Canucks' Vitali Kravtsov given big honour in recent KHL game

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Cooper Godin
August 31, 2024 (1:10 PM)

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The Canucks' Vitali Kravtsov was given a big honour in a recent KHL preseason game.

Vitali Kravtsov remains a member of the Vancouver Canucks after the team issued him a qualifying offer in 2023. One month before the Canucks issued Kravtsov a qualifying offer, he agreed to terms on a two-year contract with KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

As Kravtsov and Traktor Chelyabinsk continue their preparations for the 2024-25 campaign, the Canuck was given a big honour in a preseason game this week.

On Thursday, Traktor Chelyabinsk was taking on Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk, who play in the VHL, which is the second highest professional hockey league in Russia. As Traktor took to the ice, Kravtsov was spotting wearing a 'C' on his uniform as the team's captain for that game.

Traktor Chelyabinsk would go on to win the game, shutting out Ugra Khanty-Mansiysk 3-0, with Vitali Kravtsov scoring on the powerplay in the second period.

The 2023-24 campaign was a pretty solid one for Kravtsov as he registered 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists), 34 penalty minutes and was a minus-four in 55 games. He followed that up with five points in 14 games during the Gagarin Cup Playoffs. If he's able to have another strong campaign, it wouldn't be surprising if the Canucks try to bring him back over to North America.

Vitali Kravtsov will get his season underway on Wednesday as Traktor Chelyabinsk take on Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg. It's going to be a very tough start to the season for Traktor Chelyabinsk as they begin with a five-game road trip which will see them face Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Barys Astana, Salavat Yulaev Ufa, SKA St. Petersburg and HC Sochi. Their home opener is set for September 19th against HC Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk.

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