Hypothetical Russia “4 nation” team

[ViD]

Let’s pretend the NHL ignored the IIHF ban and allowed Russians to participate.

Clearly, only active NHL players are allowed.

What’s the roster you think Russia will ice ?

My take:

Artemi Panarin - Evgeny Malkin (A) - Nikita Kucherov (A)
Kirill Kaprizov - Ivan Barbashev - Andrei Svechnikov
Alex Ovechkin (C) - Pavel Buchnevich - Kirill Marchenko
Matvei Michkov - Vladislav Namestnikov - Dmitry Voronkov

Vladislav Gavrikov - Mikhail Sergachev
Artem Zub - Ivan Provorov
Alexander Romanov - Dmitry Orlov

Igor Shestyorkin
Andrei Vasilevsky
Ilya Sorokin

Glaring holes are centers and the lack of good puck moving offensive defensemen.

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[Mathieukferland]

That’s the best goaltending I’ve ever seen on one team, and to think that leaves Bobrovskii off

 

[waitin425]

I feel like Kuznetsov would likely be there.

 

[Czechboy]

Let’s pretend the NHL ignored the IIHF ban and allowed Russians to participate.

Clearly, only active NHL players are allowed.

What’s the roster you think Russia will ice ?

My take:

Artemi Panarin - Evgeny Malkin (A) - Nikita Kucherov (A)
Kirill Kaprizov - Ivan Barbashev - Andrei Svechnikov
Alex Ovechkin (C) - Pavel Buchnevich - Kirill Marchenko
Matvei Michkov - Vladislav Namestnikov - Dmitry Voronkov

Vladislav Gavrikov - Mikhail Sergachev
Artem Zub - Ivan Provorov
Alexander Romanov - Dmitry Orlov

Igor Shestyorkin
Andrei Vasilevsky
Ilya Sorokin

Glaring holes are centers and the lack of good puck moving offensive defensemen.

Goaltending is a 12 out of 10
D is an 8 out of 10.. I'd like to see mintyukov
Wings are a 10
C is probably a 5

My comparables are us, Sweden and canada

 

[Kshahdoo]

Head Coach - Roman Rotenberg. It's the only thing that matters so it's good they won't play...

 

[WatchfulElm]

Why is it that Russia is producing so many good wingers, but so very few centers??

 

[HockeyScotty]

Let’s pretend the NHL ignored the IIHF ban and allowed Russians to participate.

Clearly, only active NHL players are allowed.

What’s the roster you think Russia will ice ?

My take:

Artemi Panarin - Evgeny Malkin (A) - Nikita Kucherov (A)
Kirill Kaprizov - Ivan Barbashev - Andrei Svechnikov
Alex Ovechkin (C) - Pavel Buchnevich - Kirill Marchenko
Matvei Michkov - Vladislav Namestnikov - Dmitry Voronkov

Vladislav Gavrikov - Mikhail Sergachev
Artem Zub - Ivan Provorov
Alexander Romanov - Dmitry Orlov

Igor Shestyorkin
Andrei Vasilevsky
Ilya Sorokin

Glaring holes are centers and the lack of good puck moving offensive defensemen.

Glaring miss on Val Nichushkin on the wing also; probably drops Voronkov out.

The 3rd line listed would get caved in defensively; I would balance them out more with Panarin/Kucherov on different lines opposite snipers (swap Panarin and Kaprizov for example).

Puck-moving D to consider:
Mintyukov (ANA)
Zamula (PHI)
Gulyayev (COL) - would be one for 2026 and beyond.

Sergachev, Provorov, and Orlov are solid break-out puck movers and shooters from the point and with the wingers on that team that's about all you need from D.

Zadorov could be a 7th D consideration also.