'High Risk of Being Claimed': Former Top-10 Pick's Days With the Canucks May Be Coming to an End Due to Waiver

Back in 2018, Vitali Kravtsov was a first-round pick of the New York Rangers, with many believing that he could be the next top Russian winger to enter the National Hockey League.

Unfortunately, he didn't quite live up to that hype, returning to the KHL for the past two seasons, including an impressive 2024/25 campaign that saw him tally 58 points in 66 games played.

This off-season, he was then signed as a free agent by the Vancouver Canucks, the last NHL team he played for before returning to Russia, with the hopes that he can bring that KHL form to Vancouver this time around.

However, concerns have now been raised by Thomas Drance of The Athletic, with notes that there was plenty of interest in him this off-season, and if by chance the Canucks place him on waivers, it could be the end of his time with the organization.

In two seasons in the KHL, the 25-year old put up a very impressive 92 points, making him one of the most productive players in the league, and as a result, it's no surprise that teams around the NHL were taking note.

As a result, the Canucks are likely to do whatever they can to keep Kravtsov on the NHL roster ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but if they can't do that, don't be shocked to see other teams swooping in on him.