Now that the roster for Vancouver has been announced, we can continue our tradition of predicting which players will be invited to the next Olympiad.
Some of the line-ups posted over four years ago were amazingly accurate...
Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Grebeshkov, Tyutin, Korneev, Semin all get reinvited.
I think we will see Kulemin (the one from Toronto), Tarasenko, Anisimov, Filatov ( a big may be )...Tkihnov?
and the forth line will be centered by S. Fedorov with Fetisov likely to come back again))))
- Hopefully Datsyuk and Markov don't decline too much in 4 years.
- I think Kulemin and Anisimov will both develop into good 2-way forwards.
- On the 3rd line, I prefer Grachev as a Center and Loktionov as a winger, but it looks like their respective teams are trying to develop them the other way.
- We have a bunch of other forward prospects that I was considering.
- We have several talented offensive-minded defensemen (Voynov, Alexandrov, Zubarev, Orlov, Zaitsev, Chudinov, etc.) that I was considering adding, as well as a couple of stay-at-home d-men (Emelin and Anikienko).
what have you all been smoking putting Burmistrov on the first line...his ceiling is a Kuryanov - type player, imho
Currently we have only three centres in NHL and all of them look to be a lock for 2014. Then we have several solid but unspectacular 87-88 born centers in Churilov, Klyukin, Krysanov and Bodrov, couple of 80 born veterans in Tereschenko and Zinoviev, and promising youngsters with Loktionov and Burmistrov leading the pack. There is no definite option here. And don't see why Burmistrov can't be a one.
Defense is a little trickier to predict. Many of the current Olympians have a good chance of returning in Sochi. Markov, for example, is the oldest, but it's hard not to imagine him being back. Barring the unforseen, Grebeshkov and Tyutin should only improve and be back as well. While Volchenkov plays a style that wears the body and includes a high risk of injury, his chances are also good. Nikulin should at the very least still be in the mix, and Korneev will hopefully continue his development and warrant consideration as well.
Other than that, there aren't many presently established players that seem to be likely candidates. Of those currently on the cusp of the national team, only Kulyash and Kondratiev are young enough to have any prospects of being competative in 2014. So younger players will probably have to grow into the remaining spots on the roster not filled by returnees. Here is my defensive corps of those most likely to do so:
Defense is a little trickier to predict. Many of the current Olympians have a good chance of returning in Sochi. Markov, for example, is the oldest, but it's hard not to imagine him being back. Barring the unforseen, Grebeshkov and Tyutin should only improve and be back as well. While Volchenkov plays a style that wears the body and includes a high risk of injury, his chances are also good. Nikulin should at the very least still be in the mix, and Korneev will hopefully continue his development and warrant consideration as well.
Other than that, there aren't many presently established players that seem to be likely candidates. Of those currently on the cusp of the national team, only Kulyash and Kondratiev are young enough to have any prospects of being competative in 2014. So younger players will probably have to grow into the remaining spots on the roster not filled by returnees. Here is my defensive corps of those most likely to do so:
Solid lineup. I think all the players have good chances, but I'd rank Zubarev and Nikitin a little behind the others. I think the guys with the best chances are Kulikov (plays in the NHL at very young age, by 2014 he'll have experience), Goncharov (I guess he'll be playing in the NHL), Voinov (same) and Alexandrov (same). Anikienko is a tough defenseman with a big shot, things that don't hurt in international hockey, and this might give him a chance, though he doesn't really score as much as Kulyash or Dmitri Vorobiev 2-3 years ago.
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Алексей Черепанов навсегда в наших сердцах
I haven't watched any Vityaz games, but the 2 young players that are having a good statistical season are Center Vadim Berdnikov (22 years-old) and Defenseman Dmitri Megalinsky (24 years-old).
Considering their supporting cast, their numbers are impressive.
Megalinsky is a very good defensive defenseman. He was even rumored to join CSKA this summer. He is a good young player, but not sure he has Olympic games potential
