World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Russia

[Atas2000]

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

He is not on a "top pairing". He is on a pairing with experienced Markov who is not the best defensively and might need a big body with a tendency to hit people as his partner.

 

[Fantomas]

He is not on a "top pairing". He is on a pairing with experienced Markov who is not the best defensively and might need a big body with a tendency to hit people as his partner.

I hope Zadorov has a breakout season. I love the potential.

 

[HespelerGreenFlash]

From what I'm reading, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation and the KHL are on board with the World Cup....KHL players will be participating (as of now) and since the parties involved see this World Cup as an evaluating tool for the 2018 Olympics, I doubt very much they'll go exclusively with Russian players playing in NA. since it is very likely that the NHL is done with the Olympics.

. That defense is frightening for Russia

 

[Yakushev72]

. That defense is frightening for Russia

The RHF might be making melodious noises about participating in the World Cup, but I think it will be NHL-based Russian players only if they do participate. There is nothing of value in it for the KHL.

 

[jfc64]

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

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

Is this guy a new headache pill? Pa-na-RIN. Why not drafted? Big secret?

PS. Defense is underrated for you guys. Offense is very good. Moz had a few good shifts lately.

 

[Drake88]

Roster Projection

Here is my roster projection for Team Russia. I am a little uneducated on some of the younger KHL players so that factored into my decision. Let me know what you guys think or if I should change anything...

FORWARD
Datsyuk
Ovechkin
Kovalchuck
Radulov
Malkin
Tarasenko
Anisimov
Panarin
Yakupov
Dadonov
Kucherov
Kuznetsov
Nichushkin
Burmistrov

DEFENSE
Belov
Tyutin
Nikitin
Kulikov
Voynov
Zadorov
Emelin
Markov

GOALIES
Bobrovsky
Varlamov
Vasilevskiy


I debated Kulemin and Grigorenko but left them off. I also left Orlov and Marchenko off the defense, what do you guys think?

 

[HC Jets]

Roster Prediction (15 F, 8 D, 3 G)

A. Ovechkin - P. Datsyuk - V. Tarasenko
I. Kovalchuk - E. Malkin - A. Radulov
S. Mozyakin - E. Kuznetsov - D. Zaripov
N. Kulemin - A. Anisimov - N. Kucherov
A. Panarin - V. Namestnikov - V. Nichushkin

A. Markov - S. Voynov (possibly)
I. Nikulin - N. Zadorov
F. Tyutin - D. Kulikov
A. Emelin - N. Nikitin

S. Bobrovsky
S. Varlamov
A. Vasilevskiy

Russia's forwards are probably the second-best in the world right now. Their defence though dosen't even have a decent RD (Zadorov, Kulikov and Nikitin all shoot left) other than Voynov, who may not even be elidgable.

 

[Paxton Fettel]

Whoever plays on offense, Russia has no puck moving denfesemen to compete for the top positions. Realistically finishes 5th.

 

[Canuckistani]

There will be a lot of Russian declines, just like in 2004.

 

[Paxton Fettel]

There will be a lot of Russian declines, just like in 2004.

Off the top of my head, Russia didn't have its top 2 centers (Fedorov and Zhamnov, who was amazing in the 04 playoffs) and top goaltender (Kahbibulin, SC champion) in 2004. As always several other forwards and defensemen declined (Slava Kozlov, Zubov, Zhitnik, Malakhov - who had a very good 04 playoffs ...)

That was Russia's main problem, not really Russia's A team.

 

[BMann]

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.

Couldn't agree more. It's a complete farce and an insult to the other hockey nations like Slovakia, Germany, Norway etc, etc.

The way Bettman the complete idiot behaves is like the authorities in cricket trying to limit the sports exposure and development globally and not showcasing the best talent on the biggest stage of all. The Olympics. All other sports are desperate to do so but trust the NHL to think it is more important than the rest of the hockey world.

It's a horrible situation. And I sincerely hope come 2018 the European players tell Bettman and the owners where to go if they try and stop them going to South Korea.

 

[Kshahdoo]

I wouldn't mind to see Panarin - Kuznetsov - Tarasenko line, like in that WJC 2011 golden game.

 

[Raptor1990]

No Kovalchoke, no Ovechkin and probably Russian 2nd place.

 

[xxxx]

No Kovalchoke, no Ovechkin and probably Russian 2nd place.

why?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Ovi - Dats - Kuzya - because Caps connection, and Pasha can be good with anyone
Radu - Malkin - Kucherov - because who else?
Panarin - Anisimov - Tarasenko - because Chicago connection, and Panarin and Tarasenko are friends, very creative and can be complementary to each other
Kulemin - Tikhonov (or Burmistrov) - Plotnikov - a lot of grit and defensive responsibility

Defense - I don't give a f*** for, because it sucks.

I think all top3 lines can carry the team, depending on circumstances. The 4th line is a pure 4th line, which can score from time to time.

 

[Spacey]

No Kovalchoke, no Ovechkin and probably Russian 2nd place.

+

why?

