Russia WILL ice weakened team

Status
Not open for further replies.

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
If any of you remember this thread that asserted that Russia may ice a weakened team: http://www.hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=182697

It all came true, after a series of declinations.... Russia ends up with a seriously weakened team.


I am REALLY sad about Samsonov. He is our 2nd biggest loss for these Olympics at this point.

First, Malakhov declined - No biggie, he sucks, he's old, and is now retired.

Second, Zubov declined - Sad ofcourse, he would have been our best defensemen. Yet, since we never had him on the team to start with and it was something new that he would be playing, we never lost him. I just told myself, he is old, this is the last time he is good enough anyways, it dosen't matter.

Third, Federov declined - It was a loss no doubt. He finally started producing. Yet the role he would have played on the team at this point, a defensive one, could easily be taken over by Brylin or Viktor Kozlov. A loss, but a replaceable one.

Fourth, Mogilny declined - It would have been a nice cinderella story if he returned to the team. I could have seen him making it, but not having him is no big loss and I wasn't troubled.

Fifth, Samsonov declined - This is the one that really hit me. Why? You aren't 37.... you're 27!!! We really could have used him. Sure his place is now taken by the 3rd best out of Korolyuk/Morozov/Kharitonov/Afinogenov... yet its not the same. Samsonov is a really good player, and doing very well. Outscoring Afinogenov this year and Korolyuk + Morozov when they were in the NHL. He is a genuine NHL first liner... Afinogenov... a questionable 2nd liner. I really suspect "I've accumalted many injuries over the course of the season and am very tired, and I need some time for recover. I think I will have to skip these Olympics" is the real reason. Even Zhamnov, much older and much more injured wants to go. Samsonov said nobody called him, he just got a message from Nemchinov. May that message have been that he isnt going to make the team... or was it such a last minute question of whether he wanted to play that Samsonov was insulted? Seriously, this one hurts more than anyone inside. We could have used Sammy. He has a 75 point season in the NHL... although Korolyuk never played a full season in the NHL his best was only 37 points, Morozov was only good enough for 50 points when he was younger, and Afinogenov 's best is 40. This guy was a head above these 3, yet alone Kharitonov, and will be missed.

Please oh please, no more, let us keep Kovalev. Somehow, just somehow, can't we get Samsonov back as well? :cry:




With latest developments being what they are, my new team looks a little like this:

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalev
Kovalchuk-Yashin-Korolyuk
Kharitonov-Malkin-Sushinsky
Frolov-Brylin-Afinogenov
Extra: Viktor Kozlov

A. Markov-Gonchar
Volchenkov-Zhitnik
Tverdosvky-D. Markov
Extra: Tyutin

Khabibulin
Sokolov
Nabokov (even though there is indication Bryzgalov will take this spot)


Injury reserve: Zvinovjev(center), Morozov (wing), Kasparitis (defence) who go to the Olympics but dont dress unless there is an injury.



Honorible mention to Zhamnov who is willing to play as always, Kulyash who is a young offensive dynamo and is the future of Russian offensive defencemen, and Zherdev, Grigorenko, Semin, Perezhogin, Barulin, Koshechkin, Bryzgalov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Vyshedkevich, Vorobiev, (possibly Radulov, Salubov, and Voloshenko), and the rest of the kids that will contend for the 2010 roster.


Zubov, Federov, Samsonov and to a lesser extend Mogilny all deserve to go work at the salt mines... trully scum.
 

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
PavelBure said:
when do they announce the roster?


The tradgic anouncement of the roster comes on the 23rd of Decemeber in Russia... or the 22nd in North America depending where you are.
 

PavelBure

Registered User
Jan 5, 2003
1,043
1
edmonton
Slitty said:
If any of you remember this thread that asserted that Russia may ice a weakened team: http://www.hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=182697

It all came true, after a series of declinations.... Russia ends up with a seriously weakened team.


I am REALLY sad about Samsonov. He is our 2nd biggest loss for these Olympics at this point.

First, Malakhov declined - No biggie, he sucks, he's old, and is now retired.

Second, Zubov declined - Sad ofcourse, he would have been our best defensemen. Yet, since we never had him on the team to start with and it was something new that he would be playing, we never lost him. I just told myself, he is old, this is the last time he is good enough anyways, it dosen't matter.

Third, Federov declined - It was a loss no doubt. He finally started producing. Yet the role he would have played on the team at this point, a defensive one, could easily be taken over by Brylin or Viktor Kozlov. A loss, but a replaceable one.

Fourth, Mogilny declined - It would have been a nice cinderella story if he returned to the team. I could have seen him making it, but not having him is no big loss and I wasn't troubled.

