Olympics: Russia will send 29 players to Vancouver, final roster announced on Feb. 15

[Siberian]

If mods think this is not thread worthy please delete this. I think it is because Russia seemingly sees the situation with the rosters different than was presented in NA media

Russia will send 6 more players to Vancouver additionally to 23 players already announced. Russian officials say that the final roster will be finalized on February 15th.

Click to read more...

 

[daver]

Link?

Wasn't it already clarified that the rosters were already set in December save for "reasonable" substitutions?

 

[RusskiyHockey]

The main purpose of the extra players will be to train with the team before the NHLers get to Vancouver. So instead of just 14 KHLers practising a week before the Olympics, there will be a "full" squad, with some goalies. Although I find it hard to imagine Zubov going unless he'll get icetime in actual games.

 

[MaxV]

I doubt any changes will be made without injury being a factor.

 

[Siberian]

I doubt any changes will be made without injury being a factor.

Changes to the preliminary roster? I don't know, I don't think Bykov really puts too much importance to it. He said he would never guarantee a spot on his team to anyone 6 weeks in advance and he is as stubborn as they come. I also don't think he cares about much what NHL have to say about this matter.

 

[MaxV]

Changes to the preliminary roster? I don't know, I don't think Bykov really puts too much importance to it. He said he would never guarantee a spot on his team to anyone 6 weeks in advance and he is as stubborn as they come. I also don't think he cares about much what NHL have to say about this matter.

Yeah, but who do you think will be replaced?

Tereschenko instead of Kozlov? Zubov instead of Korneev?

This is just an opinion, but I think, baring and injury, roster will stay the way it is.

 

[Siberian]

I now have some certainty that Zubov will be on this team, perhaps instead of Grebeshkov. I don't like at all how Grebeshkov has been playing, just too many mistakes. Zubov on the other hand has been playing absolutely great in the last 2-3 weeks.

 

[Brodie562]

Hope Frolov is one of the players! He's been playing well of late

 

[daver]

Changes to the preliminary roster? I don't know, I don't think Bykov really puts too much importance to it. He said he would never guarantee a spot on his team to anyone 6 weeks in advance and he is as stubborn as they come. I also don't think he cares about much what NHL have to say about this matter.

What's the NHL have to do with it? It's the IIHF he has to worry about. You can't change the roster without a "valid reason"

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olyhockey/news/story?id=4811263

 

[rananda]

I now have some certainty that Zubov will be on this team, perhaps instead of Grebeshkov. I don't like at all how Grebeshkov has been playing, just too many mistakes. Zubov on the other hand has been playing absolutely great in the last 2-3 weeks.

Grebeshkov plays on arguably the worst team in the NHL, a team that has already started looking ahead to next season. How can you legitimately evaluate his play in that situation? I do hope Zubov is added to replace Korneev though. Grebeshkov at least has some experience playing against the Sharks forwards, Getzlaf and Perry, and the Sedins. It'll be interesting to see how/if Bykov makes any changes to the roster. Taking a pneumonia-weakened Kozlov would be asinine, I think.

 

[Siberian]

What's the NHL have to do with it? It's the IIHF he has to worry about. You can't change the roster without a "valid reason"

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olyhockey/news/story?id=4811263

I believe the preliminary rosters were forced upon by the NHL. Hockey is the only Olympic sport that required to announce the roster. Why would that be? IIHF never asked to do that before for their tournaments. Even though I do not have the proof but I am 99% sure that the NHL has a lot to do with that.

As for the memo, it's funny that Bykov is not mentioning it, he is just saying that the roster is to be finalized on the Feb 15th.

 

[Siberian]

Grebeshkov plays on arguably the worst team in the NHL, a team that has already started looking ahead to next season. How can you legitimately evaluate his play in that situation? I do hope Zubov is added to replace Korneev though. Grebeshkov at least has some experience playing against the Sharks forwards, Getzlaf and Perry, and the Sedins. It'll be interesting to see how/if Bykov makes any changes to the roster. Taking a pneumonia-weakened Kozlov would be asinine, I think.

I understand that the whole Edmonton team has zero confidence now, but what are you basing your evaluation of Grebeshkov versus Korneev debate? I started following CSKA more due to Korneev's inclusion on the team and he is playing some great hockey. I am not so sure I would want to take Grebeshkov over Korneev.

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

Changes to the preliminary roster? I don't know, I don't think Bykov really puts too much importance to it. He said he would never guarantee a spot on his team to anyone 6 weeks in advance and he is as stubborn as they come. I also don't think he cares about much what NHL have to say about this matter.

The Russian hockey people put together the best roster possible at the beginning. If those guys kept playing well I dont see a reason they would need to change players.

Unless a player is hurt or suddenly started being terrible why change the first roster?

