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World Cup: Team Russia

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Kshahdoo

Registered User
Mar 23, 2008
20,917
11,082
Moscow, Russia
I'm pretty sure Russia will play at World Cup 2028 so I just wanna start speculating about the team's roster at the tournament.

The toughest problem to solve is gonna be getting 4 (but it'd better to get 5) centers. There is a chance they move Demidov to a center position in Montreal, and then Ivan will play as a center at the World Cup as well, but it's far from certainty so he isn't a center on my list.


1st line Kaprizov - Aimurzin - Kucherov

Kaprizov is an obvious choice here. Kuch will be almost 35, but I think with his playing style he'll still be able to play effectively. Aimurzin is a top KHL scorer right now at age 22. I hope he'll be in the NHL in 2028 and develop into a solid top6 center.

2nd line Marchenko - Voronkov - Michkov

Marchenko and Michkov played together in the MHL. Just a couple of games, but they scored a lot together, and I think they complement each other very well. Voronkov played center in the KHL, he's big, plays with Marchenko on Columbus and while not ideal, should be ok with two such creative linemates.

3rd line Buchelnikov - Yurov - Demidov

A pretty young line, but all three are crazy talents, and gonna be established NHL stars (maybe even superstars) in 2028.

4th line it's gonna be a hard task to pcik right players. I'd say the only obvious choice is Svechkov as a center, there is a chance he'll turn into a solid top6 center at that moment, maybe even he's better with Marchenko and Michkov, but I prefer Marchenko - Voronkov connection.

So any combination of Svechkov plus Dorofeyev, Svechnikov, Chinakhov, Buchnevich, Nichushkin, Barbashev, Tsyplakov, Podkolzin and youngsters like Chibrikov, Atanasov, Kantserov, But etc

Now defense, and it's gonna be an interesting bunch of choices as well.

Zub - Sergachev

Sergachev is a solid offensive defenseman who knows something about defensive part of the game as well, and Zub is one of the best defensive specialists in the league.

Romanov - Provorov

Romanov is solid defensively, and can play both RD and LD positions. Provorov has a lot of experience as an offensive defenseman.

Nikishin - Gavrikov

Gavrikov is great defensively, and I hope Nikishin is gonna be a beast in 2028.

7/8 could be any of Mintyukov, Simashev, Silayev, Zamula, Gulyayev, maybe even Orlov, who will be 36, but a lot of experience and everything.

Goalies

Vasilevsky
Shesterkin
Sorokin

I'd say the goalie group is obvious.
Click to read more...
 
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Russia, a once great hockey nation, sure has fallen off in talent. Not too sure why? Are they even top six now?
Canada
US
Sweden
Finland
Czechia
Russia, Germany, Austria
 
Fatass said:
Russia, a once great hockey nation, sure has fallen off in talent. Not too sure why? Are they even top six now?
Canada
US
Sweden
Finland
Czechia
Russia, Germany, Austria
Click to expand...
They can beat anyone on any day but I can't see them going on a run and winning a best on best tourney like the 2028 World Cup.

I kept reading how they are essentially right there with Canada. So I looked. Russia (est 1991) has never won a best on best. Then I looked at the best on best Olympics from 1998 to 2014 - they only had 5 wins in quarter final, medal and semi games in 5 tournaments. Belarus 2X, Czechs 1X, Finland 1x and Canada 1X. Good at round robins but have almost no success against the big boys in those elimination games and medal games. Only top nation win in Quarters was a very impressive elimination of Canada in the Quarters in 2006. Couldn't find any examples of them eliminating Sweden or US. Maybe I missed something?

I also forgot that both Czech medals were at the hands of Russia.... beat them for Gold in Nagano, beat them for Bronze in 2006 (weird sequence too - they eliminate Canada 2-0 and then get shutout 4-0 in semi's by Finland and get shutout 3-0 in Bronze game against the Czechs). Eliminated in quarters in 2010 (Canadian demolition) and 2014 (Finns in a close one). 1998 saw them beat Belarus and Finland on the way to silver. 2002 had them eliminate the Czechs and then lose to USA and then beat Belarus for a Bronze.

