell, Ville Pokka, and Sami Niku).
• Yegor Rykovfinished the Gagarin Cup Playoffs with three assists/points in six games as HC Sochi was eliminated in the Quarterfinals. Rykov led HC Sochi in average ice time in the playoffs (21:36), and he logged at least 23:00 of ice time in four of the team's six games. Among all KHL players younger than 22 years old (forwards and defensemen), Rykov is tied for second in assists and is tied for third in points in the playoffs this year, and he leads KHL defensemen younger than 22 years old in both categories.
• Patrik Virtarecorded an assist and posted a plus-two rating on Mar. 5 against Timra IK. The Rangers' seventh round pick (207th overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied a point in 10 of the last 16 games (five goals, five assists), including seven of the last 12 contests (three goals, four assists). Virta has registered 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 35 SHL games with Orebro in 2018-19.
• Tyler Nannetallied an assist, led all skaters with six shots on goal, and posted a plus-one rating on Mar. 9 against the University of Michigan. He has registered a point in three of the last five games (two goals, two assists), and he has also recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in the last seven contests. Nanne has tallied 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 37 games with the University of Minnesota in 2018-19.
• Tyler Wallstopped 25 of 27 shots as UMass-Lowell tied Vermont, 2-2, on Mar. 8. The Rangers' sixth round pick (174th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft finished the 2018-19 regular season with a 10-7-3 record, along with a 2.06 GAA, a .922 SV%, and 4 SO in 20 appearances, and he allowed two goals or fewer in 14 of his 20 appearances. UMass-Lowell will face Boston University in the Hockey East Quarterfinals, and the series begins on Mar. 15.

Emerging From the Pack

• Vinni Lettieriregistered five points (four goals, one assist) and 15 shots on goal in three games during the week, as he tallied two points (one goal, one assist) on Mar. 9 at Springfield, and he recorded his first career hat trick on Mar. 10 vs. Hershey. Lettieri has registered a point in nine of the 12 games he has played with the Wolf Pack since he was assigned to Hartford on Feb. 13 (nine goals, six assists). He has recorded 42 points (21 goals, 21 assists) and 155 shots on goal (3.78 shots on goal per game) in 41 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this season. Lettieri leads the Wolf Pack in goals, points per game (1.02), and shots on goal, and ranks fourth in points in 2018-19. In addition, he has established AHL career-highs in assists, points, and shots on goal this season, and he is two goals away from tying his career-high.
• Ryan Gropprecorded a point in two of Hartford's three games during the week (one goal, one assist). He has notched four points (three goals, one assist) over the last four games and nine points (five goals, four assists) over the last 16 games.
• Darren Raddyshnotched an assist on Mar. 8 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Raddysh, who was acquired by the Rangers from Chicago on Feb. 18, has tallied 28 points (eight goals, 20 assists) in 63 AHL games in 2018-19, and he has established AHL career-highs in goals, assists, and points this season. Raddysh, who turned 23 years old on Feb. 28, is tied for 11th among AHL defensemen who are in their U23 season or younger in points in 2018-19.
• Brandon Crawleynotched an assist and posted a plus-one rating on Mar. 9 at Springfield. The Rangers' fourth round pick (123rd overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has registered three assists/points and has posted a plus-four rating over his last six games. Crawley ranks third among Wolf Pack defensemen in points this season (15; three goals, 12 assists).*
• Sean Dayregistered two assists on Mar. 8 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) in 34 games with the Wolf Pack in 2018-19.
• Brandon Halversonearned a win in both of his appearances during the week, posting a 1.87 GAA and a .949 SV% (75 saves on 79 shots) in the two games. Halverson extended his winning streak to three games, and he has made 30 or more saves in each contest over the span. In addition, he has helped the Wolf Pack earn at least one point in nine of his 13 appearances in 2018-19 (6-4-3 record).
• Adam Huska*made 25 saves while appearing in his first professional game on Mar. 10 vs. Hershey. The Rangers' seventh round pick (184th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 9, and he was signed by the Wolf Pack to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement on Mar. 9.

Quotebook

"This kid is a throwback. He wants to earn everything he gets. There's no doubt in my mind that Morgan will play for the Rangers." - Cornell Head Coach Mike Schafer on Morgan Barron
Get priority consideration to 2019-20 ticket plans. Place your deposit today! LEARN MORE »