World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Russia

[Yakushev72]

In order to perform well in this tournament, guys like Kucherov are going to have to be willing to get their nose bloody and contest for pucks in close. If he plays passive like he did on Wednesday and just waits for the perfect set-up, he will be totally ineffective. Some of those teams, Canada first and foremost, operate from the premise that you can push Russia around and intimidate d them, and they have to prove that theory wrong. They have to be willing to pay the price to win.

 

[Paxton Fettel]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind to see Kuznetsov - Malkin - Tarasenko line. Just by names, this line will scare the **** out of any defense, which can help a lot.

Maybe if they lose the first game Znarok will shuffle the lines a but, but I'm afraid that in good Russian tradition he will keep his team the same until it's eliminated.

 

[MaximusT]

Don't think it would be too much of a problem, Kulemin isn't gonna produce much on the 2nd line or the 4th. Might as well move Kuznetsov up.

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kuznetsov
Kucherov-Malkin-Tarasenko
Panarin-Shipachev-Dadonov
Telegin-Anisimov-Kulemin

I agree - I think this works best. The plan would be to load the top 2 lines with ice time. Znarok's decision to put guys like Kuzy on the 4th line is mind boggling

 

[Atas2000]

The irrational Kulemin hate is a good indicator for people who evaluate palyers based on their wishful thinking ans personal sympathies.

 

[Atas2000]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind to see Kuznetsov - Malkin - Tarasenko line. Just by names, this line will scare the **** out of any defense, which can help a lot.

Thereare a lot of possible combinations Znarok won't probably use. I for my part would break up the SKA line.

Which role? He brings nothing on that line. Not good defensively, not good offensively, not digging pucks, zero forecheck. He's very slow, puck often goes nowhere when it's on his stick.

I know that he's supposedly good defensive power forward, but he's not in reality, or just rarely. He's a blue collar player, yes, but he's terribly ineffective.
Coaching stuff just put together players that played together once, but it doesn't mean it works. Ovechkin looks better with Datsyuk than with Kuznetsov, Malkin looks better without Kulemin than with him. Are you Russian? During the WC in Czech Rep. when the line was Kulemin-Malkin-Mozyakin, even commentators (Gimaev) mentioned how passes are dying on Kulemin stick and that Malkin and Mozykin would do better with someone else. They have done well as a line during lockout in KHL, but it doesn't mean they would do the same in international competition.

I'm sure Kuznetsov or Anisimov would do better in his place, just because of their hockey sense.

Sorry, but you need to watch the same games as I. You obviously don't. Things you write about Kulemin are just emotions, not observations. He is effective defensively and at the boards. He never was expected to be an offensive juggernaught. The problems of the line are elsewhere. Malkin should be thy dynamo of that line and so far he is clearly not. The line is composed that way. 2 superstars and a guy for the dirty work. Obviously the surperstars fail to be that the line doesn't work. There is no questin Kulemin is not a guy to build around, but he s good at what he is supposed to be good at.

And spare me pleaase with quoting Gimaev. He is not The Expert.

This line doesn't need hockey sence. They have it in Malkin and Tarasenko. Those two should use it though.

Other line combinations are possible, but complicated after Znarok has brought his selection of forwads.

Malkin for example could use somebody who is actually good at faceoffs. But do we have anybody outside Datsyuk?

I'm for now pretty happy with the fact Znarok actually heard me and put Dats on the line with Ovechkin. Hopefully he will stick to it. Otherise I don't expect him to be creative with lines.

 

[Wings4Life]

Don't think it would be too much of a problem, Kulemin isn't gonna produce much on the 2nd line or the 4th. Might as well move Kuznetsov up.

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kuznetsov
Kucherov-Malkin-Tarasenko
Panarin-Shipachev-Dadonov
Telegin-Anisimov-Kulemin

I like this as well. Kulemin is wasted with Malkin now, especially if he's not even winning the puck for the other two players on his line.

 

[Caser]

Looks like Swedish player high stick hit Orlov's on/off switch button and he suddenly started to play good. Wonder if someone could find Malkin's on/off button... not sure if Telegin even got one though.

And yes, our current FW line combos don't work pretty much at all.

 

[Wings4Life]

No more Kulemin in the top 6, it must be said, what a sad performance from him tonight. Malkin and OV came alive in the third, but too little too late.

 

[snipes]

Bring in Bragin as the coach going forward. He'll get the most out of his guys, great coach.

 

[Fantomas]

Bring in Bragin as the coach going forward. He'll get the most out of his guys, great coach.

