Hypothetical Russia “4 nation” team

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Rough defence but amazing goaltending

Better defense than the Finns

 

[frontsfan67]

Better defense than the Finns

Debatable. Forward group is way better though and goalies are way better too. Finland is definitely the weakest team of the 4 at the tournament.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

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.

Russia if allowed to play in 2026 Olympics would be a threat to win Gold based on
just goaltending and PP.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

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.

Has Russia\USSR always been a top heavy country talent wise? Seems they lack depth upfront & on D.

Can remember back to 1979-80 season the US Olympic Team beat what was called
the USSR B Team in Lake Placid around Christmas and then the A Team in February.

Funny thing is that 1980 US Team were missing about 8 players who were of NCAA
aged in 1979-80 who would have been on the 1980 USOT had they hadn't turned pro
early like Steve Baker, Langway, Roberts, Dunn, Mullen , Nilan, McDougal and Gorence.

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

This the guy that wouldn't let Michkov play?

And won't let Demidov play, yes