artilector said:
Well, I really hope you're right about the bigger rinks, but for sure, North Americans will try to pin Russia in the zone, and without physically dominant defenders, the forwards must be able and willing to work hard and support each other, like the Czechs do so well.
I said:
Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Korolyuk
Frolov - Yashin - Kovalev
Kharitonov - Malkin - Sushinsky
Ovechkin - Kozlov - Afinogenov
You said:
Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Afinogenov
Ovechkin - Yashin - Kovalev
Kharitonov - Malkin - Sushinsky
Frolov - Kozlov - Korolyuk
I am not sure that Kovalchuk needs a fast linemate like Afinogenov as much as Ovechkin does.. again, based on what I've seen in their recent NHL play - Kovalchuk has not been really trying to beat defenders with his speed, he's mostly trying to gain the zone and get himself into the slot; whereas Ovechkin often has nobody to pass to because he constantly challenges defenders with speed, and his linemates can't keep up (I've never seen Ovechkin as part of 3-on-2 in Washington!)
I definitely agree that Kovalchuk has to be paired with Datsyuk; and I think the scheme you suggest is good in that Afinogenov will also probably benefit greatly from Datsyuk setting him up.. On the other hand Yashin and especially Kovalev will not be able to keep up with Ovechkin, so it will take away from what he brings to the transition game.. and the fourth line, while serviceable, might have a very hard time generating offense, because all these guys, as far as I know, have been inconsistent.
In my scheme, chemistry is also uncertain - I have no idea how Kozlov would mesh with Ovechkin and Afinogenov, or whether Frolov/Yashin/Kovalev would work like I think it might. I've read in posts here that Ovechkin has played with Datsyuk in the Superleague and with Malkin in international tournaments, so there's more food for thought.
I know even less about defensemen, though. Kasparaitis and Tyutin have been alright in New York, but both make enough mistakes... as do Zhitnik, Gonchar and Kuljash! Haven't seen the others much.. However, in the past it somehow seemed to me that Russian D-men play more responsibly in the national team than in the NHL, more so than forwards - hopefully it will be true in Turin.
In the last games, Afinogenov, Samsonov and Kasparatis were Russia's best players.
Yashin is always there, yet he never shines, nor does Kovalev.
Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Afinogenov and
Kharitonov - Malkin - Sushinsky
in my opinion are no-brainers, then we have to put Ovechkin with a good center, and the only one left is Yashin. I mean Kozlov's work ethics are questionable at best.
Kovalev is quick enough to stay with Ovechkin, in my opinion.
Ovechkin, Yashin and Kovalev - all have size and endurance.
Yashin's a bit slow, but all he needs to do is to make that first pass, and he's good at it.
So, I think
Ovechkin - Yashin - Kovalev could be Russia's Power Line.
and Kozlov's line is probably the weakest of them all, but they won't get much icetime anyways.
Defence:
Kaspi and A. Markov will do fine
Gonchar is the perfect powerplay specialist.
Volchenkov is Russia's finest stay at home defensman
Zhitnk has been OK this year, and he's been there before, thus along with Kaspi bringing the much needed blue-line experience to an otherwise young defence squad.
D. Markov, Tutin - well they are at best 5 & 6 defencemen.