Kraft is not even 21 years old but he seems to be fairly poised for someone in his position. After all he is playing in the National Hockey League, coming to Pittsburgh from Plzen, Czechoslovakia. He’s playing with the best player in the world, Jaromir Jagr, and playing for a coach who is a national hero back home, Ivan Hlinka.

After being drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round of the 1998 draft, Kraft played in the Western Hockey League. In the 1999-2000 season, he led the league with 34 goals. He ended the year with 69 points while playing in only 56 games.

So far, Kraft, a 6’3", 191 lb. center man, has accumulated 4 goals and 3 assists this season with the Pens. After the game against the Colorado Avalanche, Kraft had a 5 game point streak going, playing mainly on the Pens third line between Rene Corbet and Aleksey Morozov. Fortunately that line has picked up the scoring while Jagr’s line is struggling.

The best part of Kraft’s play though is what is still to come. He has been good on face-offs, something the Pens really need help with this year. Besides that Kraft seems to be almost always in good positions to take passes and he makes some fine passes. His instincts are so good and his abilities so natural, that Pens fans can only hope he stays healthy. The contributions he can make to the team will help them win many games as he continues to learn.

Obviously Craig Patrick saw Kraft’s potential when he drafted him and luckily brought him to the Pens where he has a very bright future.