Official candidates for Olympic Team Russia

[stactum 4]

I know it's been talked here a lot but these are official candidates that are invited to combines (Aug 29 - Sep 1) in Moscow.

Goaltenders:

Bryzgalov Ilya (PHX)

Varlamov Simeon (WAS)

Eremenko Alexander (Salavat, KHL)

Nabokov Evgeny (SJS)

Defense:

Atyushov Vitaly (Mettalurg, KHL)

Vishnevsky Vitaly (Lokomotiv, KHL)

Volchenkov Anton (OTT)

Gonchar Sergey (PIT)

Grebeshkov Denis (EDM)

Zhitnik Alexey (Dynamo Moscow, KHL)

Zubov Sergey (DAL*)

Kalinin Dmitry (Salavat, KHL)

Kondratiev Maxim (Salavat, KHL)

Korneev Konstantin (CSKA, KHL)

Markov Andrey (MTL)

Nikulin Ilya (AkBars, KHL)

Proshkon Vitaly (Salavat, KHL)

Tverdovsky Oleg (Salavat, KHL)

Tyutin Fedor (CLS)

Forwards:

Artyukhin Evgeny (TBL)

Afinogenov Maxim (BUF*)

Gorovikov Konstanin (SKA, KHL)

Datsyuk Pavel (DET)

Zaripov Danis (AkBars, KHL)

Zinovyev Sergey (Salavat, KHL)

Kovalev Alex (OTT)

Kovalchuk Ilya (ATL)

Kozlov Viktor (Salavat, KHL)

Kulemin Nikolay (TOR)

Malkin Evgeny (PIT)

Morozov Alexey (AkBars, KHL)

Ovechkin Alex (WAS)

Radulov Alex (Salavat, KHL)

Saprykin Oleg (Dynamo Moscow, KHL)

Semin Alex (WAS)

Tereshenko Alexey (AkBars, KHL)

Fedorov Sergey (Metallurg, KHL)

Frolov Alex (LAK)

Sources:

sovsport.ru (ru)

gazeta.ru (ru)

[digitaljohn88 4]

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Kovalchuk

Malkin - Gonchar

That powerplay should make opposing goaltenders s*** themselves.

(Malkin sometimes plays the point IIRC)

Edited August 3, 2009 by digitaljohn88

[Lidstrom for life 20]

alot of KHL invites, I wonder how many make the team.

[Lidstrom for life 20]

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Kovalchuk

Malkin - Gonchar

That powerplay should make opposing goaltenders s*** themselves.

(Malkin sometimes plays the point IIRC)

The only way you are going to stop that power play is to not take a penalty. That is scary.

[RusDRW 155]

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Kovalchuk

Malkin - Gonchar

That powerplay should make opposing goaltenders s*** themselves.

(Malkin sometimes plays the point IIRC)

yes.. hypothetically. I just wonder how many times Richards will score on PK against these guys. No way we'll see this unit on the ice. Except for, perhaps, last minute of the game...

[shoe 165]

Its strange to look at that list and see Fedorov as the old man on the team.

[Guest mindfly]

What do the "*" mean on afinogenov and zubov?

[NGKEIB 32]

What do the "*" mean on afinogenov and zubov?

I'm guessing that it means that they are free agents, and that the team name supplied is the name of the team they last played for.

[RusDRW 155]

What do the "*" mean on afinogenov and zubov?

Perhaps, they are not signed by cited teams.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I wish the beer leagues in Canada got invites to the Olympic orientation camp, I might have a shot some day!

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Man, there's some names on there I haven't read in a while. Who knew Oleg Saprykin or Alexei Zhitnik were still alive?

[bonan78 1]

alot of KHL invites, I wonder how many make the team.

It would not surprise me one bit to see the Russian squad feature as many players from the KHL as possible, I'm sure they would love to showcase the talent level of home-grown players in their own league on the biggest stage in the world. I'm not saying they are going to pass on guys like Malkin, Ovechkin, and Kovalchuk in favor of some KHL scrub, but a guy like Alexei Morozov who has been one of the biggest stars in the KHL for many years has as good a shot of making the team as someone like Afinogenov. It will be interesting, and no matter what, I feel that the Russians are the team to beat in Vancouver, medal contenders without a doubt.

