Tough to judge how Bragin and Bratash feel about the Balashikha tournament participants.What do we think the roster might look like?
What do we think the roster might look like?
Tough to judge how Bragin and Bratash feel about the Balashikha tournament participants.
From the Canada Russia Series my guess is:
Altybarmakian - Maltsev - Polodian
Manukian - Lipanov - Sokolov
Add Kostin - Rubtsov - Svechnikov and a 4th line that is fairly tough to predict.
The D without Sergachev and Dronov remains with one capable defenceman in Samorukov. This will be the most glaring hole.
Probably Berdin, Melnichuk for now as a top duo in goal.
Are Dronov and Kayumov expected to be healthy?Shocked and dissapointed by Sukhachyov's meltdown, he looked much worse than last year, I guess that missing that half-year with an injury had it's impact, I have no other explanation. Melnichuk looked decent, but remembering how bad he was just something like a month ago makes me worried. Maybe Berdin can be a proper starter, but I totally don't know how consistent he is nowadays, it was an issue before he left. So yeah, here I think it is fully up to the camp.
On a positive side, it's Polodyan and Lipanov, I guess I don't have to explain why. Also I'd say that defense didn't look as awful as I expected it to be.
So, if everyone get's healthy in time and Kostin is let go (and, obviously, Sergachev is not)...
Altybarmakyan-Maltsev-Polodyan
Kostin-Lipanov-Sokolov
Kayumov-Rubtsov-Abramov
Kara-Ivanov-Svechnikov
Kurashov-Makeyev
Dronov-Elizarov
Syomin-Zaitsev
Samorukov-Miroshnichenko
Berdin
Melnichuk
Sukhachyov
Are Dronov and Kayumov expected to be healthy?
Abramov and Kara have no business on this roster IMHO.
I know Bragin doesn't like too many smallish guys, but he was playing Manukian a lot and with Abramov on the same line too. Manukian was head and shoulders above both Rubtsov and Abramov. I don't know if Manukian really can translate his game to the next levels, but right know he should be on the roster way ahead of Abramov.
Guess we won't agree on Abramov. In my eyes he did nothing, really nothing to impress in both games.Kayumov was expected to be back at the start of December last time I checked. Dronov's situation is more complicated (as his "official" return date is set just prior to the start of the WJC), but if there is a chance he can play there, he should be there, imo.
Abramov looked good in the second QMJHL game, so I don't agree here.
Manukyan isn't bad, but to me he looks like a poor man's version of Polunin (and he is even smaller than that), so I'd take Kayumov instead of him in ideal world (e.g. if Kayumov is in a good form). And other Top9 LW positions probably are already reserved for Barman and Kostin.
With Kara the thing is that, while I'm not impressed by him, at 4th line wing we need someone gritty, with size and who can play C in case of an injury and there are not too many options I guess: Kara, Rasseikin, Tsyplakov... anyone else? I hoped that Sholokhov could be that guy, but apparently Bragin isn't a fan of him.
Compred to the overall level of this year's D he might be adequate, but it is not necessarily a good thing.Minulin wasn't bad in the superseries. I hope he gets a camp invite.
Guess we won't agree on Abramov. In my eyes he did nothing, really nothing to impress in both games.
Manukian looks like a better version of Polunin actually.
Rasseikin, Tsyplakov over Kara easily, but the 4th will be a Bragin thing. He will probably bring the guys for qualities we can't even evaluate from here.
Compred to the overall level of this year's D he might be adequate, but it is not necessarily a good thing.
So Manukyan should be there?
No chance for Mizyurin, Chekhovich, Kosorenkov, Maksimov, V.Kuznetsov, Popugaev?
Them not being invited doesn't necessarily mean they were considered not good enough.I didn't like most of the players that played at this series.
Hard to believe that guys like Shvyryov, Shen and Kravtsov weren't good enough.
I would prefer Kayumov and Manukian on the roster.As usually on Manukyan opinions are polarized: Atas (and, obviously, not only him) thinks that he should be there, but I'd prefer a healthy Kayumov instead.
The 4th line will be up to Bragin's skill to pick character players. I did like what I saw from Tsyplakov in that regard. But we don't know what Bragin knows and thinks. He is afterall in the locker room with the players and on the road. He has a better understanding of what type of guys he is having there.Tsyplakov over Kara is fine to me, but please no Rasseikin, I wasn't a big fan of him before the Series and totally not a fan of him after it.