 

[joe89]

I believe the preliminary rosters were forced upon by the NHL. Hockey is the only Olympic sport that required to announce the roster. Why would that be? IIHF never asked to do that before for their tournaments. Even though I do not have the proof but I am 99% sure that the NHL has a lot to do with that.

As for the memo, it's funny that Bykov is not mentioning it, he is just saying that the roster is to be finalized on the Feb 15th.

Ofc NHL has a lot to do with it. In fact no other Olympic sport has a league to adapt to, except soccer but let's not go there. But it's a good tradeoff for IIHF because they get the best players. In the end I think it benefits both parties, IIHF gets a hell of a tournament and NHL attracts new fans by showing the elite to casual fans especially in Europe.

 

[Paxton Fettel]

Ok so apparently Russia will bring along Tereschenko, Zubov, Proshkin, Tverdovsky (joke?), Koshechkin and Eremenko.

And a couple of NHLers might still make the team, like Kovalev or Frolov.

IMO none of this is a big deal.

 

[Zine]

I'd want Zubov to replace Kalinin rather than Korneev/Grebeshkov.

Korneev-Grebeshkov pairing have been very solid in the past.

 

[GKJ]

Is everyone getting taxi squads a la 2006?

 

[helicecopter]

Ok so apparently Russia will bring along Tereschenko, Zubov, Proshkin, Tverdovsky (joke?), Koshechkin and Eremenko.

And a couple of NHLers might still make the team, like Kovalev or Frolov.

IMO none of this is a big deal.

Well, a healthy and motivated Zubov instead of Kalinin is quite a big deal for me. Especially considering the pressure they will face in Vancouver. The bigger personality, the better.

And Kovalev is also a big deal.. i mean, in a good or bad way depending on which kind of Kovalev shows up, the stud or the more frequently known phantom.

Anyway, i hope Russians are right, having the chance to fix the rosters until february 15th on paper would only benefit the tournament.

 

[Frank the Tank]

If Team Canada staff members (and other nations managment) have not been in Russia scouting the KHL players selected already, this provides extra opportunity to watch them play in a full roster inter-squad situation.

 

[Sergei Makarov]

Hope Frolov is one of the players! He's been playing well of late

2 goals in 14 games is not my idea of playing well.

On the other hand, I really want to see Tverdovsky on the team. He is playing better than ever, has a lot of experience and with his amazing skating skills and leadership, he could be a "secret weapon". He's very underrated.

 

[helicecopter]

2 goals in 14 games is not my idea of playing well.

On the other hand, I really want to see Tverdovsky on the team. He is playing better than ever, has a lot of experience and with his amazing skating skills and leadership, he could be a "secret weapon". He's very underrated.

Bah, i'm not confident at all Tverdovsky would help more than hurt on the small rink. I've yet to watch him play this year though.

 

[deanosaur]

Someone care to clarify.
Long story short. Russia is basically bending the rules acting all high n mighty. and not actually naming a "final" team until Feb 15th? Even tho, teams were supposed to be named by January 1st?

 

[helicecopter]

Someone care to clarify.
Long story short. Russia is basically bending the rules acting all high n mighty. and not actually naming a "final" team until Feb 15th? Even tho, teams were supposed to be named by January 1st?

As far as i know, the ones bending (breaking, actually) the rules are the Canadians, using budget reasons to play on small rinks

 

[oilersrule14]

I now have some certainty that Zubov will be on this team, perhaps instead of Grebeshkov. I don't like at all how Grebeshkov has been playing, just too many mistakes.

Grebeskhov does not look 100% himself to me either. He doesn't seem to have the speed/mobility he usually has, and that's not surprising seeing he's coming off a knee injury. It was very apparent last night when he got beat easily by Pavol Demitra in a footrace. I understand Demitra is not a slow player, but I was suprised by how easily he won it as Grebeshkov is usually quick himself.

 

[Titan124]

As far as i know, the ones bending (breaking, actually) the rules are the Canadians, using budget reasons to play on small rinks

It's always great when the smiley defines the comment perfectly: "snide". I hope you're kidding. Oh, how I wish flaming wasn't an infraction.

The IIHF says ROSTERS ARE TO BE ANNOUNCED JANUARY 1. Russia completely disregards this.
The IOC and the IIHF say GAMES ARE TO BE PLAYED ON AN NHL RINK BECAUSE IT WOULD BE USELESS AND ABSOLUTELY STUPID TO WASTE RESOURCES TO EXPAND PREEXISTING ARENAS AND TAKE AWAY VALUABLE SEATING. Canada follows this clear cut rule, and are apparently breaking the rules?

In what world is canada breaking the rules and Russia not? Please, I want to see you try to spin this.