I'll admit that there are names on that list that I have never heard of, but that's only because I haven't really followed the KHL very closely, although I plan on taking a closer look this season, along with the SEL and SM-Liiga. Anyone know when their seasons start?

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Their biggest weakness is going to be their defense. A few good D-men, but after that it levels off.

Still, they're probably not a team anyone wants to face in a shootout.

[RusDRW 155]

Their biggest weakness is going to be their defense. A few good D-men, but after that it levels off.

Still, they're probably not a team anyone wants to face in a shootout.

Gonchar Sergey (PIT) - Volchenkov Anton (OTT)

Markov Andrey (MTL) - Atyushov Vitaly (Mettalurg, KHL)

Zubov Sergey (DAL) - Tyutin Fedor (CLB)

these pairings look good aren't they?

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

Gonchar Sergey (PIT) - Volchenkov Anton (OTT)

Markov Andrey (MTL) - Atyushov Vitaly (Mettalurg, KHL)

Zubov Sergey (DAL) - Tyutin Fedor (CLB)

these pairings look good aren't they?

Most of those players are known more as offensive defenseman, and aren't all that good in their own zone.

So yes, there's talent there, but not on both sides of the ice.

[newfy 695]

Team Russia is going to score like crazy but get scored on like crazy as well. Volchenkov is really the only defenceman who is considered defenccively minded on the team and the goaltending is nothing special. They have Dats but guys like Malkin and Ovi aren't known for their play in their own end exactly. Also I can't wait to see how a line of Richards Doan Morrow can play against that Russian top line.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Kovalchuk

Malkin - Gonchar

That powerplay should make opposing goaltenders s*** themselves.

(Malkin sometimes plays the point IIRC)

Ovechkin sometimes plays the point too, and I think he does it better than Malkin.

But yeah, that's a deadly powerplay.. only problem is all those guys want the puck and I'm not sure if anyone of them is willing to take the job of standing in front of the net and do the dirty work.

Actually the more I look at what Team Russia could potentially look like, the more I think that they're not going to be as good as everyone has been saying.

Their high-end talent is the best in the world for sure. Ovie, Pav, Kovalchuk, Malkin is a top 4 that no other country can match.

But I think both Sweden and Canada are a lot stronger when you look at potential 3rd and 4th lines, as well as on defence and goaltending.

Not to mention that Canada and Sweden will probably have a better balance between skilled players and gritty, hard-working players.

Russia is going to be dangerous if they manage to get everyone to work together (how good friends are Malkin and Ovie for example?), but they're not my top candidate for the gold.

[sibiriak 84]

Most of those players are known more as offensive defenseman, and aren't all that good in their own zone.

So yes, there's talent there, but not on both sides of the ice.

Zubov(if he returns to good form), A. Markov, Gonchar (remember last p/offs? he was pretty good defensively), Tyutin and Volchenkov are all legitimate first-rate defensemen, who also happen to be good offensively. Like certain Niklas Lidstrom, kind of. Or would you not consider him a defensive defenseman as well as an offensive D-man? Add to that Babchuk, Grebeshkov and some KHL guys, and this Russian D group is pretty good. As good or better than any other country, except Canada, but the gap there is not wide at all.

[kozac 10]

Ovechkin sometimes plays the point too, and I think he does it better than Malkin.

But yeah, that's a deadly powerplay.. only problem is all those guys want the puck and I'm not sure if anyone of them is willing to take the job of standing in front of the net and do the dirty work.

Actually the more I look at what Team Russia could potentially look like, the more I think that they're not going to be as good as everyone has been saying.

Their high-end talent is the best in the world for sure. Ovie, Pav, Kovalchuk, Malkin is a top 4 that no other country can match.

But I think both Sweden and Canada are a lot stronger when you look at potential 3rd and 4th lines, as well as on defence and goaltending.

