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.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Btw I'm pretty sure Nikishin would make the team. He's good and Rotenberg loves him.

 

[Zine]

Kaprizov-Malkin-Kucherov
Panarin-Buchnevich-Nichushkin
Ovechkin-Barbashyov-Svechnikov
Marchenko-Voronkov-Michkov

Sergachyov-Gavrikov
Provorov-Zub
Orlov-Nikishin
Mintyukov-Romanov

Shestyorkin
Vasilevsky
Sorokin

 

[VistamarCroissants]

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

That's because there are 2 wingers for each center

 

[VistamarCroissants]

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.

I'd pick Bobrovsky instead of Sorokin.

And Nichushkin on the 4th line. Panarin can be leveraged as a center to add more depth at the pivot

 

[Eye of Ra]

Weak at centers and d

Very strong wingers and goalkeepers

 

[Kshahdoo]

Weak at centers and d

Very strong wingers and goalkeepers

Defence is ok. Gavrikov and Zub are top defensive defensemen, who aren't bad in moving the puck. Sergachev, Provorov, Orlov, Nikishin know something about offence. You don't need a bunch of 1Ds to have a competent blue line, especially with so many great goalies and forwards.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think that’s better than Sweden and Finland, even if it has deficiencies. Sweden relies a lot on Zibanejad and Pettersson who’ve been terrible for like six months or more. Finland has one good defenseman.

Whether it would be better than USA or Canada, probably not for like an 82 game season, but a series or even one game, having that type of scoring talent and goaltending could see them pull the upset.

 

[therealdeal]

Looking forward to the day we get to see Russia back in these tourneys, always a scary team to play against!!

 

[Czechboy]

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

This the guy that wouldn't let Michkov play?

 

[Eye of Ra]

Looking forward to the day we get to see Russia back in these tourneys, always a scary team to play against!!

Last time they reached finals in a best on best tournament was in 1998 and last time they won was in 1981.

 

[WayTooCold]

Canada - Russia is always a classic clash. Russia need to get their asses back so Canada have worthy opponent.

Russia rarely wins gold. But they medal. For Canada it's gold or bust. If we lose semifinal. Our tournament is over. Bronze medal games are not our forte.

Right now I would rather see a best of 7 series against USA all stars than these filler countries.