Is there a specific reason none of you have chosen Kovalev to make the team? I know he's had a rough start to the season with the Senators, but he's still much more skilled than half the players on that team...
Is there a specific reason none of you have chosen Kovalev to make the team? I know he's had a rough start to the season with the Senators, but he's still much more skilled than half the players on that team...
Bykov didn't take him for either of the last two WHC.
As I've said earlier in this thread, Kovalev's best value to Russian team would be on PP.
And with players such as Malkin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Datsyuk, Semin, etc., Russia really doesn't need more help on PP.
Can't Kovalev play PK? He's so good with the puck, can hold it for a long time, I would choose him over Morozov, Zaripov, Kozlov in less than a second
have you seen him play this year? kovalev is one of my favorite players of all time, but he has been absolutely abysmal this year. just terrible. a shell of his former self.
Защитники: Марков Андрей (Монреаль Канадиенс), Никулин Илья (Ак Барс), Калинин Дмитрий (Салават Юлаев), Корнеев Константин (ЦСКА), Гребешков Денис (Эдмонтон Ойлерз), Тютин Фёдор (Коламбус Блю Джакетс), Гончар Сергей (Питтсбург Пингвинз), Волченков Антон (Оттава Сенаторс).
Нападающие: Дацюк Павел (Детройт Ред Уингз), Малкин Евгений (Питтсбург Пингвинз), Фёдоров Сергей (Металлург Мг), Ковальчук Илья (Атланта Трэшерз), Афиногенов Максим (Атланта Трэшерз), Зарипов Данис (Ак Барс), Сёмин Александр (Вашингтон Кэпиталз), Зиновьев Сергей (Салават Юлаев), Радулов Александр (Салават Юлаев), Козлов Виктор (Салават Юлаев), Овечкин Александр (Вашингтон Кэпиталз), Морозов Алексей (Ак Барс).
So based on this team what are everyone's thoughts in comparison to the side in 2006,2002 and 1998 ???
Also Team chemistry wise which seems pretty good for us at the moment what does everyone here think of other countries chemistry wise are there teams who may have better chemistry on there lines if say the Olympics started tomorrow?
Chemistry was definitely a factor for Bykov when he was selecting the rosters. Every line will probably have at least 2 players that are playing with each other on their respective clubs.
Our depth is underrated, but it's far from spectacular. KHLers can play, but none of them are on the same level as Ovechkin, Malkin or Kovalchuk. Still, I'm hoping and expecting to see a good performance out of our KHL players.
With that being said, it's not like Canada has a star in every position. I would still put Canada as the favorites, but I don't think we are far behind.
The only real questions about our forwards are really with Kozlov and Fedorov. Both are very skilled but aging players. I hope they play well.
I would say the biggest question facing our team is defensive depth (as is the case most of them time with Team Russia). Our top 4 defensemen (Markov, Gonchar, Nikulin and Volchenkov) are all good but, after that, there is a bit of a drop-off.
I haven't been impressed with Grebeshkov this season. I thought he would develop into a fine NHL D-man by now, but he is still inconsistent. I hope he brings his 'A' game for the Olympics.
Personally, I like Tyutin more. He brings a tougher, more defensively-responsible game then Grebs. He is a "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of player. Meaning, that he isn't great in any of the facets of the game, but he isn't a liability in any of them either. He has ability to play both on PP and PK and isn't a bad 5-on-5 player either.
I'm not a fan of Kalinin, but I understand his selection. He seems to play at his best with the NT. I hope that continues in the OG.
Korneyev is a fine KHL player and he played very well in WHC two years ago. He's not a great player, but he is skilled and seems to play with good determination with the NT.
I see Radulov is amoung KHL leaders in points....will he fit into a top 6 role in Vancouver possibly on a Line with Geno and Kovy.....assuming u want to keep Ovechkin and Semin together who show great chemistry, I would personally have Datsyuk centre this line for defensive purposes....
And also, Nikolai Kulemin has showed great improvement from last year(not in points, but in all other areas of the game), and is now playing on Torontos first line, he is well regarded for his strong defensive play, speed, and physical play, im just wondering what you think of him on checking line with Fedorov...I think he could be very effective.....
