WC: 2015 — Team Russia

[Caser]

Back in Sochi I was hoping to see Kulemin-Malkin-Tarasenko line, maybe this time it happens.

 

[Atas2000]

Please have Panarin with Malkin, then Malkin lures Panarin to the Pens.

Apparently Panarin is already lured by the Blackhawks.

 

[Atas2000]

It is true that that might have been his biggest mistake, but what bothers me is that he even got to coach the olympic team at home (which probably won´t happend again for nearly 50 years or so).
He was never a good national coach to begin with, every game that had anything to do with how a coach could perform, he failed. I mean, with Bykov we won pretty much all the EHT's at least and performed very well at WHC. When Bill didn´t have a good roster (aka monster roster better than all of the other teams) the team couldn´t perform at all.
Even I would be able to coach that team in 2012 to gold, hell, that team didn´t even need a coach

Your Bill hate is noted. Still most of it just not true.

 

[Number1Thing]

Any news (or predictions) about the PP units? I'm interested to know if there are any locks considering Ds on PP. I assume Belov and Medvedev are the first options?

 

[XokkeyGuy]

Your Bill hate is noted. Still most of it just not true.

Why would 'most of it' not be true? What good did Bilyaletdinov do that Bykov and Znarok have not accomplished for example other than the total embarrasing World Championship for Russia in 2013 and Olympics in 2014?

Btw, even if I sound angry, I am just curiour how anyone could like Bilyaletdinov or see anything good in what he did. In my opinion he was just lost.

 

[Wings4Life]

Kovy - Tikhonov - Tarasenko played together during lockout and were the best line in the KHL. Yeah, Tikhonov looked bad this season, but he can play, otherwise he wouldn't win a WHC scoring title last year. And nobody should underestimate a chemistry factor, which is very important for such a short tournament.

Of course, but Kovalchuk and Malkin have chemistry as well. And it's been proven at the highest levels ie. at the Olympics. So that would supercede what Tikhonov has with those two.

But the bigger issue is as you said: Tikhonov's poor form. Do you really see Tikhonov, even at his best, breaking through the top pairing of that Canadian or Swedish defence? And what about in the form he is in now?

He would be shut down all too easily, and Kovy and Tarasenko would be isolated. Which is why I put Malkin with Tarasenko, we can spread the scoring out better that way.

 

[Wings4Life]

Back in Sochi I was hoping to see Kulemin-Malkin-Tarasenko line, maybe this time it happens.

You and me both pal! Though once the OV experiment failed, Tarasenko was my second choice (after Radulov) for Malkin's wing.

 

[afrobomber11]

alot of kulemin talk, any confirmation?

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

Really excited to see Team Russia, you guys will be stacked it's nuts.

 

[XokkeyGuy]

alot of kulemin talk, any confirmation?

yeah Kulemin/Kulyomin is going.

 

[Atas2000]

Any news (or predictions) about the PP units? I'm interested to know if there are any locks considering Ds on PP. I assume Belov and Medvedev are the first options?

The roster is still incomplete. Too early to talk about PP units. I mean tomorrow there might be a Datsyuk or a Kucherov in the picture.

 

[Atas2000]

Why would 'most of it' not be true? What good did Bilyaletdinov do that Bykov and Znarok have not accomplished for example other than the total embarrasing World Championship for Russia in 2013 and Olympics in 2014?

Oh, I see you forget the embarassing Bykov World Chamionships. sorry, but I was there both times. It was really embarassing. And if not for Datsyuk it would have been even more embarassing.

And yes, Bykov's Olympics showing was worse than Bill's, by a good margin.

So actually if you think Bill's performance was emeberassing then waht was Bykov's?

Btw, even if I sound angry, I am just curiour how anyone could like Bilyaletdinov or see anything good in what he did. In my opinion he was just lost.

That's why you are pretty obviously a hater. Also you pretty much repeat after the press.

I'm not going to make up excuses for Bill. I just see that you aren't ready to evaluate his work properly. If it's an emotional thing I get it. But seriously not being able to find anything positive in a coach who won the World Championship and a couple of Gagarin Cups and lead the team to finals again just a couple of weeks ago(ppl somehow forget it's hard to accomplish too even if you lose in the finals) is not exactly being objective. He's not the best coach in the world. He has his strong sides and has his weak sides.

And at least he's not the is-there-enough-cash-to-buy-me-the-best-team Bykov.

