World Cup: Team Russia

[Kshahdoo]

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...

 

[Fatass]

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

 

[Czechboy]

Aimurzin

Voronkov

Yurov

The C's are going to be a problem. Wing's are great. Goalies are great (Ask may be in converation by 2028). I like the D more than most but I am fan of Romanov, Zub and do think Mint will be awesome.

 

[Kshahdoo]

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

The only Sweden forward I'd take for that Russian top9 is Leo Carlsson...

 

[Czechboy]

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

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).

 

[Fantomas]

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.

 

[ViD]

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

Probably around Norway and Slovenia

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

I think you’re forgetting a certain Canes prospect…

 

[Kshahdoo]

Probably around Norway and Slovenia


I think you’re forgetting a certain Canes prospect…

Oh yes, and I was thinking to myself who did I forget about.

 

[Kshahdoo]

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.

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.

 

[Fantomas]

Voronkov had 55.5% at the dot in his last KHL season.

Yeah he's got real competition at the dot over there

 

[Kshahdoo]

Yeah he's got real competition at the dot over there

At the dot competition is a little bit different than other hockey aspects. Sometimes pretty average players are great at the dot and vice versa.

 

[Zine]

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).

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

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...good wingers, great goaltending...very weak at C and weak on D...imo, they wouldn't medal...

 

[Czechboy]

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

That's dumb? Not a thread on a banned team that hasn't been announced for the tournament?lol

 

[WarriorofTime]

That's dumb? Not a thread on a banned team that hasn't been announced for the tournament?lol

I just don't think 10 + year old results really have any bearing on anything in present day. I think they get brought up too much. 10 years ago my Blackhawks were winning the Stanley Cup, a lot changes in the hockey world in ten years as the entirety of players flip over. Would save that stuff for the history forum.

 

[Czechboy]

I just don't think 10 + year old results really have any bearing on anything in present day. I think they get brought up too much. 10 years ago my Blackhawks were winning the Stanley Cup, a lot changes in the hockey world in ten years as the entirety of players flip over. Would save that stuff for the history forum.

Strong disagree.

NHL is cyclical and teams go from contender to rebuild in a 10 year span. Salary caps, players age out. My oilers sucked and now don't suck. International hockey is much more static. Not much shuffling of deck chairs at all. Those 5 best on best Olympics only had 5 nations medal. I doubt much has changed at all and would expect those 5 nations will be the medalists in the next 3 best on bests too. I can't wait to see.

Something tells me when I post the updates after 2026 it won't look much different at all. Same with 2028. Same with 2030.

Only big shifts in 25 years were the Czechs going to absolute shit and dropping off and Russia getting banned (but I wouldn't say their hockey has dropped off.. still a tough out on the way to a Gold and a nightmare round robin opponent).

 

[ViD]

If anything, I believe Russian hockey is on the rise

- Best ever goaltending

- Best in a long time crop of defensive prospects - Mintyukov, Nikishin, Simashev, Silayev, etc

- Finally a d man that’s borderline top 10 in the league - Sergachev

- Elite young superstars in Michkov and Demidov


The center depth is really the only thing that’s dragging Russia down

 

[Zine]

Strong disagree.

NHL is cyclical and teams go from contender to rebuild in a 10 year span. Salary caps, players age out. My oilers sucked and now don't suck. International hockey is much more static. Not much shuffling of deck chairs at all. Those 5 best on best Olympics only had 5 nations medal. I doubt much has changed at all and would expect those 5 nations will be the medalists in the next 3 best on bests too. I can't wait to see.

Something tells me when I post the updates after 2026 it won't look much different at all. Same with 2028. Same with 2030.

Only big shifts in 25 years were the Czechs going to absolute shit and dropping off and Russia getting banned (but I wouldn't say their hockey has dropped off.. still a tough out on the way to a Gold and a nightmare round robin opponent).

Nobody is arguing that hockey tiers aren't generally static. But comparing results from 10+ years ago (within the top tier) makes no sense at all.

Shit, 9 years ago Team USA went winless at the 2016 World Cup. And 2 years prior didn't even medal at the 2014 OG. Yet somehow USA was 'magically' considered one of the favorites for recent 4-nations?
No, it's not magic. It's strength of current roster. What occurred in the far past is completely inconsequential.

How Bure's Russia fared against, say, Selanne's Finland has nothing to do with Kucherov, Rantanen, Barkov, Kaprizov, etc.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Strong disagree.

