Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Garipov definitely doesn't belong in this conversation at all for quite some years. I think Bobkov is still a downgrade comparing to Samonov, maybe could compete with Bocharov though. Tarasov was in Cleveland last time I checked, as for Askarov I wouldn't mind to at least see him in the camp, but he almost didn't play since the WJC. Not to mention that so far, Samonov actually brings results here pretty decently - doesn't steal games, of course, yet isn't bad either.
Isn't part of that problem what happens with SKA? Same coach running SKA and the Russian National Team. If Askarov doesn't get game time with SKA and therefore isn't an option for the Russian National Team, whose fault is that? I understand that Hellberg is constantly injured, but when he's not, I feel like he's better than Samonov. And I would also think that Askarov should be getting game time with SKA before Samonov, so thats my reasoning that Samonov is SKA's third best goalie. If he's SKA's third best goalie and he's playing 10 games per season, is he even considered for the Russian National Team? He may not be, or at least, he'd almost certainly not be starting. To me, the issue starts with what happens at SKA. You can't detach that from the National Team.