 

[od71]

There is no sense to break line that works, one of the most creative lines in NT Russia:
Panarin-Shipachev-Dadonov
Line Mozyakin Malkin and Kulemin was by far the best last lockout. There is temptation to put more skilled Zaripov instead of Kulemin. Just imagine what incredible hockey they would have played. But I go with Tarasenko, WC is the only chance to watch my two favourite players on ice together. I declare Znarok an outlaw if he doesn't make this line (let Malkin play with skilled players once in a lifetime):
Mozyakin-Malkin-Tarasenko
If Datsyuk will be free this line will be treat to watch too, but currently without him:
Kovy-Anisimov-Zaripov
And finally fourth line, I don't believe Znarok will choose Nichushkin over Plotnikov:
Plotnikov-Tikhonov-Kulemin

 

[od71]

Please have Panarin with Malkin, then Malkin lures Panarin to the Pens.

Unfortunately I don't believe Panarin will become a Penguin. I bet Rutherford didn't even try to contact with his agent.
I heard Panarin will play in Chicago

 

[od71]

Any news (or predictions) about the PP units? I'm interested to know if there are any locks considering Ds on PP. I assume Belov and Medvedev are the first options?

Obviously, there will be 2 PP teams. In my opinion one of them has to be based on MMG players (though I don't believe it will happen in Znarok team), it was most deadly PP team I've seen this year: Mozyakin, Zaripov, Antipin. Dadonov in front of the net, Medvedev/Belov on a blue line.
Second one: Tarasenko Malkin on the right wall, Kovy Panarin on the left with Belov/Medvedev on a blue line.
Assuming there is no Datsyuk in the roster.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Are Nikulin's days with the team over?

 

[Atas2000]

There is no sense to break line that works, one of the most creative lines in NT Russia:
Panarin-Shipachev-Dadonov
Line Mozyakin Malkin and Kulemin was by far the best last lockout. There is temptation to put more skilled Zaripov instead of Kulemin. Just imagine what incredible hockey they would have played. But I go with Tarasenko, WC is the only chance to watch my two favourite players on ice together. I declare Znarok an outlaw if he doesn't make this line (let Malkin play with skilled players once in a lifetime):
Mozyakin-Malkin-Tarasenko
If Datsyuk will be free this line will be treat to watch too, but currently without him:
Kovy-Anisimov-Zaripov
And finally fourth line, I don't believe Znarok will choose Nichushkin over Plotnikov:
Plotnikov-Tikhonov-Kulemin

Sadly Nichushkin's hip seems to still bother him. He won't play although he got some very positive comments from the coaching staff so expect him to be there next time he's available(and that might be World Cup).

So I'd put Anisimov in the 4C position which is actually whre he should be on the NT. Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of Anisimov. And push Tikhonov to the wing.

I all gets damn tricky if Tampa loses tonght so I pull for them(Sorry, Pasha, but let the kids have some fun too).

 

[Atas2000]

Are Nikulin's days with the team over?

At least with this coach, yes. Also both Medvedev and Nikulin have had some I won't say rough playoffs, but they were no standouts. Medvedev is still there, probably because of age and lack of defencemen(have you noticed nobody talks about defensive pairings here? because probably nobody really wants to look at them and get upset).

 

[XokkeyGuy]

Oh, I see you forget the embarassing Bykov World Chamionships. sorry, but I was there both times. It was really embarassing. And if not for Datsyuk it would have been even more embarassing.

And yes, Bykov's Olympics showing was worse than Bill's, by a good margin.

So actually if you think Bill's performance was emeberassing then waht was Bykov's?



That's why you are pretty obviously a hater. Also you pretty much repeat after the press.

I'm not going to make up excuses for Bill. I just see that you aren't ready to evaluate his work properly. If it's an emotional thing I get it. But seriously not being able to find anything positive in a coach who won the World Championship and a couple of Gagarin Cups and lead the team to finals again just a couple of weeks ago(ppl somehow forget it's hard to accomplish too even if you lose in the finals) is not exactly being objective. He's not the best coach in the world. He has his strong sides and has his weak sides.

And at least he's not the is-there-enough-cash-to-buy-me-the-best-team Bykov.

First off, I clarified that I was talking about Bilyaletdinov as a national team coach, if you want to get down on the club level then don´t forget the player material he had in Morozov, Zaripov, Zinoviev etc in those days compared to the other teams.