Not to mention that Canada and Sweden will probably have a better balance between skilled players and gritty, hard-working players.

Russia is going to be dangerous if they manage to get everyone to work together (how good friends are Malkin and Ovie for example?), but they're not my top candidate for the gold.

Top 4?

How about Kovalev, Semin, Frolov, Morozov? That's another 4 of 1-st liners. Putting Fedorov on the 4th line somehow doesn't look like a weakness to me.

[VM1138 1,921]

Russia is the team to beat, but I still hold out hope USA will pull off some bizarre miracle and go all the way.

[titanium2 867]

Russia is the team to beat, but I still hold out hope USA will pull off some bizarre miracle and go all the way.

What, like the movie? Ten years from now it will feature Harrison Ford as Brian Burke along with Steve Carrell as Ron Wilson. Hanta yo, baby!!!

[dat's sick 1,002]

Top 4?

How about Kovalev, Semin, Frolov, Morozov? That's another 4 of 1-st liners. Putting Fedorov on the 4th line somehow doesn't look like a weakness to me.

Kovalev is lazy, Semin is inconsistant, Morozov is only a star in Russia, Frolov had less goals and points than Loui Eriksson.

Fedorov on a 4th line maybe isn't a weakness, but he's getting up there in age and I'm not sure he brings a whole heck of a lot more than what someone like Sammy Pahlsson brings at this point.

[kozac 10]

Kovalev is lazy, Semin is inconsistant, Morozov is only a star in Russia, Frolov had less goals and points than Loui Eriksson.

Fedorov on a 4th line maybe isn't a weakness, but he's getting up there in age and I'm not sure he brings a whole heck of a lot more than what someone like Sammy Pahlsson brings at this point.

Kovalev (if he's in fact selected) will be looking to prove himself and when he plays with a purpose he is one of the best players in the world.

An "inconsistent" Semin put up 79 points in 62 games last season. That's a better PPG than Datsyuk, by the way. I assume the reason you called him inconsistent was due to his performance against Pittsburgh in the playoffs. He was playing with a broken foot.

Plenty of teams (including Detroit) are/were very interested in Morozov. The guy just likes his life over there and doesn't want to come back to the NHL. He's done very well in the international competitions for Russia (see world championships 2008 and 2009)

Frolov plays on a horrible LA team which explains the unimpressive statistics. He is consistently one of the leaders of the team though and other players in the NHL have a lot of respect for him. I think it was Datsyuk who said that Frolov is the most underrated player in the league.

Fedorov is just like Kovalev, he can play very well when he has a purpose (see playoffs with Washington the past two seasons, as well as world championship 2008)

Look, I'm not saying that Russia has it wrapped up or even that they are the team to beat (Canada still is), but to say that Russia does not have good depth is just plain wrong.

[dat's sick 1,002]

Look, I'm not saying that Russia has it wrapped up or even that they are the team to beat (Canada still is), but to say that Russia does not have good depth is just plain wrong.

I just think they have worse depth than Canada or Sweden. Especially if you take defense/goaltending in consideration, along with things like the balance of the team (scorers, grinders, defensive specialists etc).

And about Semin: I think he's inconsistant because he can be completely invisible one game, only to score 4 points the next. And I'm not basing it only on the playoffs, the Capitals are one of the teams I follow the closest so I've seen a lot of their games. He's not a player that is very useful for anything except scoring points, so I guess that's why it's more noticable when he has off-games. He is extremely talented though.

[newfy 695]

I just think they have worse depth than Canada or Sweden. Especially if you take defense/goaltending in consideration, along with things like the balance of the team (scorers, grinders, defensive specialists etc).

And about Semin: I think he's inconsistant because he can be completely invisible one game, only to score 4 points the next. And I'm not basing it only on the playoffs, the Capitals are one of the teams I follow the closest so I've seen a lot of their games. He's not a player that is very useful for anything except scoring points, so I guess that's why it's more noticable when he has off-games. He is extremely talented though.

This is exactly what I was thinking