Yeah I think once Znarok's tenure is done, Bragin is the man. I am glad that they have not yet hired Bragin for the job, because there is no winning with the current roster. This job would have been wasted on Bragin.

 

[snipes]

Yeah I think once Znarok's tenure is done, Bragin is the man. I am glad that they have not yet hired Bragin for the job, because there is no winning with the current roster. This job would have been wasted on Bragin.

Bragin is perfect for short tournaments, his teams always give 100% effort. He seems like a good motivator.

 

[Fantomas]

I'm for now pretty happy with the fact Znarok actually heard me and put Dats on the line with Ovechkin. Hopefully he will stick to it. Otherise I don't expect him to be creative with lines.

I would have emptied the Russian net much earlier than Znarok, but otherwise I don't understand the criticism of him. Znarok is doing everything he can. He picked the best roster imaginable and he is shaking up the lines, looking for a spark.

 

[malkinfan]

Bragin or Id be ok with Vorobiev Jr.

I still can't believe Telegin is on the roster, there is just no rational explanation fo rthis. The fact that he is actually seeing a regular shift on a line with Kuznetsov is even more baffling. Like I thought Kuzy had it bad in Washington with Williams, but god this is worse. Kovy, Mozy and Radulov needed to be on this team one way or another. And the NA commentators actually got one thing right, no need to roll 4 lines, it takes your best players out of the game. Roll 3 and the 4th can handle the PK and the odd shift. I know its still early in the tournament but based on Znaroks coaching style, it doesn't appear to be working well with most of the NHL Russian guys.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Bragin or Id be ok with Vorobiev Jr.

I still can't believe Telegin is on the roster, there is just no rational explanation fo rthis. The fact that he is actually seeing a regular shift on a line with Kuznetsov is even more baffling. Like I thought Kuzy had it bad in Washington with Williams, but god this is worse. Kovy, Mozy and Radulov needed to be on this team one way or another. And the NA commentators actually got one thing right, no need to roll 4 lines, it takes your best players out of the game. Roll 3 and the 4th can handle the PK and the odd shift. I know its still early in the tournament but based on Znaroks coaching style, it doesn't appear to be working well with most of the NHL Russian guys.

Williams is a smart player and he's got a decent scoring touch. Telegin is a grinder, but Kuznetsov's had some success with a similar grinder in Chimera.

 

[MaximusT]

Our forward lines need a major overhaul for the next game.

As mentioned, no need to roll all 4 lines. Stack 1a and 1b, lean heavily on them next game. I would swap Kulemin down to the 4th for Kuzy.

 

[jimstark]

Shame on Russia...again...No effort for 50 min....i cant explain it...its just sad...

Not taking anything away from team beating Russia but you cant deny that russia foremost is their own biggest enemy.
Here you are starting the tournament which is very short and they dont seem to care for 50 min....

A agree 100 % you dont have to go for 4 lines he shuld have gone down to 3 lines but then agian where is the effort??
There has to be a mentally thing...i dont know but i think its pretty arrogant and they get what the deserve...
Very sad...i was thinking before the game that our deffence on smaller ice maybe would do it ok and was happy for Zaitsev looking as great as i had read about him before and then the whole fuc....team comes out doing nothing.
They are done in this tornament..now way they will win their next to games.

 

[Paxton Fettel]

They played like they did in the last 2 prep games. I didn't notice any change. They spend most of the time trying to get the puck out of the D zone, their passing success rate is extremely low, in the offensive zone most players are trying to do it by themselves. Zero intensity for 59 minutes also, they seem uninspired and unmotivated. Plus Znarok has no idea what to do. They can start packing.

 

[sdf]

Malkin look like lazy *****

 

[zbornaja36]

I stopped watching when Swedes got a goal. Until then it was really hard to watch.
The team cannot connect 2,3 normal passes together? And trying to beat defenders 1:1 , going through them? Under ZNAROK russia is even regressing, this was just pathethic to watch.

They are just lost, no system, no nothing. ZNAROK is A JOKEEEEEE...

 

[zbornaja36]

I would have emptied the Russian net much earlier than Znarok, but otherwise I don't understand the criticism of him. Znarok is doing everything he can. He picked the best roster imaginable and he is shaking up the lines, looking for a spark.

