Impact of Olympics on Russian Hockey

[TollefsenFan]

Voinov and Kulikov will be top russian Ds in 4 years. Bob and Varly will be even better than they are now. Malkin, Ovie, Kovy, Syomin and Radulov will still be "Young". So im not worried about Russia. Im worried about Slovakia. The Slovaks will struggle while the Swiss will only get better....

 

[An Argument For]

Voinov and Kulikov will be top russian Ds in 4 years. Bob and Varly will be even better than they are now. Malkin, Ovie, Kovy, Syomin and Radulov will still be "Young". So im not worried about Russia. Im worried about Slovakia. The Slovaks will struggle while the Swiss will only get better....

Slovakia is in the twilight now. They had soo many amazing underrated players for so long but they're about to fall in the bottom tier. Tatar, Sekera, and one more Olympic run with Halak, maybe two. Everyone else is over 30. They seriously need a new generation of players to emerge.

 

[Xokkeu]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov



Vishnevsky
Voynov
Kulikov
Orlov



Varlamov


Am I missing anybody?

That's not a solid list. Kuzhnetsov, Tarasenko, Kucherov and Anisimov are really the only NHL level impact forwards.

 

[An Argument For]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov



Vishnevsky
Voynov
Kulikov
Orlov



Varlamov


Am I missing anybody?

That's not a solid list. Kuzhnetsov, Tarasenko, Kucherov and Anisimov are really the only NHL level impact forwards.

Strong use of the letter 'v'.

 

[jekoh]

Am I missing anybody?

Bobrovski, Nichushkin...

 

[TollefsenFan]

Slovakia is in the twilight now. They had soo many amazing underrated players for so long but they're about to fall in the bottom tier. Tatar, Sekera, and one more Olympic run with Halak, maybe two. Everyone else is over 30. They seriously need a new generation of players to emerge.

Jurco and Panik will be okey players aswell. Mez has played rly well for Slovakia, so its not that bad. The thing is that Switzerland and Latvia got as much or more top prospects

 

[An Argument For]

Jurco and Panik will be okey players aswell. Mez has played rly well for Slovakia, so its not that bad. The thing is that Switzerland and Latvia got as much or more top prospects

It's still such a fall from what they have had over the past 10-20 years.

Gaborik, Demitra, Hossa, Chara, Palfy, Bondra, Stumpel, Satan.. They going from a handful of NHL all-stars to really having a couple of capable players. The "big 7" talk is already basically dead and I think they'll fall in line with Latvia, Norway, etc in the next 5-10 years.

 

[Yakushev72]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov



Vishnevsky
Voynov
Kulikov
Orlov



Varlamov


Am I missing anybody?

That's not a solid list. Kuzhnetsov, Tarasenko, Kucherov and Anisimov are really the only NHL level impact forwards.

Nichushkin, Yakupov, Shipachyov, Tikhonov, Panarin, Malykhin, Burdasov, Marchenko, Buchnevich and many others. The creation of the MHL and the affiliation of the VHL with they KHL should at least triple the number of top level players coming out of Russia within the next 3 to 4 years. In terms of depth and quality, Russia is breaking out of long-term mediocrity, and the best days are definitely ahead.

 

[Xokkeu]

Nichushkin, Yakupov, Shipachyov, Tikhonov, Panarin, Malykhin, Burdasov, Marchenko, Buchnevich and many others. The creation of the MHL and the affiliation of the VHL with they KHL should at least triple the number of top level players coming out of Russia within the next 3 to 4 years. In terms of depth and quality, Russia is breaking out of long-term mediocrity, and the best days are definitely ahead.

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov

 

[Yakushev72]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov

Sorry, I missed it.

 

[Yakushev72]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov



Vishnevsky
Voynov
Kulikov
Orlov



Varlamov


Am I missing anybody?

That's not a solid list. Kuzhnetsov, Tarasenko, Kucherov and Anisimov are really the only NHL level impact forwards.

