WJC: 2018 Russia Roster Talk
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Fantomas
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- Aug 7, 2012
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I don't see why not. Looks like a deeper, more talented team than 2017. Then again, much depends once more on the ability of CHL guys to impress. Without them, the depth will thin out quite a bit.
We might not have as good a defensive anchor as Rykov. Don't see a homegrown guy as good as he, but we'll see. This year's team also had two centerman who won a lot of draws in Vorobiev and Trenin. Next year they could have two guys who are still pretty good at this in Maltsev and Koltygin. But probably not as good.
Goalies look good. Probably Sukhachev in the lead for the starting job.
I see the following names are apparent candidates at the moment.
At center:
Mikhail Maltsev - competed for a spot this year. So I think he is leading the way
Igor Shvyrev
Ivan Koltygin
Maxim Rasseikin
Alexei Lipanov
Maxim Mizyurin
Alexander Khovanov
At wing:
German Rubtsov - not sure if his future is at wing or the pivot
Klim Kostin
Vitaly Abramov
Nikita Popugaev - the tall one
Andrei Svechnikov
Artur Kayumov - such lukewarm results after so much hype
Dmitri Sokolov
Grigori Ivanov
Vitaly Kravtsov
Ivan Kosorenkov
Danil Veryaev
Marsel Sholokhov
Matvei Zaseda
Ivan Chekhovich - very poor at draws, so I'll list him as a winger
At defense:
Mikhail Sergachev - He might play unless his adjustment is as smooth as Provorov, which I doubt
Artem Minulin
Egor Zaitsev
Grigori Dronov
Ilya Karpukhin
Leonid Lavrinenko
Nikita Makeev
Dmitri Samorukov - disappointing year from him so far
Danil Kurashov
Dmitri Alexeev
Alexander Yakovenko
In goal
Vladislav Sukhachev
Mikhail Berdin
Maxim Zhukov
We might not have as good a defensive anchor as Rykov. Don't see a homegrown guy as good as he, but we'll see. This year's team also had two centerman who won a lot of draws in Vorobiev and Trenin. Next year they could have two guys who are still pretty good at this in Maltsev and Koltygin. But probably not as good.
Goalies look good. Probably Sukhachev in the lead for the starting job.
I see the following names are apparent candidates at the moment.
At center:
Mikhail Maltsev - competed for a spot this year. So I think he is leading the way
Igor Shvyrev
Ivan Koltygin
Maxim Rasseikin
Alexei Lipanov
Maxim Mizyurin
Alexander Khovanov
At wing:
German Rubtsov - not sure if his future is at wing or the pivot
Klim Kostin
Vitaly Abramov
Nikita Popugaev - the tall one
Andrei Svechnikov
Artur Kayumov - such lukewarm results after so much hype
Dmitri Sokolov
Grigori Ivanov
Vitaly Kravtsov
Ivan Kosorenkov
Danil Veryaev
Marsel Sholokhov
Matvei Zaseda
Ivan Chekhovich - very poor at draws, so I'll list him as a winger
At defense:
Mikhail Sergachev - He might play unless his adjustment is as smooth as Provorov, which I doubt
Artem Minulin
Egor Zaitsev
Grigori Dronov
Ilya Karpukhin
Leonid Lavrinenko
Nikita Makeev
Dmitri Samorukov - disappointing year from him so far
Danil Kurashov
Dmitri Alexeev
Alexander Yakovenko
In goal
Vladislav Sukhachev
Mikhail Berdin
Maxim Zhukov
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I think this team is good enough to win gold, if Bragin takes a younger team. The forwards should be very good. Very good down the middle at center, there might not be a team better down the middle next season. I think its important to pick Svechnikov, Khovanov and the best forwards from the upcoming draft. The team this year didn't have enough scoring, they need more scoring. The defense isn't as good, unless some of the younger defenseman start playing better. Sergachyov and Dronov should be very important for this team. I know Samorukov and Rubinchik have not played that well, but keep in mind, they also have to adjust to playing in NA, their only adjustment isn't the CHL. I think by next WJC, they will be ready to help this team. I'm less optimistic about Alexeyev and Minulin also playing in the CHL, but they are options. I also wouldn't count out Galenyuk, although he will need to improve a lot to make this team, but I wouldn't be surprised if has a chance at cracking the roster, as a potential high pick in the 2018 draft. All of my opinions are based on Bragin taking a much younger team. The type of younger team that Finland, Sweden, USA routinely take. If he takes an older team, it'll be the same as usual, and then the question will be, will the best players be able to carry the team to make up for the lack of skill? It could be even worse than this year. This year had Samsonov, Kaprizov, Rykov. Are the best '98 born players good enough to carry this team to the Bronze Medal? I don't think so. Why did the USA win this year? Because the coach picked the most skilled team. Bragin could learn from the team Motzko picked for the USA. Pick the most skilled team, regardless of age.
I think it should be 13 and 7 next year. Don't need 8D.
