Russia can win World Cup in Toronto?

[Bear12Good]

Russia can win World Cup in Toronto?

I am waiting for your opinion

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[JackSlater]

Is Russia likely to win? No. Can Russia win? Yes.

 

[McCullogh]

They can win. With Forwards like Ovechkin, Malkin, Tarasenko and Panarin (to mention a few) they look very strong offensively.

I also think their goaltending could be decent with Bobrovsky and Varlamov. But their D is not that impressive and it is why I can't really consider them a real threat to Canada.

 

[Bear12Good]

In Russia it seems to be a good roster

Ovechkin - Kuznetsov -Tarasenko
Radulov-Anisimov-Panarin
Mozyakin- Malkin -Nichushkin
Kucherov-Datsyuk -Kovalchuk
Kulemin

Markov - Emelin
Zaitsev - Kulikov
Medvedev-Orlov



Varlamov
Bobrovsky
Vasilevsky

 

[Bear12Good]

They can win. With Forwards like Ovechkin, Malkin, Tarasenko and Panarin (to mention a few) they look very strong offensively.

I also think their goaltending could be decent with Bobrovsky and Varlamov. But their D is not that impressive and it is why I can't really consider them a real threat to Canada.

Russia has a weak spot is the coach Znarok

 

[MaxV]

Possible. It would take another team upsetting Canada, as Russia is certainly capable of beating any team other then them.

 

[Scotty B]

Russia has a weak spot is the coach Znarok

Nowadays , Rus forwards and D seldom seem in sync. By and large, their coaches seem unable to adjust their tactics , on the fly, in accordance with what opposition has been doing effectively against them.

I have long thought that RUS should add a little dump and chase to their repertoire, making their attacks less predictable ...ergo potentially more effective...

Even in a best on best tourney ( their somewhat pedestrian D notwithstanding ) Russia has more than enough talent to give the likes of Canada, SWE and USA all they can handle. But again their cohesion, tactics and coaching ( or lack thereof ) are their Achilles heal.

In summary: Yes they can win. BUT they're more of a long-shot than their eye popping offensive talent suggests ON PAPER!

 

[xxxx]

anything is possible

I like the team's forwards, that's gonna be unbelievable to watch. Russia needs team-work, a good goalie, and a productive offense to make it possible. Of course, at the end of the day, you have to score more goals than your opponent, so, the question might sound silly, but it's the most important question for me - can Russia score more goals than they allow? That will be the key to success. (yeah we finally know what it takes to win a game, haha.)

 

[tony d]

With their forwards? Sure, not so sure about their defense or goalies.

 

[Jerkini]

Why is Russia so against hiring a North American coach? It seems that team is a perennial underachiever. And that's just unacceptable with the group of players they have.

 

[Zine]

Sure Russia can win. Of course the defense is shaky, but our offense can compensate.

The biggest hurdle (as Scotty B said) is our coach's inability to adjust tactics based on game situations. It's a common theme in Russian coaches, unfortunately.

 

[Zine]

Why is Russia so against hiring a North American coach? It seems that team is a perennial underachiever. And that's just unacceptable with the group of players they have.

I guess we're too proud to have a NA coach. Tretiak is an idiot.

Foreign or not, we need a coach who has 1 foot in traditional Russian style, the other foot in NHL style. Hopefully some of our ex-NHLers who are now coaching (Yushkevich, Zubov, Nikolishin) can emerge.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Why is Russia so against hiring a North American coach? It seems that team is a perennial underachiever. And that's just unacceptable with the group of players they have.

Are you serious? This isn't Switzerland Russia has tons of coaching options.

 

[The Assclown]

I guess we're too proud to have a NA coach. Tretiak is an idiot.

Foreign or not, we need a coach who has 1 foot in traditional Russian style, the other foot in NHL style. Hopefully some of our ex-NHLers who are now coaching (Yushkevich, Zubov, Nikolishin) can emerge.

How's Yushkevich doing as a coach? I was always impressed with him as a player and his ability to think the game through... would be curious to know if his coaching is effective.

 

[Bear12Good]

Are you serious? This isn't Switzerland Russia has tons of coaching options.

For Russia, a foreign coach is a great shame

 

[Scotty B]

Are you serious? This isn't Switzerland Russia has tons of coaching options.

Plenty of same old, same old doesn't smack of real options...

To me, ALL their coaches seem bereft of new ideas.

Still, I don't think they'd accept a Canuck coach, somehow that seems akin to trying to mix oil and water.

Russians might accept a Euro coach...But More likely ( as someone suggested ) it will take a Russian ex NHLer , willing to play a less traditional / more hybrid style, to effect real change. And even then he'd likely face stiff resistance from the old guard.

All that talent, yet so little to show for it in Best on Best competitions. Had anything similar happened here in Canada, our old guard would have ALL lost their heads LONG AGO!

 

[JackSlater]

All that talent, yet so little to show for it in Best on Best competitions. Had anything similar happened here in Canada, our old guard would have ALL lost their heads LONG AGO!