Actually, taking your entire list, if anyone other than Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Tikhonov, Kucherov, Burmistrov, Namestnikov and maybe Orlov are considered strong candidates for the team, its probably not worth entering the Olympics in 2018.

 

[Xokkeu]

Actually, taking your entire list, if anyone other than Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Tikhonov, Kucherov, Burmistrov, Namestnikov and maybe Orlov are considered strong candidates for the team, its probably not worth entering the Olympics in 2018.

I tried to get as comprehensive a list as I could for about 1988 to 1992 birth years which is why I skipped over recent guys like Yakupov and Nichushkin.


Obviously guys like Oveckin and Malkin are still going to be good in four years. So realistically Russia still has a decent core for 2018.

Ovechkin
Malkin
Semin
Radulov
Kovalchuk

are all probably going to be back. Datsyuk is probably done.

You can add a decent core of players like Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Kucherov.


The problem is that Russia is starting to enter into the territory that the US was in for awhile and that Sweden found itself in this year as the tournament went on. They can't really afford to lose any of their star players because they don't have the depth to replace them.

That and as we all know, the defense....

 

[Yakushev72]

I tried to get as comprehensive a list as I could for about 1988 to 1992 birth years which is why I skipped over recent guys like Yakupov and Nichushkin.


Obviously guys like Oveckin and Malkin are still going to be good in four years. So realistically Russia still has a decent core for 2018.

Ovechkin
Malkin
Semin
Radulov
Kovalchuk

are all probably going to be back. Datsyuk is probably done.

You can add a decent core of players like Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Kucherov.


The problem is that Russia is starting to enter into the territory that the US was in for awhile and that Sweden found itself in this year as the tournament went on. They can't really afford to lose any of their star players because they don't have the depth to replace them.

That and as we all know, the defense....

Based on the guys that we know will be available in 2018, it doesn't look promising for Russia. There is always the possibility of the emergence of new impact players, but with the ones we know of now, Russia is not close to being a contender for Gold.

Russian fans take no comfort in the fact that guys like Ovechkin and Malkin will be back, largely because there is a long history of NHL superstars, starting with Bure, Mogilny, Fyodorov, Yashin, and so on that have just failed to produce in situations where "Rossiya" is on their jerseys. A lot of Russian fans remember the 2000 World Championships in St. Petersburg, when Russia fielded one of the greatest collections of NHL superstars ever, only to finish 11th in the tournament.

The only hope for Russia is that the massive and well-funded project to expand junior hockey will pay dividends down the road. But it is unlikely that the balance will be changed by 2018. Unlike Soviet hockey, modern Russian hockey is devoid of structure, and Russians unfortunately need a lot of structure and a clear knowledge of what their job is to succeed.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Based on the guys that we know will be available in 2018, it doesn't look promising for Russia. There is always the possibility of the emergence of new impact players, but with the ones we know of now, Russia is not close to being a contender for Gold.

Russian fans take no comfort in the fact that guys like Ovechkin and Malkin will be back, largely because there is a long history of NHL superstars, starting with Bure, Mogilny, Fyodorov, Yashin, and so on that have just failed to produce in situations where "Rossiya" is on their jerseys. A lot of Russian fans remember the 2000 World Championships in St. Petersburg, when Russia fielded one of the greatest collections of NHL superstars ever, only to finish 11th in the tournament.

The only hope for Russia is that the massive and well-funded project to expand junior hockey will pay dividends down the road. But it is unlikely that the balance will be changed by 2018. Unlike Soviet hockey, modern Russian hockey is devoid of structure, and Russians unfortunately need a lot of structure and a clear knowledge of what their job is to succeed.

1998 Olympic Semi-finals? Probably the greatest single game Olympic performance ever.

 

[An Argument For]

Based on the guys that we know will be available in 2018, it doesn't look promising for Russia. There is always the possibility of the emergence of new impact players, but with the ones we know of now, Russia is not close to being a contender for Gold.

