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World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Russia

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Lessons we learned from Prague 2015 which affect our forward combinations:

-Kovalchuk is done as a top 6 player at this level
-Kulemin is not skilled enough to partner Malkin against strong defensive teams (CAN/USA)
-We cannot spread our scoring out too much, we need to stack our top lines...we are not as deep as Canada

Also, we know from Sochi 2014 that Ovechkin and Malkin do not play well together. However, Malkin and Tarasenko did look good together, and even scored some points together in their limited shared icetime. This leads me to the following lines:

Panarin*** - Malkin - Tarasenko
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Radulov
Kovalchuk - Kuznetsov - Kucherov
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Tikhonov

Markov - Zadorov
Kulikov - Orlov
Emelin - Tyutin
Nesterov

Bobrovsky
Varlamov
Vasilevsky​

*** If one of Radulov/Kucherov spends any time playing LW next year (or if Panarin struggles on NHL ice), I would have them take Panarin's place on Malkin's LW, move Panarin to Kovy's spot where he can score against weaker defensive pairs, and move Kovy to Radulov's/Kucherov's spot on the RW. So this is only if one of Radulov/Kucherov feel good playing left wing by September 2016:

Kucherov - Malkin - Tarasenko
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Radulov
Panarin - Kuznetsov - Kovalchuk
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Tikhonov​
 
The only reason I have Anisimov and Kulemin on the roster at all is because they can kill penalties, and might be able to provide us with a physical checking line for the small ice. Neither belongs on a scoring line for the Russian NT again for the remainder of their careers, and I would not particularly care if the NT replaces them altogether for this tournament with younger players.

Also, we MUST remember that age is going to be a factor as well. By September 2016, a guy like Mozyakin is going to be almost 36 years old: too old to be a part of our scoring lines (and too small for NHL ice anyway). Pavel Datsyuk is going to be 38 years old. We cannot rely on him for more than 18-20 minutes of icetime at the absolute maximum. Hopefully after a nice summer of rest he will be healthy enough to contribute for us in a second line role, but that is unfortunately not a safe bet.
 
Russia's defence will remain crappy by elite standards - not nearly on the same level as Canada, USA or Sweden.

Expect another QF exit in 2016.
 
For now I would go with the following combinations:

Forwards:

Kulemin-Malkin-Kucherov //Malkin and Kulemin combo is something we definitely shouldn't break, while Kucherov might be the missing piece for the chemistry + a scoring touch.

Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Radulov //If something can get Kovy back to life, it is this line.

Ovechkin -Anisimov-Tarasenko //Two dynamos at wings and Anisimov as a workhorse - sounds risky, but could work.

Panarin -Tikhonov-Plotnikov //Tikhonov and Plotnikov are decent two-way guys and Panarin can add some flair.

Kuznetsov //Kuzya can add some creativity to both C and W

Kucherov/Tarasenko and Ovechkin/Panarin on those lines look pretty much interchangeable.


Defense (le sigh):

Yemelin-Markov
Orlov-Marchenko
Belov-Zaitsev
Nesterov
+ Zadorov/Medvedev/Voynov - based on who will have a better next season (maybe even Provorov can be considered if he makes it to NHL immediately after the draft and has a strong season).


Goalies:

Bobrovsky
Varlamov
Vasilevskiy

Goalie line is a stable one comparing to others, but still we should remember that both Bob and Varly are prone to mistakes.
 
Caser said:
For now I would go with the following combinations:
Kulemin-Malkin-Kucherov //Malkin and Kulemin combo is something we definitely shouldn't break, while Kucherov might be the missing piece for the chemistry + a scoring touch.
Click to expand...

I hope you are joking, Caser. If so, good one. :laugh:

Kulemin was useless in the medal rounds. No points while playing with Malkin against Canada and against a Junior American team. Kulemin is just not skilled enough to play in our top 6.
 
