Canucks place Vitali Kravtsov on unconditional waivers

It was a short-lived return to Western Canada for a former prospect.

On Tuesday, Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced that the team is placing forward Vitali Kravtsov on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract.

It comes less than three months after Kravtsov signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canucks, in hopes of making a strong return to North America. However, things have not quite panned out for the 25-year-old. He failed to make the main roster out of training camp and was placed on waivers prior to the beginning of the regular season.

Kravtsov ended up being sent down to the Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks. He played in each of the team’s first 10 games of the 2025-26 campaign, scoring just one goal and three assists for a total of four points. The only time he found the back of the net this season came on Oct. 18 against the Laval Rocket. The Vladivostok, Russia native had been held off the scoresheet in each of the past two games.

It certainly was a disappointing end to Kravtsov’s return to British Columbia. The ninth overall pick of the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Draft, he was acquired by the Canucks in February 2023, with the hopes that he could find the scoring touch that made him a sought-after prospect.

However, after scoring just eight points in 44 games during the 2022-23 season, Kravtsov returned to Russia, re-joining Traktor Chelyabinsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. He found his scoring touch over the two previous seasons, including posting a career-high 58 points in 66 games last year. However, that has obviously failed to translate to the pro game on this side of the pond.

In 64 NHL appearances, Kravtsov has scored six goals and six assists for 12 points. In 49 AHL contests, he notched seven goals and 12 assists for 19 points.