IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Kulikov, Voinov and Orlov will be 23/24 at 2014. How old they should be to be experienced players? 34? However having on mind big rinks i would take Chudinov ahead of Kulikov 7 days a week though Kulikov is first line defender in Florida.
It doesn't depend on the age only, but international experience as well. We only have 2 Worlds left before Sochi and may not be able to even see young NHLers once playing for Russia (aside from Kulikov). There's a huge risk in taking nearly unfamiliar players to the home Olympics. And if they play in the Worlds not very well, it's probably a risk of leaving a better player over the board. We sure don't have a hundred of Olympic caliber defenders.
I don't know about Chudinov. He is impressive, but I want to see him at the Worlds. And I would definetely choose Kulikov to the team if I would do it now.
Anyway, aside from Markov (?), who are our top-level veteran defencemen? Volchenkov is an injury prone and strictly defensive. Tyutin isn't much above average NHL defenceman. Gonchar will be very old and too weak at actual defence. I don't know what Nikulin will look after ZHB's departure, but it doesn't look very promising. Kalinin? Who else?
Too many possible names for Canada. You'd think they would keep a good number of vets from the previous team, yet with all the newcomers will that possible?
I think Heatley will probably not come back, same for Marleau, Pronger, Brodeur and of course Niedermayer.
Among the new names that could be there as of today's knowledge:
Claude Giroux
Jamie Benn
Tyler Seguin
Jordan Eberle
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Taylor Hall
John Tavares
Alex Pietrangelo
Matt Duchene
PK Subban
Marc Staal
Dan Girardi
Carey Price
Cam Ward
Patrick Sharp
I surely left many names out, so that just gives you an idea. Out of that group, I would not mind seeing RNH, Seguin, Tavares, Duchene, Staal, Price and Ward for sure, but who knows in two years?
It doesn't depend on the age only, but international experience as well. We only have 2 Worlds left before Sochi and may not be able to even see young NHLers once playing for Russia (aside from Kulikov). There's a huge risk in taking nearly unfamiliar players to the home Olympics. And if they play in the Worlds not very well, it's probably a risk of leaving a better player over the board. We sure don't have a hundred of Olympic caliber defenders.
I don't know about Chudinov. He is impressive, but I want to see him at the Worlds. And I would definetely choose Kulikov to the team if I would do it now.
Anyway, aside from Markov (?), who are our top-level veteran defencemen? Volchenkov is an injury prone and strictly defensive. Tyutin isn't much above average NHL defenceman. Gonchar will be very old and too weak at actual defence. I don't know what Nikulin will look after ZHB's departure, but it doesn't look very promising. Kalinin? Who else?
You are actually making a case for the young guys to make it.
Sure Kulikov, Voynov, Orlov, Nikitin and Chudinov are inexperienced, but our other options are very limited.
Yes, it would be nice if these guys played in Worlds first, but I don't think they should be ruled out if that doesn't happen.
If they continue to show progress in their game and get to the point where they are play consistent, all-around hockey, they should be there.
The people who leave RNH off of their prospective team Canada rosters are silly.
the people who think rnh is the next coming of christ (or kadri to leaf fans) after hitting the quarter mark of his first season 2 years before this event are silly
the people who think rnh is the next coming of christ (or kadri to leaf fans) after hitting the quarter mark of his first season 2 years before this event are silly
First, you don't have to be christ to make the team. RNH is the ideal type of player for team Canada. Thinking RNH doesn't have the potential to make the team is silly.
Second, though not related, please come out of your hole, most of Leafs Nation wants Kadri's "punk ass" traded and criticize everything down to his tweets.
Subtract Miettinen, OJ, Armia, Saku Koivu, Hagman and Salmela. Add Petrell, Hartikainen, Komarov, Immonen, Nokelainen and Vatanen. Finland usually takes role players for bottom lines and Koivu-Hagman duo in the fourth line doesn't really suit that. OJ is retired from the national team, Armia won't be ready and Miettinen's career is going downhill.