Wings4Life said:
I hope you are joking, Caser. If so, good one. :laugh:

Kulemin was useless in the medal rounds. No points while playing with Malkin against Canada and against a Junior American team. Kulemin is just not skilled enough to play in our top 6.
Click to expand...

Wait, maybe I watched different tournament, let's look at the play-off round games (ok, Vs. Canada everyone looked bad though, including Kulemin):

Vs. SWE: Kulemin sents Malkin on a breakaway to make it 3-0; a secondary assist and, what is more important, a net front presence that caused a deflection for Malkin's goal to make it 4-3.

Vs. USA: Won a battle in front of the net to pass the puck to Shipachyov for an open corner.

That's not even mentioning that Kulemin had a really great tournament overall: he always was the first one to backcheck (and I can't remember any bad plays by him at the own end), won countless board battles, always went to the net to provide a screen (also on PP) and even had a positive face-off balance. I really can't imagine anyone that could do all the dirty stuff for Malkin better than Kulemin, while providing also some decent chemistry - the only one I could think of is Plotnikov, but I really doubt that's an improvement over Kulemin.
 
Wings4Life said:
Lessons we learned from Prague 2015 which affect our forward combinations:

-Kovalchuk is done as a top 6 player at this level
-Kulemin is not skilled enough to partner Malkin against strong defensive teams (CAN/USA)
-We cannot spread our scoring out too much, we need to stack our top lines...we are not as deep as Canada

Also, we know from Sochi 2014 that Ovechkin and Malkin do not play well together. However, Malkin and Tarasenko did look good together, and even scored some points together in their limited shared icetime. This leads me to the following lines:

Panarin*** - Malkin - Tarasenko
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Radulov
Kovalchuk - Kuznetsov - Kucherov
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Tikhonov

Markov - Zadorov
Kulikov - Orlov
Emelin - Tyutin
Nesterov

Bobrovsky
Varlamov
Vasilevsky​

*** If one of Radulov/Kucherov spends any time playing LW next year (or if Panarin struggles on NHL ice), I would have them take Panarin's place on Malkin's LW, move Panarin to Kovy's spot where he can score against weaker defensive pairs, and move Kovy to Radulov's/Kucherov's spot on the RW. So this is only if one of Radulov/Kucherov feel good playing left wing by September 2016:

Kucherov - Malkin - Tarasenko
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Radulov
Panarin - Kuznetsov - Kovalchuk
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Tikhonov​
Click to expand...

I will say i aggre with you on this one.
I would also consider Marchenko on deffence as i think he will be part of the Young guys coming now.

One question...what about Burmistrov taking Anisimov Place ? or is he a left wing?
I think he is very strong on his skates and i have seen him playing the checking role very very good not to mention he has the ability to score as well

Now some week from the bad game (well what could we exept with out deffense) i think that Russia look very very good both on forward and deffence when looking at the Young guys coming now. Russia will be back !!!! There are just to much talent there and all we need is to get the team together.

What did the Russian media say ofter the final? Znarok is safe?
 
Canuckistani said:
Russia's defence will remain crappy by elite standards - not nearly on the same level as Canada, USA or Sweden.

Expect another QF exit in 2016.
Click to expand...

You underrate the russian defence based on one tournament in which top 10 or so guys were missing because of injuries/NHL?
 
jimstark said:
What did the Russian media say ofter the final? Znarok is safe?
Click to expand...

Of course he is. Only the panic crew on the threads are calling a silver medal the end of the world. And what the puck has the media to do with it? Do we now let the media decide on who's going to coach the national team?
 
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Tarasenko/Radulov
Kovalchuk/Zaripov - Malkin - Radulov/Tarasenko
Panarin - Kuznetsov - Kucherov
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Yakupov

Markov - Zadorov
Yemelin - Nesterov
Voynov - Orlov
Zaycev - Marchenko

Tyutin, Medvedev, Chudinov, Mironov
 
jimstark said:
I will say i aggre with you on this one.
I would also consider Marchenko on deffence as i think he will be part of the Young guys coming now.

