sibiriak 84 Report post Posted February 2, 2010 No way is Datsyuk a first liner on that team. He's not that good. You are probably right, Malkin is the best Russian born center right now. Not that the difference is great. But Bykov didn't have "1st, 2nd etc." lines in the past. The strength of that Team is that it has 4 1st lines and 4 checking lines. OV has played a checking role before and the Kazan KHL-based unit got a lot of PP time. So your initial point is really moot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sibiriak 84 Report post Posted February 2, 2010 Also, no way Grebeshkov is better defensively than Zubov. If we take Zubov of 3 years ago, you are quite right. But if we take Sergei Zubov of 2010 who has missed basically an entire NHL season because of a very serious injury, then not so much. Plus Zubov did not show up when he was invited to the national team for the Channel one tournament couple of montth ago. I'm not sure what happened there, but the coaches certainly took it amiss. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 If we take Zubov of 3 years ago, you are quite right. But if we take Sergei Zubov of 2010 who has missed basically an entire NHL season because of a very serious injury, then not so much. Plus Zubov did not show up when he was invited to the national team for the Channel one tournament couple of montth ago. I'm not sure what happened there, but the coaches certainly took it amiss. Whoever put this Russian team together is living too much in the present. Afinogenov has been terrible the last few years, but he's been good the first half season of this NHL year, so he gets in ahead of guys like Kovalev, Frolov and Zherdev. Those guys have been good for many seasons. This team looks like a fantasy league team, in the sense of "what have you done for me lately"? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 to sort the data correctly: Ilja Nikulin AK Bars Kazan Alexei Morozov AK Bars Kazan Danis Zaripov AK Bars Kazan Maxim Afinogenov Atlanta Thrashers Ilja Kovalchuk Atlanta Thrashers Fedor Tyutin Columbus Blue Jackets Konstantin Kornejev CSKA Moskova Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings Denis Grebeshkov Edmonton Oilers Sergei Fedorov Metallurg Magnitogorsk Andrei Markov Montreal Canadiens Anton Volchenkov Ottawa Senators Ilja Bryzgalov Phoenix Coyotes Sergei Gonchar Pittsburgh Penguins Jevgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins Dmitri Kalinin Salavat Julajev Ufa Viktor Kozlov Salavat Julajev Ufa Alexander Radulov Salavat Julajev Ufa Sergei Zinoviev Salavat Julajev Ufa Jevgeni Nabokov San Jose Sharks Semjon Varlamov Washington Capitals Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals Alexander Semin Washington Capitals 3 x Washington Capitals and then 3 x AK Bars Kazan 4 x Salavat Julajev Ufa and tell me once again why are people in US/Canada sore when Russian players pick KHL over NHL please... ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 Whoever put this Russian team together is living too much in the present. Afinogenov has been terrible the last few years, but he's been good the first half season of this NHL year, so he gets in ahead of guys like Kovalev, Frolov and Zherdev. Those guys have been good for many seasons. This team looks like a fantasy league team, in the sense of "what have you done for me lately"? Doesn't really matter if you were good a year or two ago if you suck now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FinWing 26 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 They've also got good defensive forwards, but the one thing they lack is toughness. The whole team is full of soft Euros. And Finland's goalies are the best after Canada! IMO Finland has the best goalies, period. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 Doesn't really matter if you were good a year or two ago if you suck now. So you'd rather have Afinogenov than Kovelev on the team if you're a fan of Team Russia? I sure as hell wouldn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 So you'd rather have Afinogenov than Kovelev on the team if you're a fan of Team Russia? I sure as hell wouldn't. I'd rather have Jussi Jokinen who's good now than Ville Peltonen who was good back in '95 as a fan of Team Finland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 I'd rather have Jussi Jokinen who's good now than Ville Peltonen who was good back in '95 as a fan of Team Finland. I don't think Kovalev is that far removed from being a good player. Same with a Zherdev or Zubov. A few of those guys if not all should have been on the team over some of the newbies who've had a little lucky start to the season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kozac 10 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 (edited) I don't think Kovalev is that far removed from being a good player. Same with a Zherdev or Zubov. A few of those guys if not all should have been on the team over some of the newbies who've had a little lucky start to the season. Afinogenov is certainly not a newbie. Also he has traditionally done very well on the national team. I would like to see Kovalev on the team and still hope he will be added last minute because I know that when he has something to prove he can be the best player in the world. Zubov absolutely should have been on the team, however, rumors have it he was left off the main squad for personal non-hockey reasons. Another one of those coaching staff versus player situations. When he was named on the reserve squad, he deemed it an insult and refused the spot. Zherdev is an extremely talented underachiever at this point. No place for his type on the national team. Hopefully this guy gets his s*** together sooner rather than later and not waste all that talent. Edited February 3, 2010 by kozac Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stactum 4 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 Afinogenov is certainly not a newbie. Also he has traditionally done very well on the national team. I would like to see Kovalev on the team and still hope he will be added last minute because I know that when he has something to prove he can be the best player in the world. Zubov absolutely should have been on the team, however, rumors have it he was left off the main squad for personal non-hockey reasons. Another one of those coaching staff versus player situations. When he was named on the reserve squad, he deemed it an insult and refused the spot. Zherdev is an extremely talented underachiever at this point. No place for his type on the national team. Hopefully this guy gets his s*** together sooner rather than later and not waste all that talent. Agree with you! Kovalev - Prima donna attitude and bad work ethics, I'm glad he is not on the team. Zherdev - constantly underachieving. Doesn't really have good work ethics. Glad he is not on the team. Zubov - good player, haven't played for national team in a LONG period of time. Would be a great addition, but if he is not willing to go as a backup - it also shows somewhat that his attitude isn't there. And at the end of the day - don't fix it if it's ain't broken since Russia won a couple of last WCH I think team management did a good job of not messing around with the base of the team and shuffle just a few utility players and didn't add any locker room cancer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Finnish Wing 110 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 I don't think Kovalev is that far removed from being a good player. Same with a Zherdev or Zubov. A few of those guys if not all should have been on the team over some of the newbies who've had a little lucky start to the season. I think Bykov know what kinda players he wants on his team. I just don't see Kovalev fitting there. Bykov has had great success so far, so I wouldn't criticize his choices too much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedWings Gone Wild 6 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 Zubov doesn't sound like he's ruled out the possibility of finding a way onto the team anyways... and of the omissions/snubs, I think he's the only legit one. Here's a quote from a fairly recent interview (from the KHL all-star game). Q: This means that it may be your last chance to play for Team Russia in Vancouver this year. And there is still uncertainty if you're going or not, and what your role there will be. A: To be honest this is not my priority. We'll see. Time will tell. Let leave this whole situation to our officials. I think they know more about this. I am sure everything will be alright ahead of this Olympics. The most important thing right now is to concentrate all attention on preparations for the Games. I think everything will be OK. Here's the full interview. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marty Barry 230 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 They've also got good defensive forwards, but the one thing they lack is toughness. The whole team is full of soft Euros. And Finland's goalies are the best after Canada! Thank you Don Cherry! My money is on Russia, my heart is in the USA!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hiei 192 Report post Posted February 4, 2010 Biggest Holes for Russia: Sure. They have a powerplay loaded heavier than a Chicago style Pizza. can the defense hold? Nabokov showing signs of wear in the NHL. will Bryz or Varlamov steal the show or will goaltending as a whole be an issue? Can the lines of dangle-dangle and ovie break a canadian defence or a swedish ice cleaning defensive machine? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marty Barry 230 Report post Posted February 4, 2010 Slava Kozlov= Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