Fifth, Samsonov declined - This is the one that really hit me. Why? You aren't 37.... you're 27!!! We really could have used him. Sure his place is now taken by the 3rd best out of Korolyuk/Morozov/Kharitonov/Afinogenov... yet its not the same. Samsonov is a really good player, and doing very well. Outscoring Afinogenov this year and Korolyuk + Morozov when they were in the NHL. He is a genuine NHL first liner... Afinogenov... a questionable 2nd liner. I really suspect "I've accumalted many injuries over the course of the season and am very tired, and I need some time for recover. I think I will have to skip these Olympics" is the real reason. Even Zhamnov, much older and much more injured wants to go. Samsonov said nobody called him, he just got a message from Nemchinov. May that message have been that he isnt going to make the team... or was it such a last minute question of whether he wanted to play that Samsonov was insulted? Seriously, this one hurts more than anyone inside. We could have used Sammy. He has a 75 point season in the NHL... although Korolyuk never played a full season in the NHL his best was only 37 points, Morozov was only good enough for 50 points when he was younger, and Afinogenov 's best is 40. This guy was a head above these 3, yet alone Kharitonov, and will be missed.

Please oh please, no more, let us keep Kovalev. Somehow, just somehow, can't we get Samsonov back as well? :cry:




With latest developments being what they are, my new team looks a little like this:

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalev
Kovalchuk-Yashin-Korolyuk
Kharitonov-Malkin-Sushinsky
Frolov-Brylin-Afinogenov
Extra: Viktor Kozlov

A. Markov-Gonchar
Volchenkov-Zhitnik
Tverdosvky-D. Markov
Extra: Tyutin

Khabibulin
Sokolov
Nabokov (even though there is indication Bryzgalov will take this spot)


Injury reserve: Zvinovjev(center), Morozov (wing), Kasparitis (defence) who go to the Olympics but dont dress unless there is an injury.



Honorible mention to Zhamnov who is willing to play as always, Kulyash who is a young offensive dynamo and is the future of Russian offensive defencemen, and Zherdev, Grigorenko, Semin, Perezhogin, Barulin, Koshechkin, Bryzgalov, Babchuk, Kalinin, Vyshedkevich, Vorobiev, (possibly Radulov, Salubov, and Voloshenko), and the rest of the kids that will contend for the 2010 roster.


Zubov, Federov, Samsonov and to a lesser extend Mogilny all deserve to go work at the salt mines... trully scum.



i would rather have morozov and kozlov playing over kharitonov and brylin
 

The Mars Volchenkov

Registered User
Mar 31, 2002
49,604
3,419
Colorado
Volchenkov will carry this team to the bronze medal. ;)

But seriously, put him with Vishnevski and no one will want to go through center ice with their head down.
 

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
PavelBure said:
i would rather have morozov and kozlov playing over kharitonov and brylin


I would rather have Samsonov playing. Morozov, in terms of production these last two years in the Russian Superleage definetly deserves a spot more tha Kharitonov. Yet considering Kharitonov's chemistry with Sushinsky and his amazing performance at the Rosno Cup... I am quite certain he will go.

Viktor Kozlov is probably more skilled than Brylin. I think Brylin is better defensively to center out checking line... as defensive as it is with Afinogenov + Frolov on it. I just want Kozlov as the 13th forward because he jump in and fill in any hole: defensive or offensive, center or wing, ect.
 

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
matthew94 said:
Still a strong roster. If Khabi is hot they'll certainly be hard to beat. And with Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalchuk-Malkin they'll be tough to stop for a while.


Vishnevsky is behind Kylash, Zyuzin, Kalinin, and even Khavanov, Vyshedkevich, Bykov... and a couple others from the RSL on the depth chart I think.


Yet Volechkov-Vishnevsky is scary. But Bronze aint good enough!
 

Den

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
6,037
2
Stockholm
www.recdir.com
This is all BS: all of them, with the exception of Zubie, are expendable. IMHO, we will have one of the strongest teams in the last 10 years, stronger than Nagano for example. The "weakened team" stuff is not serious :dunno:
 

KStewart113

Registered User
Jun 21, 2005
310
0
first off, thats still a good team. secondly, your lines are messaed up.

Korolyuk on 2nd line? Malkin a 3rd line centre? Frolov and Afinogenov on the 4th? I don't think so pal.

I also think Zherdev WILL make this team. Especially ahead of some non-NHLers.
 

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
Den said:
This is all BS: all of them, with the exception of Zubie, are expendable. IMHO, we will have one of the strongest teams in the last 10 years, stronger than Nagano for example. The "weakened team" stuff is not serious :dunno:


Fedorov is replaceable, but not completely expendable.
Samsonov is NOT expendable in the slightest :cry:. Someone should have phoned him, I think he is just mad others got contacted and he didnt.
 

PavelBure

Registered User
Jan 5, 2003
1,043
1
edmonton
i would be extremely happy if zherdev was playing cuz i think hes just starting to heat up but i think him and russia federation dont have the best relationship
 

Alessandro Seren Rosso

Registered User
Jun 21, 2004
5,777
213
Europe
thehockeywriters.com
KStewart113 said:
first off, thats still a good team. secondly, your lines are messaed up.

Korolyuk on 2nd line? Malkin a 3rd line centre? Frolov and Afinogenov on the 4th? I don't think so pal.