Russian fans take no comfort in the fact that guys like Ovechkin and Malkin will be back, largely because there is a long history of NHL superstars, starting with Bure, Mogilny, Fyodorov, Yashin, and so on that have just failed to produce in situations where "Rossiya" is on their jerseys. A lot of Russian fans remember the 2000 World Championships in St. Petersburg, when Russia fielded one of the greatest collections of NHL superstars ever, only to finish 11th in the tournament.

The only hope for Russia is that the massive and well-funded project to expand junior hockey will pay dividends down the road. But it is unlikely that the balance will be changed by 2018. Unlike Soviet hockey, modern Russian hockey is devoid of structure, and Russians unfortunately need a lot of structure and a clear knowledge of what their job is to succeed.

I just looked that tournament up.. that was brutal. How did Russia lose to Latvia and Belarus? That one must of stung. That was a good Russian roster too..

 

[Zine]

Based on the guys that we know will be available in 2018, it doesn't look promising for Russia. There is always the possibility of the emergence of new impact players, but with the ones we know of now, Russia is not close to being a contender for Gold.

I'm optimistic about 2018. Top 6 won't be as good, but the roster could be much deeper. Goaltending will be insanely good.

Ovechkin
Malkin
Radulov
Anisimov
Tarasenko
Burmistrov
Kuznetsov
Yakupov
Kucherov
Grigorenko
Nichushkin
Buchnevich

Voynov
Chudinov
Kulikov
Orlov
Marchenko
Mironov
Zadorov

Varlamov
Bob
Vasilevsky

 

[aqsw]

more kids wanting to grow up to be figure skaters.

LOL

 

[Yakushev72]

I'm optimistic about 2018. Top 6 won't be as good, but the roster could be much deeper. Goaltending will be insanely good.

Ovechkin
Malkin
Radulov
Anisimov
Tarasenko
Burmistrov
Kuznetsov
Yakupov
Kucherov
Grigorenko
Nichushkin
Buchnevich

Voynov
Chudinov
Kulikov
Orlov
Marchenko
Mironov
Zadorov

Varlamov
Bob
Vasilevsky

You're right, there's a lot of talent there. What Russia will need is some structure. Canada and Finland came into Sochi with a defensive game plan and a counterattack strategy. Russia seemed to skate around aimlessly, as if they could never figure out exactly what they were expected to do. None of the Canadians or Finns were issued a pedestal or a throne, they were all role players during the tournament, and they seemed to know exactly what their role was, and their teammates knew it too. Without that kind of specificity in their roles, Russia will only repeat the past 3 Olympics.

 

[Jussi]

1998 Olympic Semi-finals? Probably the greatest single game Olympic performance ever.

Yes, Niinimaa played well for the Russians in that game.

 

[kp61c]

What's Russia's under 30 for 2018 look like?

Anisimov
Dadonov
Mayorov
Tikhonov
Filatov
Petrov
Grachev
Loktionov
Burmistrov
Tarasenko
Kuznetsov
Telegin
Namestnikov
Kucherov

panarin, prohorkin, plotnikov...
yep, that looks rather bleak. to be in your list you need to be drafted? sorry, but some names in your list are not even worth mentioning

 

[Canuck21t]

Russia got lucky in the 2010 Worlds when Canada sent a bunch of scrubs like Stamkos, Perry, Getzlaf, Tavares, and a bunch of guys of that caliber. It was an easy walkover for Russia - 6-2. I doubt the Russians will get lucky enough to have Canada send tools like that again!

Getzlaf wasn't there, just Perry, the only Olympian. Sure names such as Stamkos, Duchene and Tavares look awesome now, but back in 2010 they were still very young and inexperienced. Stamkos was a sophomore and Duchene and Tavares were rookies in the NHL. Canada's WHC team was not even B-team caliber; seven of Canada's players were 20 years old and under. Russia on the other hand practically had its Olympic roster with Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Semin. No other team had that luxury.

