IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
It will definitely be fun to watch Russian offensive play Slovak defence in Sochi . This time I think Russia won't do a bad decision to play KHL defenders. It will be bigger ice than it was in Vancouver. Gonchar and Markov are ageing and KHL defenders were better on bigger ice at WCs than NHL guys like Nikitin, Tyutin or Volchenkov. Talking about forwards I think Russia shouldn't play all the superstars in TOP 2 lines. It didn't work for Russia in the past except of the Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin line. Combine them with hard working guys (Kulyomin-Malkin, Svitov-Radulov). That can work better for Russia IMO.
Ovechkin will play with Datsyuk and Semin - they have chemistry so why to break them? Kovy and Tarasenko look great together. Add Malkin to them, and it's gonna be a pretty sick line. Or perhaps let them play with Tikhonov as in SKA, and then Malkin+Radulov can make another great line.
Ovechkin will play with Datsyuk and Semin - they have chemistry so why to break them? Kovy and Tarasenko look great together. Add Malkin to them, and it's gonna be a pretty sick line.
Cause my guess is Ovechkin and Malkin would have even better chemistry, and it's not like Datsyuk wouldn't have good chemistry with Semin and Radulov.
As for Kovalchuk, i'd rather keep him away from Datsyuk and Malkin.
His production doesn't seem to depend too much on the quality of his centerman, and his game would actually take away from Malkin and Datsyuk instead of adding.
Malkin and Datsyuk are better served with great players that like combinations play (when the puck is shared and usually comes back after they dish it away) rather than the Kovalchuk style.
OV and Malkin have played together in the past, with mediocre results.
Actually, Malkin seems to play at his best when he isn't on the same line as other star players. That has been the case both with Pens and NT. He plays better with Popov or Talbot then with Crosby or Ovechkin.
He is excellent at drawing attention of the opposition and finding open teammates.
He is excellent at drawing attention of the opposition and finding open teammates.
for sure.
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OV and Malkin have played together in the past, with mediocre results.
the few times i had the opportunity to see them together they looked great.
The problem is they almost never see the ice together. Now that their relationship seems just fine i don't see any reason for that; both can play the game at high speed and have quicker mind for the game -> quick reads and reactions. And their skills match perfectly.
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Actually, Malkin seems to play at his best when he isn't on the same line as other star players. That has been the case both with Pens and NT. He plays better with Popov or Talbot then with Crosby or Ovechkin.
Malkin plays great with anyone, unless is someone who plays by himself and doesn't share the puck nor understand the game.
The better linemates he has, the better it is, unless you put him at wing like some retarded Penguins coaches liked to do
OV and Malkin have played together in the past, with mediocre results.
Actually, Malkin seems to play at his best when he isn't on the same line as other star players. That has been the case both with Pens and NT. He plays better with Popov or Talbot then with Crosby or Ovechkin.
He is excellent at drawing attention of the opposition and finding open teammates.
Malkin likes the puck as fast and as neat to him as possible, hes a greedy player but he gets stuff done. With that said I think Kovulchuk on Malkins line would be great. Kovulchuk is not a selfish player and hes very smart. I think Kovulchuk and Malkin on one line with maybe Taresenko or Popov on their line is huge.
Ovechkin on the 2nd line should be with Datsyuk, both guys who need attention away from one another to get production and they can do that for one another. Idk if i like Semin on that line though... I believe a good winger could be Radulov on this line
On the bubble: Zherdev, Anisimov, Perezhogin, Grigorenko, Burmistrov, Popov
p.s. It's quite possible that the fate of the Sochi's gold is being decided right now, by Bettman and Fehr. The longer this lockout will hold, the better tuned russian NT will be.
Malkin is Russias best player. NHL MVP, WC MVP and striving for more. Since hes taken his workouts and offseason more seriously he has become a dominant force and an elite player.
Ilya Kovulchuk and Malkin will be a nice compliment for one another. Malkin loves the puck, Ilya is not stubborn nor is he selfish.
On the bubble: Zherdev, Anisimov, Perezhogin, Grigorenko, Burmistrov, Popov
p.s. It's quite possible that the fate of the Sochi's gold is being decided right now, by Bettman and Fehr. The longer this lockout will hold, the better tuned russian NT will be.