I also think Zherdev WILL make this team. Especially ahead of some non-NHLers.

man what the heck are you saying? Get informed about russian hockey, it'd be a good thing...
 

Slitty

Registered User
Oct 23, 2005
3,875
8
KStewart113 said:
first off, thats still a good team. secondly, your lines are messaed up.

Korolyuk on 2nd line? Malkin a 3rd line centre? Frolov and Afinogenov on the 4th? I don't think so pal.

I also think Zherdev WILL make this team. Especially ahead of some non-NHLers.


Kharitnov-Malkin-Sushinsky is a line that played at this year's European tournaments. I think it will stick, or either Datsyuk centers it. If Malkin centers those two, it will be the 3rd or 2nd line.

Korolyuk has gotten better as of late, you should have seen him at Rosno Cup, VERY impressive offensively.

Lets face it, Zherdev sucks this year. Morozov, Korolyuk, Kharitonov, Sushinsky, and a score of other RSL wingers including Antipov, Grigorenko, But, and Semin are better than him at this point. He may have potential, but he is not making this team this year based on his play.

Afinogenov dosen't fit in anywhere but the 4th line really. Only switched with Korolyuk is a possibility. He is a 2nd liner who cant score but is speedy... may as well play some defence. Frolov is known for his hustle and defence more than his offense. He is our 2nd best left winger in terms of defence. Yet Kharitonov (the best defensive left winger and penalty kill specialist) only makes this team because he plays with Sushinsky offensively and wont be on the 4th line unless they are broken up... in which case he dosen't make the team at all and Morozov gets the nod ;)


I think this team became incapable of Gold or even Silver medals with the loss of (in order of importance) Zubov, Samsonov, Fedorov. :cry:
 

PavelBure

Registered User
Jan 5, 2003
1,043
1
edmonton
i still think russia has a shot at the gold medal. remember 98 russia wasnt that strong of a team and they came within one goal of the gold
 

The Mars Volchenkov

Registered User
Mar 31, 2002
49,604
3,419
Colorado
Slitty said:
Vishnevsky is behind Kylash, Zyuzin, Kalinin, and even Khavanov, Vyshedkevich, Bykov... and a couple others from the RSL on the depth chart I think.
How is Vishnevski below some of those guys? I've never even heard of Kylash and Vyshedkevich. Khavanov is awful and I can't see how he'd be behind Bykov.
 

Den

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
6,037
2
Stockholm
www.recdir.com
Slitty said:
Fedorov is replaceable, but not completely expendable.
Samsonov is NOT expendable in the slightest :cry:. Someone should have phoned him, I think he is just mad others got contacted and he didnt.

Fedorov wouldn't be making the team. His decline most likely came after a phonecall of the kind "Sergey, can you say that you are not coming because of injuries, cause we are cutting you anyway?" IMHO Fedorov is absolutely expendable.

I fail to see why Samsonov is better than Morozov who is barely making the team now. So, in your terminology, Samsonov is very replacable, say, by Morozov/Semin.

Zubie is the only regret, but I don't think anybody was counting on him.

So, really, I don't see any turn for worse at all, and there no gound for dropping the ambitions.
 

Den

Registered User
Aug 9, 2005
6,037
2
Stockholm
www.recdir.com
SensGuy said:
How is Vishnevski below some of those guys? I've never even heard of Kylash and Vyshedkevich. Khavanov is awful and I can't see how he'd be behind Bykov.

I think ppl generally frown at Vishnevsky for making some very costly stupid mistakes, like ones at the last WCup. IMHO, he is better than Khavanov and Bykov, but Kulyash will be taken over him if it comes to it...
 

TORRUS

Registered User
May 31, 2004
1,270
0
Beli
OK, I also wanted Samsonov on the team but his injury or whatever that was doesn't change much. The situation with wingers is pretty much clear.

LW: Sushinsky, Kovalchuk, Frolov, Ovechkin
RW: Kovalev, Afinogenov, Morozov (according to Krikunov he goes ahead of Korolyuk) and Kharitonov. Plus Viktor Kozlov whom I would put on the wing as well.

4 centers and guys I named above and that's 13 forwards. And it looks good.
The only player I'm sorry not to see is Zubov.
 

Slay

Registered User
May 24, 2003
1,436
4
Krasnoyarsk
TORRUS said:
LW: Sushinsky, Kovalchuk, Frolov, Ovechkin
RW: Kovalev, Afinogenov, Morozov (according to Krikunov he goes ahead of Korolyuk) and Kharitonov. Plus Viktor Kozlov whom I would put on the wing as well.

Sushinsky is a RW, Kharitonov is a LW. I think Kozlov can fill Samsonov's spot on the LW, he shoots right so this position should suit him well. I am looking forward to the last year's duo Kozlov-Yashin. Also I'd like to see Korolyuk over Morozov. And I hope Brylin will make the team.
 

Rabid Ranger

2 is better than one
Feb 27, 2002
31,014
11,020
Murica
How on earth can people say that's still a strong team? Not alot of proven forwards, a spotty defense, and inconsistent goaltending.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->