Olympics: Team Russia 2022
- Thread starter Kshahdoo
- Start date
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Panarin-Malkin-Kucherov
Ovechkin-Shipachev-Radulov
Kaprizov-Barbashev-Tarasenko
Buchnevich-Anisimov-A Svechnikov
Nichushkin
Provorov-Sergachev
Orlov-Zaitsev
Gavrikov-Zub
Romanov
Vasilevskiy
Varlamov
Sorokin
Taxi Squad 5
Gusev, Zadorov, Shesterkin, Gurianov, Kovalchuk
Ovechkin-Shipachev-Radulov
Kaprizov-Barbashev-Tarasenko
Buchnevich-Anisimov-A Svechnikov
Nichushkin
Provorov-Sergachev
Orlov-Zaitsev
Gavrikov-Zub
Romanov
Vasilevskiy
Varlamov
Sorokin
Taxi Squad 5
Gusev, Zadorov, Shesterkin, Gurianov, Kovalchuk
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sdf
Registered User
Early prediction for fun:
Panarin - Malkin - Kucherov
Kaprizov - Buchnevich - Svechnikov
Ovechkin - Shipachyov - Dadonov
Nichushkin - Barbashev - Guryanov
Tarasenko take Dadonovs spot if he has great season
Provorov - Gavrikov
Sergachev - Zub
Orlov - Romanov
Vasilevsky
Varlamov
1st PP
Panarin-Malkin-Kaprizov-Ovechkin-Kucherov
I really like that you put Buchnevich at center, and that you have Gavrikov and Zub in the top 4. That's important. I wouldn't be surprised if there is another winger that ends up at center, possibly Radulov (who you omitted).
Zub is much better than Zaitsev and it's easy to see when they play for the same NHL team, I don't see why they wouldn't be switched here.
Kucherov isn't on any teams second PP. He is the first or second best PP player in the world.
Banned from the tournament. That's the big problem for Russia.
Yeah, I strongly disagree with that. Converting a winger to a center on a short notice is a drastic move that pretty much assures failure.
As I've said earlier, Russia's situation at Center is far from great, but it's certainly not at the point where drastic and desperate moves are needed.
Any line that coach constructs will have distinct roles, drivers and passengers. There aren't a lot of Russian centers who are great drivers, even less with Kuzy's suspension, but there are absolutely guys who can compliment talented scoring wingers (something that every Russia's line will have).
Remember Telegin's selection to 2016 World Cup? Everyone was up in arms. He was certainly no driver, but he did finish tied for team lead in scoring.
Strong defensive Center, who can be a positive possession player and create traffic at the crease for scorers, that exists in Russian hockey.
That's why I've been wondering if Voronkov might be ready for such a role.
I don't think Shipachov qualifies as strong in any way. Anisimov fit the description, but maybe not anymore. Funny enough Barbashev and Namestnikov spend most of their time in the NHL on the wing in depth roles.
What I'm wondering is if some of these more talented wingers actually have some center ability. Has Radulov ever played center? I honestly suspect that some of these wingers are capably of converting quickly enough to be better than the likes of Shipachov and so on. The main difference between center and wing is in the defensive zone and Radulov wins a lot more of his defensive battles than Shipachov does.
Reinstate Kuznetsov. It spoils the tournament.
And come on. Anisimov won't be selected.
Yeah, but there are major positional and tactical differences between those positions. There is simply not enough time for a wing to adopt.
Kurt Russell's quote from "Miracle" is perfect for this situation:
"We aren't looking for best players, we are looking for the right ones."
Moved to Avanguard. He never put up big numbers, but I think some of that was his role with CSKA.
sdf
Registered User
Aren't any position except goaltender takes the same type of skill? You need just be aible to protect the puck and has iq for having chemistry with teamates, or intersepting oponent's assists... what special center abilitys?
1.Voronkov would not be ready if not for the worries at C. Given the situation he is a candidate for sure and it's not even skill, it's his compete level, physicality and he is the coach's perfect five-tooler. He can be plugged on any line with anyone and be effective.
2.Shipachyov qualifies as strong in each and every way. Period. Shipachyov is a victim of fals NA narratives after Vegas effed up.
3.Radulov never played center nor could he effectively.
4.The likes of Anisimov and Namestnikov I don't even feel the need to discuss here.
5.There is really no need converting wingers. There are enough centers there They are no superstars, but they will fill the need way better than any converted winger.
I'll take your word for it. I definitely had a misconception about Shipachyov then.
Maybe we'll see
Malkin
Shipachyov
Namestnikov (edit: scratch that make it Barbashev)
Voronkov
It is very different how Russia handles centers. A significant portion of Canadian wingers in the NHL started as centers. So it would be unfathomable that they ever run out of centers, even if the guys who customarily play center in the NHL weren't available.
