Olympics: Hypothetical Team Russia - 2026

[waitin425]

What do you think they would look like for 2026 if for some reason they were permitted to play in the Olympics. Someone mentioned that Michkov and Demidov are the next generation of Russian superstars and it got me thinking about a pass the torch kind of roster, much like I am hoping Celebrini and Bedard are on Team Canada. Let's hear it!

Kaprizov - Malkin - Kucherov
Ovechkin - Kuznetsov - Demidov - Demi has familiarity with Kuzy and Kuzy with Ovechkin
Panarin - Barbashev - Michkov - Barbashev is a high energy centre. Good complement to Michkov
Svechnikov - Marchenko - Buchnevich - Marchy needs a spot on team. So take a winger for the centre position or move Svech to the middle.
Nuke

Sergachev - Provorov
Zadorov - Gavrikov
Romanov - Nikishin

Man do they lack RD's

Vasi
Shesty
Bob

Click to read more...

 

[MNRube]

I think they roll Barbashev & Buchnevich as their Top 6 Cs and Malkin as 3C. Really strong team. Some very intriguing D who might not be quite ready to assist the world class wingers and goaltending

 

[Mathieukferland]

Panarin-Malkin-Kucherov
Kaprizov-Kuznetsov-Ovechkin
Svechnikov-Barbashev-Buchnevich
Voronkov-Namestnikov-Marchenko
Michkov

Gavrikov-Sergachev
Nikishin-Orlov
Gavrikov-Zadorov
Yurov

Sheshterkin
Vasilevskiy
Bobrovski


Outrageously skilled forward and goalie groups, best defensemen available are all left handed

 

[majormajor]

The biggest oversight I see with the OP lineup is the lack of Voronkov. Over the last month he's tied for #1 in NHL goal scoring. 15th in points (Marchenko is 5th).

Voronkov is also a better center than any of these guys. I think you'd probably see a line with him and Marchenko along with a top playmaking wing - perhaps Kaprizov or Kucherov - as one of the top two lines for Russia. There is a big competitiveness drop off with Kuzy and Malkin at this stage and it will really show in 2026. Kuzy should probably just be left off.

And a less egregious oversight - Artem Zub is a better D-man, when healthy (he's dinged up right now), than Zadorov, Romanov, and Provorov. And he's a righty, so I think of course he should be on there.

 

[Albatros]

Crosby is a spring chicken compared to some of those names.

 

[Riggins]

Great on the wings and in goal. Very weak at center and D compared to the likes of Canada and USA.

 

[Forsbergaura21]

The biggest oversight I see with the OP lineup is the lack of Voronkov. Over the last month he's tied for #1 in NHL goal scoring. 15th in points (Marchenko is 5th).

Voronkov is also a better center than any of these guys. I think you'd probably see a line with him and Marchenko along with a top playmaking wing - perhaps Kaprizov or Kucherov - as one of the top two lines for Russia. There is a big competitiveness drop off with Kuzy and Malkin at this stage and it will really show in 2026. Kuzy should probably just be left off.

And a less egregious oversight - Artem Zub is a better D-man, when healthy (he's dinged up right now), than Zadorov, Romanov, and Provorov. And he's a righty, so I think of course he should be on there.

Completely agree.

Lines I would like to see:

Kaprizov - Voronkov - Marchenko
This line will be almost unstoppable I think…can beat you with size or skill or both!

Kucherov - Barbashev - Panarin
High end skill on wings with Barbashev doing the dirty work. Panarin and Kucherov are buddies.

Svechnikov - Buchnevich - Michkov
This would be a sick kid line. Buchnevich would provide the experience in the middle.


Ovechkin - Malkin - Tsyplakov
The old goats line…with Tsyplakov adding a physical touch.

Extras:
Nichushkin - if not high
Namestinov - for center depth
Demidov

Gavrikov - Sergachev

Provorov - Orlov

Mintyukov - Nikishin

Extras: Zub



Sheshterkin
Vasilievski
Bob

 

[majormajor]

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

Sergachev - Gavrikov
Nikishin - Orlov
Mintyukov - Zub
Provorov
Zadorov

Vasilevskiy
Sorokin
Shesterkin

There were some tough decisions. Leaving Kuznetsov off the roster was not one of them.

Completely agree.

Lines I would like to see:

Kaprizov - Voronkov - Marchenko

Coincidentally, that is exactly what I went with.

I'm not familiar enough with Tsyplakov. I think Nichushkin has to be on there. When he's going he's one of the best.

 

[Captain Mountain]

These lists feels more NHL team heavy than Russian teams usually are. Russia usually has at least a few guys playing the KHL, even if they shouldn't.

 

[majormajor]

These lists feels more NHL team heavy than Russian teams usually are. Russia usually has at least a few guys playing the KHL, even if they shouldn't.

Other than Demidov and Nikishin, who will be in the NHL by then, who among the KHLers do you see making the team?

 

[Captain Mountain]

Other than Demidov and Nikishin, who will be in the NHL by then, who among the KHLers do you see making the team?

IDK. Nabakov? Gusev? Plotnikov? Barabanov?

I just don't think there's any chance the "Olympics Athletes from Russia" would have zero active KHLers, even if all the best Russian hockey players would be in the NHL.

Like, I'd be shocked if: younger guys who recently went to the NHL (like Michkov, Demidov, Nikishin), guys with less star power in Russia (Barbashev, Namestnikov, Voronkov) or guys who went straight to NA didn't get snubbed for political reasons (hyping up the KHL).

