Top NHL podcasters Matt Sekeres and Blake Price stated on their show that they do not have the same optimism for Vitali Kravtsov as they had for Andrei Kuzmenko. The <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/vancouver-canucks-sign-former-first-round-nhl-pick-returning-at-25-after-two-years-overseas' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Vancouver Canucks pulled a shock signing a week ago</a>, inking forward Vitali Kravtsov to a league-minimum one-year, $775,000 USD contract. <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canucks/news/canucks-agree-to-terms-with-vitali-kravtsov-on-one-year-two-way-contract' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>General Manager Patrik Allvin was excited to bring Vitali Kravtsov back</a> after two years of playing in the KHL and said he is excited to see the forward compete at training camp later this month. Where Kravtsov will start the 2025-26 season is uncertain. Although his quality of talent is likely to earn him a spot in the NHL lineup, he might open the season in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks, although he would need to clear waivers in doing so. <h3>Sekeres and Price Co-Hosts Revealed They had way More Optimism for Andrei Kuzmenko</h3> On the Sekeres and Price show, hosts Matt Sekeres and Blake Price noted the hype around Andrei Kuzmenko's signing in Vancouver versus the more low-key assessment of Kravtsov, saying they don't have the same optimism. People seemed optimistic about Kuzmenko's arrival in Vancouver...but I'm not feeling the same optimism around Kravtsov. Is that fair? - Sekeres and Price <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/sekeresandprice/status/1955649825208517088'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> On Reach Deep, Dan Riccio and Randip Janda also discussed potential lineup fits, with Randip Janda calling Kravtsov a longshot to wear the threads out on opening night against Calgary on October 9. Without any sort of injury or anything that happens, there's one left winger spot essentially up for grabs on this team. Those players you mentioned are going to be jockeying for position. Big camps for everybody involved. And you didn't even mentioned Ilya Safonov is part of that group. I don't know if he's got a realistic shot at that, I think that's more of an AHL signing. But he is in that wheelhouse of a mid-20s player. He's in the mix. If Vitali Kravtsov is in the mix, Safonov might be in that as well. It's a similar discussion. But you're right, it's a longshot for Kravtsov, but what can you achieve by being part of that group? You have to show: A) that there's been development. in that press release that Patrik Allvin was mentioned in by the Canucks about announcing that signing, it was 'we want to see where he's at.' It's going to be huge for this player. Okay, sixth in KHL scoring, what does that mean? Because Josh Leivo was number one, he broke records this year. Nikolay Goldobin was 15th. What does that mean? We know the KHL is not exactly known for its rugged play, not known for their defensive acumen. Last time I saw Vitali Kravtsov play in the NHL, he was a perimeter player, he didn't get anywhere near the inside. Has that changed? Janda said. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Sportsnet650/status/1955054609309036827'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> He stressed getting to look at how the game of Kravtsov has grown abroad before making a decision. If Kravtsov falters in camp, he'll be hitting up the waiver wire in mid-October. If he survives that, the expectation is that he establishes a real role in Abbotsford and gets himself back in NHL contention later in the year.