WC: 2019 - Team Russia

[Planet Hockey]

Ovechkin and Kovalchuk both played good. Still far from their best form, but it's OK for now.

Gusev is invisible on the ice. Both in line with Malkin and Anisimov. In playoff with SKA this season he didn't impress much, but I didn't watch all the games.

Maybe for coaches to take a chance and make first line Kovi-Malkin-Kuch

This reminds me of a situation Mike Keenan once faced at the Canada Cup. He had done the logical thing and had the Great One and Super Mario each centering their own lines. They had great chemistry in practice, but the positions didn’t match up. So finally a reporter from Finland said, “Hey coach. How about Gretzky and Lemieux, same line, all time?”

Iron Mike was crazy enough to try it and the duo was unstoppable, known as the “Same Line All Time” combination.

Why not a more athletic player alongside Kucherov and Malkin though? Let Kovalchuk play sniper on a big beefy pressuring line with skaters like Grigorenko?

 

[Khokhlach86]

Lyubushkin, Mikheyev and Kadeykin are cut.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

Lyubushkin, Mikheyev and Kadeykin are cut.

Mikheev is actually quite good at times.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

Ovechkin just stands around while the opponent has the puck and does nothing. He is a liability on the ice. He has not been an asset for the national team for many years.

Well, he did score recently vs. Finland plus he basically got the first goal for Russia vs. the Czech Republic. Ovechkin has proven many times that he doesn't just "stand around". He has made plenty of great plays that weren't just goals.

 

[Wings4Life]

Ovechkin and Kovalchuk both played good. Still far from their best form, but it's OK for now.

Gusev is invisible on the ice. Both in line with Malkin and Anisimov. In playoff with SKA this season he didn't impress much, but I didn't watch all the games.

Maybe for coaches to take a chance and make first line Kovi-Malkin-Kuch

Kovalchuk is done as a top 6 player for Russia. Gusev, despite the jetlag, has been much better.

 

[Kshahdoo]

So Gavrikov is available. Him and Kiselevich, it's going to be our another top4 pair.

 

[Alex K]

Sucks that Provorov isn't coming.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Sucks that Provorov isn't coming.

Yeah, him instead of Nesterov would be so great.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Any chance for Panarin to get some of that Swedish WHC insurance?

 

[Bear12Good]

Any chance for Panarin to get some of that Swedish WHC insurance?

Not big

 

[Bear12Good]

Gavrikov in

 

[Bear12Good]

 

[Atas2000]

Sucks that Provorov isn't coming.

This is a debt to the NT he will have to repay.

 

[Atas2000]

Any chance for Panarin to get some of that Swedish WHC insurance?

He is a talker recently...

 

[Atas2000]

Gavrikov is a great addition to this D-squad. It needs improvement. The question is if Zadorov is in their plans too.

 

[ViD]

Panarin and Bob are without contracts, not seeing them coming

 

[Rillijuti]

What kind of lines and powerplayunits they have been rolling?

 

[Khokhlach86]

What kind of lines and powerplayunits they have been rolling?

Grigorenko-Malkin-Kucherov
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Kaprizov
Gusev-Anisimov-Dadonov
Kovalchuk-Andronov-Plotnikov

pp1

Gusev-Malkin-Dadonov-Sergachyov-Kucherov

pp2

Kaprizov-Kuznetsov-Grigorenko-Ovechkin-Kovalchuk

 

[jaro]

What about Radulov ? Would be huge add.

 

[Maylo]

What about Radulov ? Would be huge add.

Radulov is like 90% played with injury.

 

[Atas2000]

What about Radulov ? Would be huge add.

He might be injured. He might decline even if healthy because of his old grudges. The coaching staff might not even invite him for the same reason.

 

[Atas2000]

Panarin and Bob are without contracts, not seeing them coming

They officially only invited Gavrikov, so that concludes it I guess.

 

[Kshahdoo]

So new lines at the practice:

Ovi - Kuznetsov - Kaprizov
Grigorenko - Malkin - Dadonov
Gusev - Anisimov - Kucherov
Plotnikov - Andronov - Kovalchuk

Let's see, will Gusev and Kucherov simulate Panarin and Kane...

 

[Wings4Life]

So new lines at the practice:

Ovi - Kuznetsov - Kaprizov
Grigorenko - Malkin - Dadonov
Gusev - Anisimov - Kucherov
Plotnikov - Andronov - Kovalchuk

Let's see, will Gusev and Kucherov simulate Panarin and Kane...

Terrible lines.

Are they trying to neutralize Malkin's offense? Kucherov wasted on the third line? These guys played well together against Canada's best team at the World Cup, why split them after a couple jet lagged friendly games (where they looked dangerous together anyway)?

I see them having major problems scoring against the likes of Sweden and USA.

 

[Atas2000]

Terrible lines.

Are they trying to neutralize Malkin's offense? Kucherov wasted on the third line? These guys played well together against Canada's best team at the World Cup, why split them after a couple jet lagged friendly games (where they looked dangerous together anyway)?

I see them having major problems scoring against the likes of Sweden and USA.

You might need a history lesson. Malkin unlike Ovechkin is a center. He has proven in 2012 he can carry a line of KHLers all by himself thus creating the opportunity to improve other lines. I am glad they turned to that option. Also Grigorenko and Dadonov are a huge improvement on his 2012 linemates. Especially Dadonov is a perfect fit for a center like Malkin.

Reuniting Gusev and Kucherov is also reasonable. Anisimov is not perfect, but blame Rottenberg for barring the gate for non-SKA players. Shipachyov should be centering the 3rd line. Also Stamkos and Kucherov were just fine centered by Namestnikov. Kucherov is a great playmaker and goal scorer. Gusev is a great playmaker. Let Anisimov be the workhose and dig and screen for them and that line will be fine.