If countries like Canada play politics when assembling rosters, then "OAR" definitely would.

 

[Faterson]

I just don't think there's any chance there will be "Olympics Athletes from Russia"

Fixed that for you, thread over.

 

[majormajor]

IDK. Nabakov? Gusev? Plotnikov? Barabanov?

I just don't think there's any chance the "Olympics Athletes from Russia" would have zero active KHLers, even if all the best Russian hockey players would be in the NHL.

Like, I'd be shocked if: younger guys who recently went to the NHL (like Michkov, Demidov, Nikishin), guys with less star power in Russia (Barbashev, Namestnikov, Voronkov) or guys who went straight to NA didn't get snubbed for political reasons (hyping up the KHL).

If countries like Canada play politics when assembling rosters, then "OAR" definitely would.

I think the most likely candidate for that would be Kuznetsov, who will get picked even if he's too washed for Olympic level play.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Super weak centers

 

[Zine]

IDK. Nabakov? Gusev? Plotnikov? Barabanov?

I just don't think there's any chance the "Olympics Athletes from Russia" would have zero active KHLers, even if all the best Russian hockey players would be in the NHL.

Like, I'd be shocked if: younger guys who recently went to the NHL (like Michkov, Demidov, Nikishin), guys with less star power in Russia (Barbashev, Namestnikov, Voronkov) or guys who went straight to NA didn't get snubbed for political reasons (hyping up the KHL).

If countries like Canada play politics when assembling rosters, then "OAR" definitely would.

It really depends on the coach and the politics behind picking the coach.

If NHLers participated in 2022, I don't think any KHLers would've made the roster with Zhamnov, Fedorov and Gonchar coaching and Kovalchuk as GM. The SKA Rotenberg faction was completely marginalized for that tournament.
And it's not like the KHL and Russian Ice Hockey Federation aren't at odds with eachother at the moment also

 

[WarriorofTime]

IDK. Nabakov? Gusev? Plotnikov? Barabanov?

I just don't think there's any chance the "Olympics Athletes from Russia" would have zero active KHLers, even if all the best Russian hockey players would be in the NHL.

Like, I'd be shocked if: younger guys who recently went to the NHL (like Michkov, Demidov, Nikishin), guys with less star power in Russia (Barbashev, Namestnikov, Voronkov) or guys who went straight to NA didn't get snubbed for political reasons (hyping up the KHL).

If countries like Canada play politics when assembling rosters, then "OAR" definitely would.

NHL Circa 2013-14 was only 3.5 % Russian (34 players). Less Russian NHL players than Czechs. Of course KHL players like Radulov and Kovalchuk would be on the Olympic team. NHL today is 6.5 % Russian (66 players). More Russian NHL players than Finns.. no Kovalchuk or Radulov type. Think you're barking up a wrong tree.

 

[Crosby2010]

I miss them playing, that's for sure. It isn't the same. The World Juniors aren't the same anymore either. I sincerely hope they are playing in 2026 because in net and the top two lines up front they'll be good. They do tend to self destruct quite often, but they are still Russia.

 

[Hallonbroder]

I miss them playing, that's for sure. It isn't the same. The World Juniors aren't the same anymore either. I sincerely hope they are playing in 2026 because in net and the top two lines up front they'll be good. They do tend to self destruct quite often, but they are still Russia.

Aaaaw….

Well then, say goodbye to Sweden, Finland, Czechia and other European countries that will refuse to play in a tournament that allows Russia to participate.

 

[ViD]

Aaaaw….

Well then, say goodbye to Sweden, Finland, Czechia and other European countries that will refuse to play in a tournament that allows Russia to participate.

All good, I will enjoy watching games vs Canada, US and Slovakia

 

[Hallonbroder]

All good, I will enjoy watching games vs Canada, US and Slovakia

Gl with that. Til then, enjoy playing Belarus, Iran, China and North Korea - the only countries that’ll have you

 

[Crosby2010]

Aaaaw….

Well then, say goodbye to Sweden, Finland, Czechia and other European countries that will refuse to play in a tournament that allows Russia to participate.

Oh let's get on with our lives already shall we? What exactly does Kucherov and co. have to do with wars that are going on in the world right now? And has a boycott/banishment ever worked in the past? Can we ask the Canadian and American Olympians who trained all of their lives and then couldn't go to Moscow in 1980? How did that turn out? Let's just have the best in the world play hockey.

 

[Hallonbroder]

Oh let's get on with our lives already shall we? What exactly does Kucherov and co. have to do with wars that are going on in the world right now? And has a boycott/banishment ever worked in the past? Can we ask the Canadian and American Olympians who trained all of their lives and then couldn't go to Moscow in 1980? How did that turn out? Let's just have the best in the world play hockey.

Tell that to the Ukrainian families that are being torn apart every day. Tell that to European nations that faces nuclear threats each and other week.

I’m not going to “discuss” this with you. Just know that if you want your precious Russians back in kids tournaments, you can say goodbye to us and other normal countries. Bye

 

[Crosby2010]

Tell that to the Ukrainian families that are being torn apart every day. Tell that to European nations that faces nuclear threats each and other week.

I’m not going to “discuss” this with you. Just know that if you want your precious Russians back in kids tournaments, you can say goodbye to us and other normal countries. Bye

Not wanting to play is a lot different than being outright banned. If anything I would think it makes much better hockey (it always did in the Cold War era) with a so-called villain.

 

[Mathieukferland]

 

[MeHateHe]

It's weird how these "hypothetical" threads always turn into threads about how we're sad about Russia. Luckily, they're not political.