One question...what about Burmistrov taking Anisimov Place ? or is he a left wing?
I think he is very strong on his skates and i have seen him playing the checking role very very good not to mention he has the ability to score as well

Now some week from the bad game (well what could we exept with out deffense) i think that Russia look very very good both on forward and deffence when looking at the Young guys coming now. Russia will be back !!!! There are just to much talent there and all we need is to get the team together.

What did the Russian media say ofter the final? Znarok is safe?
Click to expand...

The forwards definitely look promising, aside from the center position. That is only if we look at the past mistakes, and some of the bad strategies and combinations from Prague and from Sochi. And yes, unfortunately, Znaroks is safe for now.

Caser said:
Wait, maybe I watched different tournament, let's look at the play-off round games (ok, Vs. Canada everyone looked bad though, including Kulemin):

Vs. SWE: Kulemin sents Malkin on a breakaway to make it 3-0; a secondary assist and, what is more important, a net front presence that caused a deflection for Malkin's goal to make it 4-3.

Vs. USA: Won a battle in front of the net to pass the puck to Shipachyov for an open corner.

That's not even mentioning that Kulemin had a really great tournament overall: he always was the first one to backcheck (and I can't remember any bad plays by him at the own end), won countless board battles, always went to the net to provide a screen (also on PP) and even had a positive face-off balance. I really can't imagine anyone that could do all the dirty stuff for Malkin better than Kulemin, while providing also some decent chemistry - the only one I could think of is Plotnikov, but I really doubt that's an improvement over Kulemin.
Click to expand...

The fact remains that in the medal rounds (ie. the most important games), the Kulemin-Malkin pair were held pointless together over both games. That cannot happen to our "top" line, but it happened in the WHC. What do you think will happen in a best-on-best competition, when Carey Price is in net instead of Mike Smith, and the Americans bring a real team? Kulemin must be replaced on this line, I just cannot agree on giving him another shot.

Kulemin had his chance to shine on Malkin's wing, but the bottom line is that in the biggest games, he did not deliver. His one point in the medal rounds, coincidentally, happened when Malkin was off the ice, when Kulemin set up Shipachyov. So clearly, we need not depend on their chemistry for Kulemin to contribute in some way to the NT. Sweden by the way brought their "D" team (or "F" team, if you talk to the Swedish posters), it is hard to take that match seriously when talking about best-on-best hockey.
 
Atas2000 said:
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Tarasenko/Radulov
Kovalchuk/Zaripov - Malkin - Radulov/Tarasenko
Panarin - Kuznetsov - Kucherov
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Yakupov

Markov - Zadorov
Yemelin - Nesterov
Voynov - Orlov
Zaycev - Marchenko

Tyutin, Medvedev, Chudinov, Mironov
Click to expand...

Really like these lines, and really hope Voynov gets some games in during next season, we could really use him. The LA Kings know how important a player he can be.

Only thing I would change is again Malkin's left winger. Kovalchuk showed this tournament that he is clearly past his best years, and Zaripov is going to be 35 by the time the World Cup rolls around. We are going to have to slot Panarin in there, or get creative and try to convert Kucherov to LW.
 
Wings4Life said:
The fact remains that in the medal rounds (ie. the most important games), the Kulemin-Malkin pair were held pointless together over both games. That cannot happen to our "top" line, but it happened in the WHC. What do you think will happen in a best-on-best competition, when Carey Price is in net instead of Mike Smith, and the Americans bring a real team? Kulemin must be replaced on this line, I just cannot agree on giving him another shot.

Kulemin had his chance to shine on Malkin's wing, but the bottom line is that in the biggest games, he did not deliver. His one point in the medal rounds, coincidentally, happened when Malkin was off the ice, when Kulemin set up Shipachyov. So clearly, we need not depend on their chemistry for Kulemin to contribute in some way to the NT. Sweden by the way brought their "D" team (or "F" team, if you talk to the Swedish posters), it is hard to take that match seriously when talking about best-on-best hockey.
Click to expand...