Last best on best medal (Bronze) was 2002.

I was suprised to see such mediocre results to be honest. I'm not sure this 2028 roster would change that streak to be honest. On a fun note .. in 1998 they had insane forward group! But average goalies. Now they have insane goalies and an average forward group (in 2028).
 
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I'm hoping the Habs do the right thing and commit to Demidov playing C.

To address what is being said about the forward group, it is actually a fantastic group if we look just at Ws. Not sure where the overt negativity is coming from.

The glaring issues are Cs and Ds. Nearly spit out my drink seeing Aimurzin as #1 C, that's a nice joke! Voronkov as #2 C and he doesn't even take faceoffs with the Jackets, lmao. I think Russia might have a "decent" blueline, especially if Sergachev continues to play well and if Nikishin makes further strides. But I don't see a genuine #1 D coming along anywhere.
 
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Fatass said:
Russia, a once great hockey nation, sure has fallen off in talent. Not too sure why? Are they even top six now?
Canada
US
Sweden
Finland
Czechia
Russia, Germany, Austria
Click to expand...
Probably around Norway and Slovenia

Kshahdoo said:
7/8 could be any of Simashev, Silayev, Zamula, maybe even Orlov, who will be 36, but a lot of experience and everything.
Click to expand...
I think you’re forgetting a certain Canes prospect…
 
Fantomas said:
I'm hoping the Habs do the right thing and commit to Demidov playing C.

To address what is being said about the forward group, it is actually a fantastic group if we look just at Ws. Not sure where the overt negativity is coming from.

The glaring issues are Cs and Ds. Nearly spit out my drink seeing Aimurzin as #1 C, that's a nice joke! Voronkov as #2 C and he doesn't even take faceoffs with the Jackets, lmao. I think Russia might have a "decent" blueline, especially if Sergachev continues to play well and if Nikishin makes further strides. But I don't see a genuine #1 D coming along anywhere.
Click to expand...

Voronkov had 55.5% at the dot in his last KHL season. And I hope Aimurzin will be a solid top6 center in the NHL in 2028.
 
Czechboy said:
They can beat anyone on any day but I can't see them going on a run and winning a best on best tourney like the 2028 World Cup.

I kept reading how they are essentially right there with Canada. So I looked. Russia (est 1991) has never won a best on best. Then I looked at the best on best Olympics from 1998 to 2014 - they only had 5 wins in quarter final, medal and semi games in 5 tournaments. Belarus 2X, Czechs 1X, Finland 1x and Canada 1X. Good at round robins but have almost no success against the big boys in those elimination games and medal games. Only top nation win in Quarters was a very impressive elimination of Canada in the Quarters in 2006. Couldn't find any examples of them eliminating Sweden or US. Maybe I missed something?

I also forgot that both Czech medals were at the hands of Russia.... beat them for Gold in Nagano, beat them for Bronze in 2006 (weird sequence too - they eliminate Canada 2-0 and then get shutout 4-0 in semi's by Finland and get shutout 3-0 in Bronze game against the Czechs). Eliminated in quarters in 2010 (Canadian demolition) and 2014 (Finns in a close one). 1998 saw them beat Belarus and Finland on the way to silver. 2002 had them eliminate the Czechs and then lose to USA and then beat Belarus for a Bronze.

Last best on best medal (Bronze) was 2002.

I was suprised to see such mediocre results to be honest. I'm not sure this 2028 roster would change that streak to be honest. On a fun note .. in 1998 they had insane forward group! But average goalies. Now they have insane goalies and an average forward group (in 2028).
Click to expand...

It’s just dumb to believe results of 10+ years ago have any meaning or relationship to today’s teams and rosters.
 
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