 

[JackSlater]

Getzlaf wasn't there, just Perry, the only Olympian. Sure names such as Stamkos, Duchene and Tavares look awesome now, but back in 2010 they were still very young and inexperienced. Stamkos was a sophomore and Duchene and Tavares were rookies in the NHL. Canada's WHC team was not even B-team caliber; seven of Canada's players were 20 years old and under. Russia on the other hand practically had its Olympic roster with Datsyuk, Malkin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Semin. No other team had that luxury.

Stamkos got hurt early on and missed basically the whole tournament.

 

[Canuck21t]

Stamkos got hurt early on and missed basically the whole tournament.

That's right, so Stamkos, Duchenes and Tavares were non-factors back in 2010. Canada only had Perry who was of significance. The WHC 2010 Russian team were heads above any other teams and they still came out short.

 

[Canuck21t]

This assumes that the NHL will be participating in the 2018 games. According to this week's issue of Sports Illustrated in the United States, the NHL has already decided not to go to Korea - they just haven't made the announcement yet.

But if the NHL should change its mind on Korea, isn't it true that Canada and Russia will likely be the same age across the board? The spark for the Canadian Gold Medal in Vancouver came from their 2005 World Juniors group - Crosby, Bergeron, Perry, Getzlaf, Weber, etc. The spark for the Gold Medal in Sochi came from the same 2005 World Jr. group. In 2018, if the NHL goes, these guys will be around 33 years old, and they'll still be outstanding players, but they'll have a little less spring and speed, and they will be trying to achieve a three-peat, which is harder to do.

Canada hasn't won a Gold Medal in six years at the WJC, which is probably an accurate gauge of where the competitive balance lies. As Brent Sutter said, back in 2005 Canada had no real competition, but now Europeans and even the US are changing the competitive balance. I predict a three-peat won't happen.

It is true that our 2005 core has been extremely successful and we'll lose some great talent when most of this group of players will retire. Russia's 2005 core is also your main group and although quite talented, hasn't been nearly as successful as Canada's.

Despite not winning the WJC as often anymore and therefore not having a main group similar to that of 2005, every year we have a couple of very good players that will surely contribute to the national team. Stamkos, Tavares, Toews, Benn, Duchene and Doughty are all outside of the 2005 core. Canada's succession won't be as leathal as the 2005 core, but Hall, Seguin, Nugent-Hopkins, Skinner and MacKinnon are good successors. I don't think in 4 years time, Canada will still rely on the 2005 guys. Crosby will most probably still be on Team Canada, but I'm not sure about the others. Canada has many young players waiting in line.

 

[SchultzSquared*]

It is true that our 2005 core has been extremely successful and we'll lose some great talent when most of this group of players will retire. Russia's 2005 core is also your main group and although quite talented, hasn't been nearly as successful as Canada's.

Despite not winning the WJC as often anymore and therefore not having a main group similar to that of 2005, every year we have a couple of very good players that will surely contribute to the national team. Stamkos, Tavares, Toews, Benn, Duchene and Doughty are all outside of the 2005 core. Canada's succession won't be as leathal as the 2005 core, but Hall, Seguin, Nugent-Hopkins, Skinner and MacKinnon are good successors. I don't think in 4 years time, Canada will still rely on the 2005 guys. Crosby will most probably still be on Team Canada, but I'm not sure about the others. Canada has many young players waiting in line.

It is true... outside of complete WJC teams... many of which were annoyingly built to exclude players who went on to be better than many on those teams ahead of them (major factor why Canada has not done as well recently) you have a handful of stars and superstars from each draft...

2006:

Toews
Giroux
Lucic

2007:

Subban
Benn
Couture

2008:

Stamkos
Doughty
Pietrangelo
Eberle

2009:

Duchene
Tavares
E. Kane

2010:

Hall
Seguin
Skinner

2011 is too early yet but RNH Huberdeau D. Hamilton etc. could join them right away and there are later round picks still waiting to blossom ala Weber

This is what separates Canada from the pack... while any other nation might get one such player in each draft or a cluster one year and then none the next the Frozen North continues to be well a hockey factory... the NHL is built on it so it should be no surprise