The Olympics in 2014 was the most important ever and he should have been able to do better than what he did. Bykov's team got outplayed on little ice, in canada against canada who went on for gold. Bilyaletdinov failed against Finland during home olympics and during the game he didn´t even make the players look motivated. Players had no respect for that man.
And don´t forget that it was Bykov who was the first coach ever who motivated all the players to come and play for the national team even if they were injured, even saying no to some NHLers. He took the power from players and gave it to the national team - that is the reason we can today expect all the NHLers to say yes when they are eliminated from NHL. KHLs greatest players got to play more or less all the EHT-games every season. Bykov started that culture and he went on winning the first gold in 15 years and then another the year after. Bykov was in many (all) ways greater and more important than Bilyaletdinov.
I wouldn´t give any coach cred for the 2012 gold, that team had better players on every position than any other team (and yet there were some really bad games against Norway etc. in earlier stages).
Bykov wasn´t perfect, but he did everything better than Bilyaletdinov and that is also why he had the job for a much longer period.

 

[Khokhlach86]

Averin and Nichushkin (injury) - cut

 

[Atas2000]

First off, I clarified that I was talking about Bilyaletdinov as a national team coach, if you want to get down on the club level then don´t forget the player material he had in Morozov, Zaripov, Zinoviev etc in those days compared to the other teams.

I don't even know what that is supposed to mean. So he had some good players on the championship teams. Really?

So you really want me to compare Bykov's championship teams with that? I think you know the answer. And it's pretty obvious Bykov is always waiting for an opportunity to coach the richest team which can grant him nearly every roster wish.

The Olympics in 2014 was the most important ever

Stop bending it until it fits your opinion. Why? Because it was recently or because it was in Russia? Olympics are Olympics. Nobody will ever care about where it was. People will remeber the medals.

and he should have been able to do better than what he did.

And so should Bykov and every other coach who haven't won the gold medals for Russia or the Soviet Union. The nature of sports is competition.

Bykov's team got outplayed on little ice, in canada against canada who went on for gold. Bilyaletdinov failed against Finland during home olympics and during the game he didn´t even make the players look motivated. Players had no respect for that man.

Now you are making up excuses for Bykov. May I remind you that most of the players on his team spend half a year at least playing on the small rink in the NHL?

And if the players didn't look motivated maybe it was on the players?

I mean Bykov was the least motivated coach behind the bench ever(and that's why he lost). He basically just let the player do their thing and failed.

And you know perfectly well it means nothing if you lose against the future champion or not. A loss is a loss.

As for respect I think you should ask some of the players.

And don´t forget that it was Bykov who was the first coach ever who motivated all the players to come and play for the national team even if they were injured, even saying no to some NHLers.

As I wrote you do repeat a lot after the press. This is just a silly story. Bykov has got a new generation of players and that's it. The generations before that were all the guys who refused to play for the NT. It's a change of culture in Russia not some magic by Bykov.

He took the power from players and gave it to the national team - that is the reason we can today expect all the NHLers to say yes when they are eliminated from NHL. KHLs greatest players got to play more or less all the EHT-games every season. Bykov started that culture and he went on winning the first gold in 15 years and then another the year after.

You really think that this swiss individualist Bykov ever cared about changing any culture in russian hockey? I think it's dellusional.

In fact a lot of people whoe get crapped on now by those internet fans have changed the culture among players and the way the federation treats them. But the blind masses of BiZ fans continue to utter their mantras about Bykov.

I was as happy as anybody when he won thw World Championship. But tha man was done for me after he refused to take the responsibility and step down after the Olympics.

Bykov was in many (all) ways greater and more important than Bilyaletdinov.

It is to no avail to argue with a religious person on the matters of his religion. I see.

I wouldn´t give any coach cred for the 2012 gold, that team had better players on every position than any other team (and yet there were some really bad games against Norway etc. in earlier stages).

Oh that line of elite generational monumental supertars line of Popov - Malkin - Perezhogin. How could I forget them? Or that Svitov and Kokarev hall'o'famers.

And of course the all-world defence with Ryasensky and Denisov.

You are making it way too obvious.

 

[Atas2000]

Averin and Nichushkin (injury) - cut

Add Popov to that list(I mean cut due to injury)

 

[XokkeyGuy]

Stop bending it until it fits your opinion. Why? Because it was recently or because it was in Russia? Olympics are Olympics. Nobody will ever care about where it was. People will remeber the medals.

Because it was in Russia, I think most of the fans care whether it is on home ice or not.

And you know perfectly well it means nothing if you lose against the future champion or not. A loss is a loss.