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Kaprizov - Malkin - Svechnikov
Panarin - Shipachyov - Kucherov
Ovechkin - Morozov - Tarasenko
Buchnevich - Barbashev - Gurianov
Voronkov, Marchenko, Khusnutdinov(if he keeps it up)
Provorov - Orlov
Sergachev - Zub
Gavrikov - Zaytsev
Zadorov, Romanov, Knyzhov, Lyubushkin
Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Shestyorkin
edit: I expect Radulov to get old and regress in the upcoming season. Prove me wrong, Alexandr, please.
Panarin - Shipachyov - Kucherov
Ovechkin - Morozov - Tarasenko
Buchnevich - Barbashev - Gurianov
Voronkov, Marchenko, Khusnutdinov(if he keeps it up)
Provorov - Orlov
Sergachev - Zub
Gavrikov - Zaytsev
Zadorov, Romanov, Knyzhov, Lyubushkin
Vasilevskiy, Sorokin, Shestyorkin
edit: I expect Radulov to get old and regress in the upcoming season. Prove me wrong, Alexandr, please.
Certainly no Namestnikov, but otherwise everything is possible. Russia's inability to produce centers is our most important weakness. It is comical at this point. It is also the KHL wide issue. My AkBars was an oasis in the desert in that regard as our management somehow was able to hoarde centers(that of course counting the imports), but not anymore. It's a pain to find a center in Russia. It's almost like kids are forbidden to play center at hockey schools.
Certainly no Namestnikov, but otherwise everything is possible. Russia's inability to produce centers is our most important weakness. It is comical at this point. It is also the KHL wide issue. My AkBars was an oasis in the desert in that regard as our management somehow was able to hoarde centers(that of course counting the imports), but not anymore. It's a pain to find a center in Russia. It's almost like kids are forbidden to play center at hockey schools.
Why are they playing Voronkov on the wing then? Too small?
I think the problem is they keep putting their best players on the wing.
Gusev will be on the team, he's been always one of the best on Team Russia. Something like
Gusev - Shipachev - Kucherov
Panarin - Malkin - Kaprizov
Ovechkin - Kuznetsov (yeah, I hope they will be able to shorten his suspension) - Tarasenko/Svechnikov
Mikheyev - Barbashev - Nichushkin (checking, PK line)
Svechnikov/Tarasenko
Provorov - Zaitsev
Sergachev - Zub
Gavrikov - Orlov
Romanov
Vasilevsky, Shesterkin, Sorokin
Gusev - Shipachev - Kucherov
Panarin - Malkin - Kaprizov
Ovechkin - Kuznetsov (yeah, I hope they will be able to shorten his suspension) - Tarasenko/Svechnikov
Mikheyev - Barbashev - Nichushkin (checking, PK line)
Svechnikov/Tarasenko
Provorov - Zaitsev
Sergachev - Zub
Gavrikov - Orlov
Romanov
Vasilevsky, Shesterkin, Sorokin
While we do not carry 7-8 centers anymoreWhy are they playing Voronkov on the wing then? Too small?
I think the problem is they keep putting their best players on the wing.
we still have 6(Lindholm, Burmistorov, Galimov, Glukhov, Voronkov, Safonov(Weal plays on the wing so far, but I guess he could play center too, just to come back to your description of the canadian development habits
)) which is a low number by our standards. Voronkov has to give way to guys who only play center like Galimov or young Safonov.Gusev will need to rebound first. Being good friends with Kucherov doesn't buy him a ticket. Mikheyev undofrtunately seems to be affected by his injury more that I'd like him to be. Nichushkin is pretty redundant, I easily prefer Gurianov's goal scoring and PP ability over Nichushkin's mediocrity.
PP shouldn't be an issue with this much firepower though. If anything, I would say Gurianov's skills are more redundant, especially on the 4th line. Unless he makes significant improvements, I wouldn't include him.
Kucherov - Malkin - Kaprizov
Panarin - Shipachyov - Radulov
Ovechkin - Morozov - Svechnikov
Tarasenko - Barbashev - Buchnevich
Provorov - Orlov
Sergachev - Zaytsev
Gavrikov - Zub
Romanov
Vasilevsky
Shestyorkin
Varlamov
Radulov is 35, Gurianov is 24. Which way do you think their both game will go till winter?
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Fair point. Tarasenko is not at all a lock at this point given his health issues.
Hard to get excited about this lineup, whatever combination you use. Hard to imagine them fighting hard to try to win! Very mediocre and uninspired in 2006, 2010 and 2014. Could be even less inspiring this time.
Lots of things can happen before the tournament. There can certainly be breakouts who put themselves on the list. I can only make the team based on the information that is known right now.