It's possible the players may give up Olympic participation in favor of an NHL/NHLPA tournament. i.e. world cup. CBA may conclude, NHL will agree to honor the value of all existing contracts, but as a condition, the NHLPA gives up Olympics in favor of a World Cup. possible.
Malkin is Russias best player. NHL MVP, WC MVP and striving for more. Since hes taken his workouts and offseason more seriously he has become a dominant force and an elite player.
Ilya Kovulchuk and Malkin will be a nice compliment for one another. Malkin loves the puck, Ilya is not stubborn nor is he selfish.
Kov, Malkin, Radulov
Ovi, Datsyuk, Semin
I agree with that top 6.
I would never put Semin on the LW like some other posters did, he's terrible there- proven many times. And he is also the only player who could fall out of the top 6 for Kuznetsov or Tarasenko. Also Radulov hasn't been quiet himself, he might actually be replaced by Tarasenko if the guy keeps up.
The bottom 6 is anyone's guess, there's a lot of Good players with different skills and will come down to what tools the coaches want in the bottom 6.
Knowing the coaches, I can see the top 2 lines being all - out scoring weapons, with the 3rd line being a solid 2-way line, and 4th being a quick, workhorse shutdown line (with someone like Ketov, Tereschenko...)
Unless Yakupov blows up NHL or KHL with scoring (40+ goals), I really doubt we'll see him these Olympics.
If I were to predict based on what Bilyaletdinov has been playing around with over the past year I think he may go with something like this (If Tarasenko and Kuznetsov continue making big strides in development)
Perezhogin-Malkin-Mozyakin(Popov), (the Popov-Malkin-Perezhogin line at the 2012 World Championships was unstoppable)
Kovalchuk/Datsyuk/Radulov(Zherdev did well on this line at EHT when Rad was injured, Tarasenko has a chance here too due to his chemistry with Kovalchuk)
Ovechkin/Tereschenko(Shipachyov)/Kuznetsov
Kulyomin-Anisimov-Zherdev
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Syomin (Depending on where he is at heading into the tournament)
Yakupov (Will need a big year in the NHL).
In Defense,
Don't see Markov or Gonchar making the team.
A line of Yakapov-Grigorenko-Tarasenko would be pretty damn exciting.
yeah but a huge defensive liability as a line at the scale of the olympics. the other great teams would salivate against playing against this line. Tarasenko should make the team, but you can't have to many 2nd year players on the team, they haven't matured on the defensive side in that short of a period. I don't think Semin will be on team, he was a huge dissapointment in vancouver, and washington last year, and i hear hasn't endured himself to well in Carolina so far
Mozyakin Malkin Radulov
I don't know a whole lot about Mozyakin but from his highlights and stats and obvious chemistry with Malks i figured he's going to make it Ovechkin Datsyuk Kovalchuk
Speaks for itself Kuznetsov Tereschenko Tarasenko
I know Tarasenko is young but it's obvious he's the real deal. As for Kuznetsov he's kind of like Russias eberle too me Kulemin Anisimov Yakupov
Not the biggest fan of Yakupov but hes explosive I think he can get a spot
Varlamov
Bryzgalov
Barulin
A lot of youth on my team but I think they deserve it plus when Russia brought some youth in 06 they medal'd so. What do you think?
A lot of youth on my team but I think they deserve it plus when Russia brought some youth in 06 they medal'd so. What do you think?
They came fourth in 2006, but I see the point you are trying to make. I found the 06 team the most fun to watch along with the 1998 team that finished second.
Don't think Bil will be looking at Yakupov but he has had a good start to his NHL career, if he continues to get more comfortable and score regularly over the next year I see nothing wrong with him making the team.
I still think Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Radulov is a lock for the Olympics, the line looked superb at the EHT recently and when Zherdev played on that line instead of Radulov it still looked good.
. This time I think Russia won't do a bad decision to play KHL defenders. It will be bigger ice than it was in Vancouver. Gonchar and Markov are ageing and KHL defenders were better on bigger ice at WCs than NHL guys like Nikitin, Tyutin or Volchenkov. Talking about forwards I think Russia shouldn't play all the superstars in TOP 2 lines. It didn't work for Russia in the past except of the Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin line. Combine them with hard working guys (Kulyomin-Malkin, Svitov-Radulov). That can work better for Russia IMO.