Maltsev-Rubtsov-Kostin
Sokolov-Shvyryov-Abramov
Chekhovich-Lipanov-Svechnikov
Popugayev-Koltygin-Kosorenkov
Khovanov
Dronov-Sergachyov
Y. Zaitsev-D. Zaitsev
Samorukov-Karpukhin
Rubinchik
Sukhachyov
Zhukov
Berdin
I think it should be 13 and 7 next year. Don't need 8D.
Maltsev-Rubtsov-Kostin
Sokolov-Shvyryov-Abramov
Chekhovich-Lipanov-Svechnikov
Popugayev-Koltygin-Kosorenkov
Khovanov
Dronov-Sergachyov
Y. Zaitsev-D. Zaitsev
Samorukov-Karpukhin
Rubinchik
Sukhachyov
Zhukov
Berdin
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Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Then you can always switch a few players around in the lineup. I still think those should be the players picked. If you are saying there are too many younger players, I think you are probably right for a team Bragin would pick, but why does he pick such old teams? Why does Bragin have to always pick so many grinders, face-off specialists, defensive specialists? This year's team had 1 line and two or three other forwards who could create any offense.
I can't imagine how horrible next year's team will be if Bragin picks the same very old roster. The '98 born players have no Kaprizov or Samsonov. It could go out in the Quarter-Finals without a complete change in mindset from Bragin. They were outplayed in every game they played this year against the good teams because there wasn't enough offensive depth. 80% of the roster found themselves out-skilled by the players Canada, USA and Sweden had.
Last edited:
Zine
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- Feb 28, 2002
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As always, Bragin will go with a balanced heavily favored 19 year old roster:
Abramov - Rubtsov - Kostin
Svechnikov - Shvyryov - Altybarmakyan
Maltsev - Rasseikin - Popugayev
Sholokhov - Mizyurin - Veryayev
Sergachyov - Dronov
Zaitsev - Minulin
Makeyev - Karpukhin
Sukhachyov
Berdin
Abramov - Rubtsov - Kostin
Svechnikov - Shvyryov - Altybarmakyan
Maltsev - Rasseikin - Popugayev
Sholokhov - Mizyurin - Veryayev
Sergachyov - Dronov
Zaitsev - Minulin
Makeyev - Karpukhin
Sukhachyov
Berdin
That's a great breakdown.
I would just add Altybarmakyan, D. Zaytsev and Rodionychev.
If Bragin is coaching many of those CHL names won't feature, including some of those well known forwards. I can see one of Sokolov, Abramov, Popugayev being cut for sure, Bragin has a short leash. A bit too short imo..
Fantomas
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- Aug 7, 2012
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Fantomas
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2012
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You certainly have the right to feel this way. But I think Bragin is often right about younger players and knows when they're a bit too green to fit into his system.
He always picks very good penalty killers and let's not forget that many of Bragin's more obscure selections work out, such as this year's inclusion of Kirill Urakov.
themelkman
Always Delivers
McMatthews
Registered User
Fedor Gordeev says he would represent Russia, if they ask him.
He's a dual citizen. Russian-Canadian.
He's a dual citizen. Russian-Canadian.
Caser
Moderator
It's not how it works in the IIHF tournaments, citizenship is not enough, you got to play at least 2 years in Russia (at any age) even if you didn't represent any other country before and have a citizenship.
Fantomas
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Caser
Moderator
Pretty sure it was about playing, because the living criteria is much more complicated, like how much time should he be living there in a year and stuff. So the whole idea of eligibility for junior players is that they need to be kind of 'alumnis' (at least in some way) of a countries hockey system. Btw, that was the main reason Barkov and Malgin situations couldn't be worked out, despite them and their parents showing interest too.
Caser
Moderator
I think ozo means that if Gordeev didn't have the Canadian citizenship then he wouldn't have to undergo the 2 year playing requirement.
Altybarmakyan-Maltsev-Kostin
Kayumov-Shvyryov-Svechnikov
Rubtsov-Lipanov-Abramov
Sokolov-Khovanov-Rasseikin
(Sergachev)
Y. Zaytsev-Dronov
Karpukhin-Makeev
Samorukov-Kurashov
Lavrinenko
Sukhachyov
Berdin
Tarasov
Kayumov-Shvyryov-Svechnikov
Rubtsov-Lipanov-Abramov
Sokolov-Khovanov-Rasseikin
(Sergachev)
Y. Zaytsev-Dronov
Karpukhin-Makeev
Samorukov-Kurashov
Lavrinenko
Sukhachyov
Berdin
Tarasov
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Needs Kosorenkov and Zhukov.
I also think one of the younger defensemen and maybe Kravtsov should be on this team. I know Russia doesn't take young teams, but they should. Russian teams at the WJC the last few years have been really good at the top end with excellent players in big roles, but the role players have been complete grinders, meanwhile the other teams take their most talented players, regardless of age and usually win because they are more talented throughout the lineup, meanwhile Russia tires out their best players. How much would Svechnikov have helped this season? A lot. Galenyuk should probably make it. If not him, maybe an outside shot for Okhotyuk or Knyazev. These are supposed to be very good drafts for Russia in 2018 and 2019, take advantage of it. You never know who's gonna perform like Laine, Puljujarvi and Juolevi did.
Fantomas
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- Aug 7, 2012
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