Canada freaked out after losing two consecutive best on best tournaments... losing ~10 in a row like Russia has would prompt insane change. If coaching was deemed to be an issue I guess that they even would have hired a foreign coach. It's hard to imagine that there aren't any good Russian coaches though. Just have to pick the right one.

 

[xxxx]

Plenty of same old, same old doesn't smack of real options...

To me, ALL their coaches seem bereft of new ideas.

Still, I don't think they'd accept a Canuck coach, somehow that seems akin to trying to mix oil and water.

Russians might accept a Euro coach...But More likely ( as someone suggested ) it will take a Russian ex NHLer , willing to play a less traditional / more hybrid style, to effect real change. And even then he'd likely face stiff resistance from the old guard.

All that talent, yet so little to show for it in Best on Best competitions. Had anything similar happened here in Canada, our old guard would have ALL lost their heads LONG AGO!

Hm, it's probably true. Russia under-achieved mainly in Sochi, to lose with Finland in QF, on home ice, is simply a big disappointment. Add the 2010 olympics, the 2006 tournament without a medal, and the same in World Cup '04, and you have 4 best-on-best tournaments in a row without, not only any success, but even a medal or a good showing up. Russia lost 0-4 to Finland in a SF game at 2006 olympics, and then 0-3 in a brozne-medal game to the Czechs. Then they lost to Slovakia in SO and 3-7 to Canada in a QF game in Vancouver. Last time they lost 1-3 to Finland in another QF game. That is simply bad track record.

What Russia needs is a real team-work and playing a 100% effort hockey for the whole 60 minutes. You simply have to beat a team like Finland, let alone in a QF game where everything is on the line. I personally can't wait to see team Russia at the World Cup, their offence is simply stunning on paper. You have Malkin, Datsyuk, and Ovechkin, Panarin, Tarasenko, and Yakupov, Kuznetsov, Kucherov, Radulov, Kovalchuk, Kulemin, Anisimov, maybe some KHL best players...that is simply a great roster up-front, easily up there with USA and Sweden and may be better. If players like Panarin, Kuznetsov, and Kucherov maintain their level of game, I won't be afraid to say that this Russian forward's roster is the best in quite a long time. And you have Yakupov or Nichushkin who are still getting better.

 

[Bear12Good]

Hm, it's probably true. Russia under-achieved mainly in Sochi, to lose with Finland in QF, on home ice, is simply a big disappointment. Add the 2010 olympics, the 2006 tournament without a medal, and the same in World Cup '04, and you have 4 best-on-best tournaments in a row without, not only any success, but even a medal or a good showing up. Russia lost 0-4 to Finland in 2006 olympics and then 0-3 in a brozne-medal game to the Czechs. Then they lost to Slovakia in SO and in QF to Canada 3-7 in Vancouver. Last time they lost 1-3 to Finland in another QF game. That is simply bad track record.

What Russia needs is a real team-work and playing a 100% effort hockey for the whole 60 minutes. You simply have to beat a team like Finland, let alone in a QF game where everything is on the line. I personally can't wait to see team Russia at the World Cup, their offence is simply stunning on paper. You have Malkin, Datsyuk, and Ovechkin, Panarin, Tarasenko, and Yakupov, Kuznetsov, Kucherov, Radulov, Kovalchuk, Kulemin, Anisimov, maybe some KHL best players...that is simply a great roster up-front, easily up there with USA and Sweden and may be better.

+ Mozyakin
He is a very good player
Last season, he played better Panarin , and Kovalchuk )

 

[Yakushev72]

Canada freaked out after losing two consecutive best on best tournaments... losing ~10 in a row like Russia has would prompt insane change. If coaching was deemed to be an issue I guess that they even would have hired a foreign coach. It's hard to imagine that there aren't any good Russian coaches though. Just have to pick the right one.

In Canada, people give a damn how the national hockey team fares - but in Russia, not at all! Of course, fans would love to see victories, but they understand the situation. But, unlike Canada, heads at the top don't roll as the result of mediocre results in hockey.

To my knowledge, the Canadian public spends a lot of money at the town, city, province and national levels on funding and building hockey infrastructure. They demand results for their sacrifices, as they should! In Russia, there is almost no investment comparable to what is made by the Canadian people, and it would be unrealistic to expect results beyond the level of investment. Russia lags far behind Finland and Sweden in the quality of hockey infrastructure. Beyond a handful of talented players, Russia has very little to show for the meager investment they have made.

That said, I think that Russia is as good or better than the United States, and only a hair behind Finland and Sweden, despite the disparity in hockey investment made. But nobody thinks that anyone other than Canada has a remote chance of winning a World Cup in Toronto. It should be beyond boring!

 

[Jablkon]

In Canada, people give a damn how the national hockey team fares - but in Russia, not at all! Of course, fans would love to see victories, but they understand the situation. But, unlike Canada, heads at the top don't roll as the result of mediocre results in hockey.