Ok, let's assume Kulemin is not there, the question still remains: who, if not Kulemin, will do all the 'dirty' stuff for Malkin?
 
Caser said:
Ok, let's assume Kulemin is not there, the question still remains: who, if not Kulemin, will do all the 'dirty' stuff for Malkin?
Click to expand...

It's a good question. I like Tarasenko as one of the wingers, partly because of offensive skill, partly because he is physical and capable of putting in good defensive work. That eases the burden on the other winger a bit.

Potentially a player like Kucherov can round out his game, and fill out a bit physically as well. He might be close to 90kg come September 2016. Panarin could be the guy as well, but on the small ice there is some uncertainty on whether he will be strong enough to handle the top defensive pairs. The lazy choice is Kovalchuk, but the injuries have added up for Kovy and the speed is already gone.
 
Atas2000 said:
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Tarasenko/Radulov
Kovalchuk/Zaripov - Malkin - Radulov/Tarasenko
Panarin - Kuznetsov - Kucherov
Kulemin - Anisimov - Nichushkin
Yakupov

Markov - Zadorov
Yemelin - Nesterov
Voynov - Orlov
Zaycev - Marchenko

Tyutin, Medvedev, Chudinov, Mironov
Click to expand...

I am seeing many illusions about Zadorov. He has not proven anything yet. He might be great, but maybe not.

I am excited about Nesterov's ability provided that he tightens up his positional game somewhat. Emelin is close to finished, IMO.

Your forward lines are good, although personally I would send Kovalchuk to pasture. His ego is still there; his talents are almost gone.
 
Fantomas said:
Frankly I don't care. If they don't send a team I would support them.

Why should Russia send a team considering US's and Canada's attitudes concerning recent events? Why invest in a model that would only benefit American businesses?
Click to expand...
What recent are you talking about?

Russia, please don't participate in the World Cup. Why would you want to encourage the stupidest idea ever? It boggles my mind how ridiculous this upcoming World Cup is, a total joke of a tournament. I hope it'll be a total flop.
 
Fantomas said:
I am seeing many illusions about Zadorov. He has not proven anything yet. He might be great, but maybe not.

I am excited about Nesterov's ability provided that he tightens up his positional game somewhat. Emelin is close to finished, IMO.

Your forward lines are good, although personally I would send Kovalchuk to pasture. His ego is still there; his talents are almost gone.
Click to expand...

I think you might have illusions about how good the D really is. There is no other way than giving a guy like Zadorov a chance. The "proven" part makes me shake my head because that might be exactly the BS our coaches think all the time. If we want to wait until they are all proven let's just skip a couple of Olympics.

Emelin close to finished? LMAO

The Kovalchuk hate is growing I know. Try to evaluate him honestly.
 
Wings4Life said:
Really like these lines, and really hope Voynov gets some games in during next season, we could really use him. The LA Kings know how important a player he can be.

Only thing I would change is again Malkin's left winger. Kovalchuk showed this tournament that he is clearly past his best years, and Zaripov is going to be 35 by the time the World Cup rolls around. We are going to have to slot Panarin in there, or get creative and try to convert Kucherov to LW.
Click to expand...

I don't get what's with that age. MSL is 39, so what? And what about Jagr? Zaripov at 35 will be fine.
 
Atas2000 said:
I think you might have illusions about how good the D really is. There is no other way than giving a guy like Zadorov a chance. The "proven" part makes me shake my head because that might be exactly the BS our coaches think all the time. If we want to wait until they are all proven let's just skip a couple of Olympics.

Emelin close to finished? LMAO

The Kovalchuk hate is growing I know. Try to evaluate him honestly.
Click to expand...

I agree that the national team should be playing Zadorov. I am just amused to see him on your projected top pairing.
 
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