NHL is cyclical and teams go from contender to rebuild in a 10 year span. Salary caps, players age out. My oilers sucked and now don't suck. International hockey is much more static. Not much shuffling of deck chairs at all. Those 5 best on best Olympics only had 5 nations medal. I doubt much has changed at all and would expect those 5 nations will be the medalists in the next 3 best on bests too. I can't wait to see.

Something tells me when I post the updates after 2026 it won't look much different at all. Same with 2028. Same with 2030.

Only big shifts in 25 years were the Czechs going to absolute shit and dropping off and Russia getting banned (but I wouldn't say their hockey has dropped off.. still a tough out on the way to a Gold and a nightmare round robin opponent).

Well yeah you can get a generalized sense of strength from year to year U20 Results which has a big lag effect on the senior teams. And of course that’s rather static because barely any countries play hockey compared to sports like soccer and basketball which can see much wilder swings in 10, 20 year increments (albeit with certain similarities across as well). The only real inefficiency in that method is that the USA sucks at the senior men’s world championship.

As far as the strength of a current best on best it’s a bit odd to cling to old results when people say USA can never and will never win, Czechs are better than Russia, Canada is a million times better than everyone etc. etc. because there hadn’t been any Best on Best for a decade until the four game thing that involved four nations. The History doesn’t really tell you anything about that particularly with counties never involved.

As far as what we will say after 2026, 2028 and 2030, we will have to wait and see once those events occur. Obviously if Russia participates and falls behind Finns and Czechs in those events, that would tell us something.

 

[qc14]

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

I know this thread is more projection for 2028 which is harder to do but looking at a roster right now of just NHL players -- they probably have the best wing group in the world and are either 1a or 1b with the US at goalie. The defense is a clear cut below Canada/US/Sweden but I would say it's probably ahead of Finland and certainly Czechia. The center group is the only weakness of this team.

They have a reputation for underachieving and you never know how things look until a team is actually put together but talent-wise I think they're pretty even with Sweden for third right now. A lot of very high-end wings and defenseman coming through the pipeline too.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Goalies are great. Amazing. Top of the countries I'd say.

Everything else is pretty meh and that centre depth....

However, if they play a trap style game with great goalies, their d can get it done and they will have the high end talent to get a goal and here when they get a chance, so they can be a threat.

 

[ViD]

Goalies are great. Amazing. Top of the countries I'd say.

Everything else is pretty meh and that centre depth....

However, if they play a trap style game with great goalies, their d can get it done and they will have the high end talent to get a goal and here when they get a chance, so they can be a threat.

I mean Sweden just beat USA and went to OT with Canada, Finland was on par with the U.S. for 40 minutes abd surged against Canada to make it close.

If someone thinks Russia can’t beat these nations in one game that’s a bit weird to say the least

 

[Czechboy]

Nobody is arguing that hockey tiers aren't generally static. But comparing results from 10+ years ago (within the top tier) makes no sense at all.

Shit, 9 years ago Team USA went winless at the 2016 World Cup. And 2 years prior didn't even medal at the 2014 OG. Yet somehow USA was 'magically' considered one of the favorites for recent 4-nations?
No, it's not magic. It's strength of current roster. What occurred in the far past is completely inconsequential.

How Bure's Russia fared against, say, Selanne's Finland has nothing to do with Kucherov, Rantanen, Barkov, Kaprizov, etc.

I don't agree at all but no point continuing further really.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Probably going to be something like

?-?-?
?-?-?
?-?-?
?-?-?

?-?
?-?
?-?

?

Because they are not going to be invited on this tournament either

And their 1C would still be Malkin so it is not like that team would go anywhere anyways

 

[Fatass]

I know this thread is more projection for 2028 which is harder to do but looking at a roster right now of just NHL players -- they probably have the best wing group in the world and are either 1a or 1b with the US at goalie. The defense is a clear cut below Canada/US/Sweden but I would say it's probably ahead of Finland and certainly Czechia. The center group is the only weakness of this team.

They have a reputation for underachieving and you never know how things look until a team is actually put together but talent-wise I think they're pretty even with Sweden for third right now. A lot of very high-end wings and defenseman coming through the pipeline too.

It’s three years out too, so there could be some young guys we don’t expect to shine, who will.
It’s just that Russia doesn’t have centres and D right now.