Fansided

2018 NHL mock draft: Western Conference teams

By Derek Grochowski

WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes
WORCESTER, MA - MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates the puck against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 12
Next
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 2: Vitali Kravtsov performs the Wingate cycle test during the NHL Scouting Combine on June 2, 2018 at HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 2: Vitali Kravtsov performs the Wingate cycle test during the NHL Scouting Combine on June 2, 2018 at HarborCenter in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

23. Anaheim Ducks – Vitali Kravtsov

Think about the way the Anaheim Ducks are built. They are physical, skilled and aggressive. Those are the same words that could be described Vitali Kravtsov. It is no secret the core of the Anaheim Ducks is beginning to show signs of aging. Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler may not be around for many more seasons, so the Ducks are in win-now mode. Kravtsov fits their mold and would instantly provide them some depth options on their bottom two lines. As an 18-year-old, he broke into the KHL last season and made an immediate physical impact. He was just a kid playing against grown men but he did not back down. That is the exact type of player the Ducks look for.

At the beginning of the year, Kravtsov was expected to be a mid-first round pick playing in the KHL. A strong season could’ve carried him into the top ten. Instead, he struggled then played in the Russian junior leagues. Even there he did not thrive like many expected. By midseason, he slipped into projections of the early second round. Then seemingly out of nowhere, he lit the KHL on fire. As an 18-year-old he played 16 playoff games and recorded 11 points. Quite the feat for a person who struggled all regular season.

Kravtsov is one of the physical forwards in the first round of this draft. He wins board battles everywhere on the ice and does not shy away from contact. He isn’t all grit, though; he has good hands and can really shoot the puck well. The blend of physical play and offensive talent makes him an intriguing talent. His inconsistency knocks him down a little in the draft. The Anaheim Ducks may just have themselves a steal with the 23rd pick in this year’s draft.

Home/NHL Draft