Because our coaches like to build a team around names like Kovi or Ovi.
Ovechkin is NA style player and he always does not realise his potencial in international team. He just running forward and backward.
Kovi is good but not as good as he was an elite player in 2008.
Znarok should build the team around Tarasenko, Panarin, Kucherov. We have maybe best offense, same as Canada, but we praying in one Ovi again and again. Nah, Znarok, PLZ dont make the same mistake!

 

[Fragmuffin]

I'd roll with these lines:

Panarin Malkin Tarasenko
OV Datsyuk Radulov
Kovy(Nichuskin) Kuznetsov Kucherov
Kulyomin Anisimov Tikhonov

And one of Namestnikov or Burmistrov as the 13th FW, gotta have center depth.

As for D... really tough to say, but I'm thinking something like this:

Zadorov Voynov
Markov Kulikov
Yemelin Medvedev
Zaitsev

Bob
Varlamov
Vasilevsky

 

[Vachon23]

Emelin vs a line compose of Perry-Getzlaf-Benn could be funny

 

[Atas2000]

Emelin vs a line compose of Perry-Getzlaf-Benn could be funny

I stopped taking MTL fans seriously. Their mood jumps aren't logical. Just because your coach has no idea how to use Emelin porperly doesn't mean anything. But your coach is a genius with DD and Galchenyuk, right?

 

[Atas2000]

I'd roll with these lines:

Panarin Malkin Tarasenko
OV Datsyuk Radulov
Kovy(Nichuskin) Kuznetsov Kucherov
Kulyomin Anisimov Tikhonov

And one of Namestnikov or Burmistrov as the 13th FW, gotta have center depth.

As for D... really tough to say, but I'm thinking something like this:

Zadorov Voynov
Markov Kulikov
Yemelin Medvedev
Zaitsev

Bob
Varlamov
Vasilevsky

Panarin-Malkin-Tarasenko makes less ense than Panarin-Kuznetsov-Tarasenko to me, or Panarin-Datsyuk-Tarasenko for that matter, but then yes, Datsyuk should probably center OV as they've had some chemistry going in the past.

As of right now I don't see Nichushkin or Tikhnov on the team.

My choice would be(after watching Chicago obviously):

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Kucherov

Kovalchuk - Malkin - Tarasenko

Panarin - Anisimov - Radulov

Kulyomin - Kuznetsov - Yakupov

Nichushkin really needs to bounce back to prove he is a 13th forward here.

Zadorov-Markov

Zaitsev-Orlov

Medvedev-Emelin

Nesterov-Chudinov

Goalies are obvious at this point.

 

[Atas2000]

+


Because our coaches like to build a team around names like Kovi or Ovi.
Ovechkin is NA style player and he always does not realise his potencial in international team. He just running forward and backward.
Kovi is good but not as good as he was an elite player in 2008.
Znarok should build the team around Tarasenko, Panarin, Kucherov. We have maybe best offense, same as Canada, but we praying in one Ovi again and again. Nah, Znarok, PLZ dont make the same mistake!

You have no idea about Ovechkin. Mind boggling, if you think of the fact that he's obviously the most talked about russian player.

1.Ovechkin looked anything but a north-south player on the NT, especially playing with a center like Datsyuk.

2.Ovechkin has played under Znarok, respects Znarok a lot and is going to bust his a... for Znarok. No matter what role he's going to get.

 

[Atas2000]

Ovi - Dats - Kuzya - because Caps connection, and Pasha can be good with anyone
Radu - Malkin - Kucherov - because who else?
Panarin - Anisimov - Tarasenko - because Chicago connection, and Panarin and Tarasenko are friends, very creative and can be complementary to each other
Kulemin - Tikhonov (or Burmistrov) - Plotnikov - a lot of grit and defensive responsibility

Defense - I don't give a f*** for, because it sucks.

I think all top3 lines can carry the team, depending on circumstances. The 4th line is a pure 4th line, which can score from time to time.

We don't have enough centers to put Kuznetsov on the wing.

Radulov never plays on the left wing. Literally never.

Friends don't necessarily make good lines. It's tempting to build a line of the WJC golden teammates, but it is just a nice idea.

See? You have to put ovious plugs on the team if you put Kuznetsov on the wing.

 

[Spacey]

You have no idea about Ovechkin. Mind boggling, if you think of the fact that he's obviously the most talked about russian player.

1.Ovechkin looked anything but a north-south player on the NT, especially playing with a center like Datsyuk.

2.Ovechkin has played under Znarok, respects Znarok a lot and is going to bust his a... for Znarok. No matter what role he's going to get.

I watched every Russia national team's game since 2002 SLC Olympic games.(OG+WC). As i said, in national games Ovi just running as a bull with arrow in his ass. He is a great player, but just in nhl regular games.
Being the most talked about dont produce wins for national team.

 

[Fantomas]

Ovechkin is not the problem.

 

[Spacey]

Ovechkin is not the problem.

Nobody said that he is a problem.
Problem is when team managment hope in one guy again and again.