No Kovalchuk and especially Radulov is not the best roster..
They dont see OV is a weak link, so everything is built around big names and their egos...Last time when ovi was great was 2008, when he had solid chemistry with Washington line with freaking Fedorov and prime Semin. He is no finesse player. He should be put on line with 2 grinders ,Anisimov and Telegin or Kulemin and given time on PP as PP specialist.
Did Malkin regress so much because he plays like **** or he needs players with higher iq on his line? Kucherov also didnt show nothing...
Try something else...Somebody said try Panarin-Kuznetsov-Tarasenko ...Try Datsyuk and Malkin...
But as u said this is only shaking lines... Russians dont have any system and chemistry with this lineup...

I cannot believe 2009 team with freaking Saprykin, Frolov ...(all very decent players dont get me wrong) had such great chemistry and play...It was fun to watch....This is just pathetic...

 

[XokkeyGuy]

There will be a new record made tonight!
Never has a team been out of the race after just about 28 hours after we lose against NA23 tonight.

 

[snipes]

There will be a new record made tonight!
Never has a team been out of the race after just about 28 hours after we lose against NA23 tonight.

If you lose, it's coaching and your D. Team NA will likely dominate the Russian D like they did Suomi. Those kids can fly. They attack wave after wave with speed and skill.

Zaitsev, Paigin (by the way, when is he coming to Alberta to play with Connor McDavid? He is Edmonton Oilers property), Provorov, and Sergachev are elite D. Russia has very good D coming up.

 

[XokkeyGuy]

If you lose, it's coaching and your D. Team NA will likely dominate the Russian D like they did Suomi. Those kids can fly. They attack wave after wave with speed and skill.

Zaitsev, Paigin (by the way, when is he coming to Alberta to play with Connor McDavid? He is Edmonton Oilers property), Provorov, and Sergachev are elite D. Russia has very good D coming up.

Perhaps, I'm not sure if these long passes/counter attacks are the way to go that Znarok wants to play, since all 4 lines try to do the same and only some players can handle it somewhat. There are barely any efforts to set up a play inside the zone (even though the zones are larger on these rinks (thus counter attacks are less effective!).
There's little to be done with the defense, the forwards need to waste too much effort helping out.
However, it would probably help out a lot if all teams did like Russia - leave out your best point and goal scorers in straight tournaments on purpose (World champ. Olympic games and KHL - Kovy, Radulov and Mozyakin) and replace them with one hit wonder grinders!

Our only chance to be #1 in this group is by defeating both (or at least one) of the other teams by 2-3 goals and have Sweden lose to one of them/that team by less. To be #1 is a must if you want to go to the final i believe.

 

[snipes]

Perhaps, I'm not sure if these long passes/counter attacks are the way to go that Znarok wants to play, since all 4 lines try to do the same and only some players can handle it somewhat. There are barely any efforts to set up a play inside the zone (even though the zones are larger on these rinks (thus counter attacks are less effective!).
There's little to be done with the defense, the forwards need to waste too much effort helping out.
However, it would probably help out a lot if all teams did like Russia - leave out your best point and goal scorers in straight tournaments on purpose (World champ. Olympic games and KHL - Kovy, Radulov and Mozyakin) and replace them with one hit wonder grinders!

Another thing, as the broadcasters across the hockey world noted, Znarok did not line match. The hockey world laughed at the Russian strategy of playing lines #1-4, without considering match ups.

Huge mistake!!! This angers the NHL players because match ups are crucial. No wonder Russian NHL players hate Znarok.

Russia needs better coaching, I hate you guys, but you are Canada's #1 rival. I want you to do well and play you for Championships. Get rid of Znarok, bring in Bragin.

 

[XokkeyGuy]

Another thing, as the broadcasters across the hockey world noted, Znarok did not line match. The hockey world laughed at the Russian strategy of playing lines #1-4, without considering match ups.

Huge mistake!!! This angers the NHL players because match ups are crucial. No wonder Russian NHL players hate Znarok.

Yea, I think we never do that, not even Bykov did it in Vancouver either. I think that traditionally you should believe in your own idea rather than focusing too much on your opponent, maybe that's the mentality from cccp because they knew that if they did their thing they will eventually win.

Get rid of Znarok, bring in Bragin.

Would be a good idea, but I think we have a crucial problem here:
Russian coaches are always good when they have full control and are in power over a team, then the players obey. His success in the juniors may be due to the fact that the players do exactly as he tells them to do or else he can pretty much contribute a lot to ending their career. In the national team since 90's it's the other way around - the superstars can do pretty much as they wish and if you bench a superstar - he will end your coaching career... Bykov contributed a lot to change this and was respected, but I don´t think Znarok has the same mandate - and Bragin could find himself in the same position.