Team Russia's Lines Announced

[The Mars Volchenkov]

Smart, smart move putting Volchenkov with Gonchar. The world will see how great a player this guy has developed into.

There should not be concerns over their offense, it's whether or not their defense and goaltending can hold up.

 

[Metallian*]

Numbering does not matter. They'll be given ice time according to the performance.

eggzacklee

 

[shawn_kemp*]

the other day I was comparing this roster with the 98 and 2002 squads. and my overall impression is that this team has considerably improved on defense with no less than 4-5 defensive specialists (Volchenkov, Vish, Kasper, Zhukov and to some extent A. Markov). offense has also gained a lot of speed, youth and explosiveness.

the only real question : the goaltending ... but at the same time I recall them having Shtalenkov in 98, who was a pretty average NHL backup.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

eggzacklee

I've seen someone else use this word on this board before!

 

[Den]

what do you expect? I'm surprised more Russian's aren't making fun of him.

Well, he's underachieving as of late, but was the THE GUY in the 90-s for us, so, quite the opposite, there's lots of respect for him with the Russian fans

 

[Skk82]

Afinogenov - Malkin - Ovechkin

i can't wait to see those three. afinogenov very well may be the fastest skater in the olympics (and the big surface) and ovechkin, of course, is no slouch himself. they'll be opening up a ton of room for malkin to be dishing passes.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

i can't wait to see those three. afinogenov very well may be the fastest skater in the olympics (and the big surface) and ovechkin, of course, is no slouch himself. they'll be opening up a ton of room for malkin to be dishing passes.

one thing is for sure : Russia's strenght is its speed. I don't think any team can match guys like Ovechkin, both Kovys, Malkin, Afinogenov, Kharitonov and such.

 

[Missionhockey]

Sushinski a no-name!? Some call him the best player out side the NHL... Kharitonov no scrub.

Must be part of the "plays out side NHL, must be bad player" group...

oh im sorry, excuse me for not knowing every single player, to come out of your country. I was under the impression that Malkin was the best player not in the NHL. Do you think I would honestly expect you to name a random American player AHL or ECHL and know exactly who he is?

 

[Den]

Sergei Zhukov - