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World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Russia

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I think Kulikov would be a fairly solid contributor on the NT. Nevertheless he has plateaued in recent years and has not become the kind of player many of us expected.

Seeing him higher than a third pairing is hard on the eyes, which is why it would be nice to see younger guys make quick strides in their development.

I am not sure where Atas's comments about Kulikov's attitude are coming from. Maybe he can explain.
 
I've noticed that you guys keep including KHL guys, but never Chudinov. He is absolutely one of Russia's best defenders. I could be wrong, but I believe that he leads KHL in both hits and blocked shots.

Also Fantomas (I love those movies btw), I disagree with you about Kovy. Yes, he is no longer the offensive force that he used to be, but he can still provide a very solid 2-way play that this team needs.

Assuming KHL players are included (probably won't happen):

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Radulov
Tarasenko - Malkin - Kovalchuk
Kucherov - Datsyuk - Gusev
Panarin - Anisimov - Namestnikov

Orlov - Zaitsev
Markov - Chudinov
Medvedev - Emelin
Kulikov - Marchenko

Bobrovskiy
Varlamov
Sorokin
 
Imo, both Kulikov and Chudinov have similar flaw - being too error prone (although I heard some good things about Kulikov this season), so for now I'd prefer to avoid using them, if possible.
 
Caser said:
Imo, both Kulikov and Chudinov have similar flaw - being too error prone (although I heard some good things about Kulikov this season), so for now I'd prefer to avoid using them, if possible.
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There isn't a single Russian defender who doesn't have flaws and plenty of them.

Fact of the matter is that this is the best we have.

I still think that it's good enough to work with, assuming you have a quality coach.
 
MaximusT said:
Is there any chance that some of the KHL clubs allow for a select few players to go?
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IMO the only time a team would see non-NHL players is if there isn't enough to fill a team.

This is the NHL's baby and they would want to pump their stars.
 
If Kovalchuk agrees to play a supporting, rather than key, role on the NT I would be fine with including him.

But I don't think his ego would allow that. If no captaincy, no main PP duty or top line icetime then fine.
 
MaxV said:
Also Fantomas (I love those movies btw), I disagree with you about Kovy. Yes, he is no longer the offensive force that he used to be, but he can still provide a very solid 2-way play that this team needs.
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I haven't see anything worth national team from him lately too.
 
nabby12 said:
Why the hate for Kulikov?

I talked to him after a recent Panthers game and he was incredible to talk to. One of the best locker room post-game interviews I've ever done. We even joked around a little bit afterwards despite the Panthers 12 game winning streak coming to an end.

He seems to love playing for the National Team as he told me this, "It's always a big honour when you get called up to the National Team. You play the role you're given. Every player over there is really good, leaders of their club teams. And they kind of put together the best team they have and you have your own role with the team. It might not be the role you usually play with your club, but you still have to give it your all when you play for your country."

He also seems excited at the chance of playing in the upcoming World Cup in Toronto, "I'd really love to play in it. I have no comment about it because it's not up to me...I can only do what I do on the ice and hope I get picked to play."
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I don't care what he is saying. He prtetended to be injured while he was obviously not to not play for the NT... 2 times. If I would be making the decision he'd be out in a heartbeat.

He is also not a good defenceman.
 
Sentinel said:
Apparently Znarok and Zhamnov are going to see some Tampa Bay games to evaluate Nesterov and Namestnikov. Kucherov is already a lock for the team.

I would keep the club connections intact: Ovy-Kuzya, Panarin-Anisimov, Namestnikov-Kucherov (they play together on occasions).

Zaytsev is looking to become a Maple Leaf next season. Don't know if it has any bearings on his NT status.
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Zaytsev denied ALL rumors about the Leafs.
 
Kulikov's skills are probably no worse than most others who are competing for a spot on the 4th-line defensive pairing, but in my opinion, he lacks the guts and character to be relied on to perform in shutting down all of those high-skilled forwards that he would be going up against. He always backed away from national team appearances when he was wanted - now that he isn't wanted, we should back away from him.
 
Connor said:
IMO the only time a team would see non-NHL players is if there isn't enough to fill a team.

This is the NHL's baby and they would want to pump their stars.
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I agree. This is an NHL business venture whose only objective is to pump up the NHL, so I think it would be a mistake for the KHL to interrupt its regular season to participate in an NHL venture. There are more than enough Russians and other KHL nationalities in the NHL to fill out rosters.
 
The "Kovalchuk has declined" is seriously a myth. Especially with him captaining and winning the cup in the KHL.

He is over a PPG rate at the KHL. He has always been a PPG player in the NHL, and he could easily score at a PPG rate in the NHL. He's never struggled with that at all.

He better be on the first/second lines and get 2 mins on the powerplay because he is a dominant player.
 
Canuckistani said:
How many KHLers would realistically be on the Russian team if they were released to play?
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Radulov, Kovalchuk, Zaytsev, Chudinov would be there imo. Voynov also, but he is looking rusty right now.

One more winger maybe also, if they don't trust Nichushkin or Yakupov. It would depend on what kind of wing player they are looking for. Scoring winger, defense-first, penalty kill specialist, there are those sort of players in KHL.

Anisimov's spot might be up for grabs also. Shipachyov or again a defensive center could be a possibility. But the fact that this tournament is on small ice probably gives Anisimov the edge.
 
Canuckistani said:
How many KHLers would realistically be on the Russian team if they were released to play?
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As I heard KHL wouldn't like to stop championship for this tournament. So it will be minimum number of KHL players (Radulov, Mozyakin?). But I hope we will use NHL-only players roster for this meaningless tournament.
 
It's really nice to finally have a decent center depth in Malkin-Datsyuk-Kuznetsov-Anisimov-Shipachyov.
 
steap said:
As I heard KHL wouldn't like to stop championship for this tournament. So it will be minimum number of KHL players (Radulov, Mozyakin?). But I hope we will use NHL-only players roster for this meaningless tournament.
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I absolutely agree!
 
Khomutov said:
Mozyakin on small ice? No way.
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I think they would be making a mistake if they didn't strongly consider Mozyakin for any national team event. He has been so successful and effective against NHL-level teams in the past.

That said, because he is a KHL player, I hope they don't select him. They should fill the team roster with NHL players only!
 
Yakushev72 said:
That said, because he is a KHL player, I hope they don't select him. They should fill the team roster with NHL players only!
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Are you making this statement because of small ice? Radulov and Kovalchuk both have played on small ice before.

There is no way the top Russian team is made up of strictly NHL players.

Yakupov, Nichushkin, Nesterov, Grigorenko and Zadorov are all too green for such a tournament. Kulemin is meh. Tyutin is too old. Burmistrov, Kalinin, Nikitin, Tikhonov, Plotnikov are all mediocre.

Even guys like Anisimov, Namestnikov and Marchenko aren't necessarily better then some top KHLers.
 
Caser said:
It's really nice to finally have a decent center depth in Malkin-Datsyuk-Kuznetsov-Anisimov-Shipachyov.
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Would've expected Grigorenko to be in there by now, oh well.
 
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