It is indeed a big difference in this case since Canada went on to win the gold medal at Home and all of their players were used to the small rink. And to be the home team and losing to an apponent who didn´t go on and do really that well in the rest of the tournament shows what type of difference it was.

As I wrote you do repeat a lot after the press. This is just a silly story. Bykov has got a new generation of players and that's it. The generations before that were all the guys who refused to play for the NT. It's a change of culture in Russia not some magic by Bykov.

No, I have not taken anything from the press. I have made up my mind all by myself, infortunately I cannot prove this. But all i've read about Bykov in the papers is more or less about him never smiling.

You really think that this swiss individualist Bykov ever cared about changing any culture in russian hockey? I think it's dellusional.

Ovechkin and other big players in the team kept saying year after year that they liked his type of leadership and they had great respect for him. Ovechking even called the past (or the latest) coaches() "idiot(s)". I haven´t seen any of them giving nearly as much cred to Bilyaletdinov.

But tha man was done for me after he refused to take the responsibility and step down after the Olympics.

Personally I like those who continue on for long eras, I mean, should Tikhonov had stepped down in 1980 just for the sake of it?

It is to no avail to argue with a religious person on the matters of his religion. I see.

I don´t know why in most of your discussions with others, you always seek to undermine others statements by making them "illegitime" by trying to make others look ridiculous, such as "religious fanatic" or stuff like that. It is not a proper way of arguing.
From what I see, you haven´t come up with a single reason why Bilyaletdinov would have done a greater job or have been more important to the national team then Bykov. It is in fact you that is hating on Bykov. He had his mistakes, but if you take into account all the aspects into it, Bilyaletdinov was never the man to replace him.

Oh that line of elite generational monumental supertars line of Popov - Malkin - Perezhogin. How could I forget them? Or that Svitov and Kokarev hall'o'famers.

And of course the all-world defence with Ryasensky and Denisov.

Come on, lets be fair.
What I said was the the team had better players on every position than every other team. So you can´t go and compare Kokarev to Sweden's Zetterberg, but you have to compare a 4th line right winger to the one of the other team and that is how Russia 2012 had better players on every position.

 

[jimstark]

The roster should now be pretty much set ? Anybody knows how the team look like right now?
So sad to hear Nichushkin is out due to his hip injury which has hold him out almost the whole season with Dallas. I was looking to see him since i regard him as and amazing talent. Well he is young and need to be ready for next season and i hope he will play for Russia in the World Cup

Orlov is hurt i assume ..?
Why is not Zadarov here?
If Tampa is out tonight do you think Kucherov and Nesterov will go ?
And if Detroit is out will Pavel be here ?

I was hoping to see some young guys on the deffence..but must admit that i do not know everyone who is at the roster right now from the KHL.

Kutznetsov and Ovi i dont counter in but i must say i am glad for Ovi to still be in the playoff. They will be here coming world cup and boy this Kutznetskov gonne be good Shades of Fedorov ?

I dont understand people who says Russia compered to Canada is not good now..i think Russia has a tremendos talent if and when all the best is coming and that the future looks very very good
I just want to see more talent on deffence ( Orlov , Zhadorov and must i say this Nesterov guy looks amzing,,just ask the fans of Tampa )

To sad Radulov missing his second WC in row , he is a Warrior. But we are still good enough to win and nothing else than gold should be excepted.

And with Bob in goal we have our best guy ( next time Vasilevskiy )

 

[XokkeyGuy]

The roster should now be pretty much set ? Anybody knows how the team look like right now?

I think that it isnt near set just yet, tonight we will know if either Datsyuk och Kucherov will be available, also I would say that the team will follow Washington and Montreal with excitement and leave some spots open. For players such as Ovechkin we know from past tournaments that the team can wait, and it has happened that he has come to the tournament to play just 2 games just to go back/on vacation again.
I think last year we had Kuznetsov playing the pre-games before WHC and then he just sat in the crowd during the group stages (as the team didn´t want to register him) and in the end the NHL-players came in and Kuznetsov was sent home again.

If Tampa is out tonight do you think Kucherov and Nesterov will go ?
And if Detroit is out will Pavel be here ?

Kucherov is probably very interesting for Russia, I guess he wants to make his debute for the national team and is very ready for it.
If Datsyuk has no injury or anything like that he is probably going as well, he wouldn´t say no if asked.

I haven´t followed Nesterov too well, but I wouldnt count on him. Maybe the team wants to wait and see how Montreal does and then invite Yemelin/Markov.