Russia's roster : first 10 players announced!!!

[wilka91*]

TEAM RUSSIA World Cup ROSTER

D Sergei Gonchar, Bos.
D Andrei Markov, Mon.
D Alexander Khavanov, Stl.
D Oleg Tverdovsky, Omsk

F Alexei Yashin, NYI
F Sergei Samsonov, Bos.
F Dainius Zubrus, Was.
F Maxim Afinogenov, Buf.
F Andrei Nikolishin, Col.
F Alexander Ovechkin, Dynamo
F Oleg Kvasha, NYI
F Alexei Zhamnov, Phi.

Click to read more...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Alexander "Sasha" Khavanov? Mr. Healthy Scratch for the Blues? Yikes.............

 

[ZBORNAJA]

Ok list so far except Khavanov but since Zubov,Zhitnik and maybe some other D wont play he is ok

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Ok list so far except Khavanov but since Zubov,Zhitnik and maybe some other D wont play he is ok

Don't get me wrong, he has talent and plays well for a stretch, but I have seen few players prone to such massive brain farts. Oh well, hopefully he'll play as much for you as he did for the Blues.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Viktor Tikhonov gave Sport Express (link) the names of 10 players who will play a the World Cup this summer. These players have already been contacted, and gave their consent to play.

Here's the 10-man list :

D Sergei Gonchar, Bos.
D Andrei Markov, Mon.
D Alexander Khavanov, Stl.
D Oleg Tverdovsky, Omsk
F Alexei Yashin, NYI
F Sergei Samsonov, Bos.
F Dainius Zubrus, Was. (I didn't even know he's Russian!!!)
F Maxim Afinogenov, Buf.
F Andrei Nikolishin, Col.
F Alexander Ovechkin, Dynamo

The rest of the list should be announced early tomorrow, but it's important to notice that nobody refused to play so far of the 26 players that were contacted, but 16 of them didn't give an answer yet.

With the exception of Khavanov this looks pretty decent. Guys like Nikolishin will prove very valuable.

 

[leafaholix*]

Alexander "Sasha" Khavanov? Mr. Healthy Scratch for the Blues? Yikes.............

Some players are better suited for International hockey... not the NHL.

He may be one of those guys that plays well for the national team.

 

[VAN-HAB]

Happy to see Andrei Markov made the team

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Some players are better suited for International hockey... not the NHL.

He may be one of those guys that plays well for the national team.

You mean international hockey played on a NHL sized ice surface? We'll see how much of a contribution he can make, positive or otherwise.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

Congrats to Samsonov and Gonchar!

Khavanov is surprising.

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

So Ovechkin made it as an 18 year old.

I wonder if he will actually play, or just sit and watch?

Regardless, I am excited to see Ovechkin against NHL competition as there has been a lot of hype around him.

I have heard people say that he makes Ilya Kovalchuk look like Wade Belak.

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

By the way, what time tomorrow is the rest of the roster supposed to be named?

The Eastern Time Zone is 8 hours behind the time zone Moscow uses.

I am curious as to if I may see this roster before I go to bed, probably around 2AM Eastern time.

 

[Alex Kovalev]

Regardless, I am excited to see Ovechkin against NHL competition as there has been a lot of hype around him.

I have heard people say that he makes Ilya Kovalchuk look like Wade Belak.

Who ever told you that is nuts

 

[joe_shannon_1983*]

Who ever told you that is nuts

I have heard more than one person say that, or similar things.

Someone told me specifically that Ovechkin made Kovalchuk look like Belak.

And then another guy said that Ovechkin in his prime will outscore Kovalchuk in his prime by 30 points.

 

[wilka91*]

I have heard people say that he makes Ilya Kovalchuk look like Wade Belak.

I haven't seen him play much, but from what I've seen, Ovechkin is like Kovalchuk minus Kovalchuk's stupidity, that is to say Ovechkin makes passes and doesn't just shoot the puck from everywhere hoping it will bounce in the net.

 

[Vicious]

I always thought Zubrus was Czech :|

 

[Foppa_Rules]

Well you can go to Ovechkin Videos and see for yourself. I think there are about 50 videos on here and they all download quickly. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[Vyacheslav]

I always thought Zubrus was Czech :|

IIRC, he was born in Lithuania just like Darius Kasparaitis.

 

[Boomhower]

With the exception of Khavanov this looks pretty decent. Guys like Nikolishin will prove very valuable.

I think you can put Afinogenov in the same category as Khavanov, why include him?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I think you can put Afinogenov in the same category as Khavanov, why include him?

Why include Khavanov? He's not a very good defenseman, plain and simple. He's got some offensive talent, but that's it.

 

[NewHabsEra*]

Viktor Tikhonov gave Sport Express (link) the names of 10 players who will play a the World Cup this summer. These players have already been contacted, and gave their consent to play.

Here's the 10-man list :

D Sergei Gonchar, Bos.
D Andrei Markov, Mon.
D Alexander Khavanov, Stl.
D Oleg Tverdovsky, Omsk
F Alexei Yashin, NYI
F Sergei Samsonov, Bos.
F Dainius Zubrus, Was. (I didn't even know he's Russian!!!)
F Maxim Afinogenov, Buf.
F Andrei Nikolishin, Col.
F Alexander Ovechkin, Dynamo

The rest of the list should be announced early tomorrow, but it's important to notice that nobody refused to play so far of the 26 players that were contacted, but 16 of them didn't give an answer yet.

This is a pretty weak top 10!! Guys like Zubrus, Nikolishin, Yashin, Tverdovsky, Khavanov would even not crack team Canada #3!

 

[Boomhower]

Why include Khavanov? He's not a very good defenseman, plain and simple. He's got some offensive talent, but that's it.

Why include Afinogenov. You said Khavanov was the only one who didn't belong, I agree he doesn't belong, but neither does Afinogenov IMO.

 

[Foppa_Rules]

Ovechkin on the team is good.

 

[wilka91*]

This is a pretty weak top 10!! Guys like Zubrus, Nikolishin, Yashin, Tverdovsky, Khavanov would even not crack team Canada #3!

First of all it's not a top 10, and second of all, Yashin and Tverdovsky would be on Canada's A team.

As for Khavanov and Afinogenov, they were simply selected for their value at international level.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Why include Afinogenov. You said Khavanov was the only one who didn't belong, I agree he doesn't belong, but neither does Afinogenov IMO.

Gotcha. You're right, Afinogenov, and perhaps Tverdovsky are questionable as well.

 

[incawg]

First of all it's not a top 10, and second of all, Yashin and Tverdovsky would be on Canada's A team.

As for Khavanov and Afinogenov, they were simply selected for their value at international level.

I don't think Tverdovsky would make Canada's A team.