To my knowledge, the Canadian public spends a lot of money at the town, city, province and national levels on funding and building hockey infrastructure. They demand results for their sacrifices, as they should! In Russia, there is almost no investment comparable to what is made by the Canadian people, and it would be unrealistic to expect results beyond the level of investment. Russia lags far behind Finland and Sweden in the quality of hockey infrastructure. Beyond a handful of talented players, Russia has very little to show for the meager investment they have made.

That said, I think that Russia is as good or better than the United States, and only a hair behind Finland and Sweden, despite the disparity in hockey investment made. But nobody thinks that anyone other than Canada has a remote chance of winning a World Cup in Toronto. It should be beyond boring!

So you are basically satisfied with russian position? Frankly I hate these statements as I hear it often here. Considering how is our infrastructure compare to Finland etc., its not that bad......Your hockey infrastructure has been probably worse than finnish for last 40 years. Sure you can blame it for not producing so many Ds (this is still more about methods not about infrastructure) and having smaller top depth. Nothing of this is the reason of russian failes on best of best.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Canada freaked out after losing two consecutive best on best tournaments... losing ~10 in a row like Russia has would prompt insane change. If coaching was deemed to be an issue I guess that they even would have hired a foreign coach. It's hard to imagine that there aren't any good Russian coaches though. Just have to pick the right one.

Mike Keenan is doing his best song and dance, sucking up for his Russian passport and becoming the 1st. foreign born coach of Team Russia.

And after Sochi when Bill got the boot, Tretiak was interviewed and he said he was in favor of considering Keenan for the job but others didn't quite see it that way...they decided on Znarok and he won the WHC which was enough delusional rehabilitation for the masses not to go into hysterics.

Whereas in Canada, even if we had won the WHC in '98 coming off the Nagano disappointment, there still would have been a Summit.

getting back to Keenan, although he was fired from his KHL coaching gig, he still serves as an advisor to the team and on the last interview I read on a Russian sports website, he does feel like he has something to offer Team Russia. It may happen, but Keenan is driven only by his own ego and legacy...they'd be foolish to go down that path.

 

[Scotty B]

Mike Keenan is doing his best song and dance, sucking up for his Russian passport and becoming the 1st. foreign born coach of Team Russia.

And after Sochi when Bill got the boot, Tretiak was interviewed and he said he was in favor of considering Keenan for the job but others didn't quite see it that way...they decided on Znarok and he won the WHC which was enough delusional rehabilitation for the masses not to go into hysterics.

Whereas in Canada, even if we had won the WHC in '98 coming off the Nagano disappointment, there still would have been a Summit.

getting back to Keenan, although he was fired from his KHL coaching gig, he still serves as an advisor to the team and on the last interview I read on a Russian sports website, he does feel like he has something to offer Team Russia. It may happen, but Keenan is driven only by his own ego and legacy...they'd be foolish to go down that path.

Keenan, as u seem to imply, is a megalomaniac imo, and would be a bad choice for team Russia. Look at the way he treated Stevie Y in one of the CC series. Look at what he did in St Louis.

If Russia were to give serious consideration to a Canuck coach, a Dave King type guy ( younger version ), very detail oriented, good x and o's guy, with plenty of international experience, calm, cool, collected, highly intelligent...AND NOT a me first headcase, would be the model...

Andy Murray maybe?

Or Tom Renney if he wasn't otherwise engaged?

Ralph Krueger ( ok not so calm/cool BUT a good game strategist especially on Big Ice )?

Just Spit Ball'in..

***
IRON ( NA's version of Ivan the terrible ) MIKE...BIG NO!!!

 

[lawrence]

Of course they can win. Any one of the big 5 can win it, nothing has chance since 2010. Russia, Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland are all legit contenders for the World cup.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Keenan, as u seem to imply, is a megalomaniac imo, and would be a bad choice for team Russia. Look at the way he treated Stevie Y in one of the CC series. Look at what he did in St Louis.

If Russia were to give serious consideration to a Canuck coach, a Dave King type guy ( younger version ), very detail oriented, good x and o's guy, with plenty of international experience, calm, cool, collected, highly intelligent...AND NOT a me first headcase, would be the model...

Andy Murray maybe?

Or Tom Renney if he wasn't otherwise engaged?

Ralph Krueger ( ok not so calm/cool BUT a good game strategist especially on Big Ice )?

Just Spit Ball'in..

***
IRON ( NA's version of Ivan the terrible ) MIKE...BIG NO!!!

Would be good choices, but Renney never really impressed me much as a coach. Adequate, but nothing great.

besides, the heir apparent is Bragin. Not many are giving the Russian junior team much of a chance in this year's junior tournament, so if he can pull out another good result, and as the players he has coached over the past 4 tournaments (2011/2012/ 2015/2016) matures, then he'll be the guy.

Keenan is just wasting his time and making a fool of himself in the process.