LATEST | Vitali Kravtsov lighting the lamp in KHL Playoffs

After not re-signing with the Canucks last spring, restricted free agent forward Vitali Kravtsov decided to return to Russia and inked a two-year deal with KHL club Traktor Chelyabinsk.

In order to retain Kravtsov's rights if he decides to return to North America following the conclusion of his KHL contract in 2025, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin issued him a qualifying offer.

Kravtsov had a solid regular season with Traktor Chelyabinsk, putting up 18 goals and 34 points in 55 games and it set them up for a first round playoff series with Salavat Yulaev Ufa.

Traktor Chelyabinsk took a 1-0 series lead on Thursday, winning by a score of 3-2 and in Game 2 on Saturday, Vitali Kravtsov got into the action.


Late in the first period, Kravtsov took the puck down the wing and into Ufa's zone, where he fired it under the glove of Alexander Samonov to tie the game up at 1-1.



Kravtsov's goal would be the only one Traktor Chelyabinsk would score in the game as Salavat Yulaev Ufa would take the game by a score of 4-1 and tied the series up at one game a piece.

Do you think that Vitali Kravtsov will return to the NHL in 2025? Let us know what you think in the poll below!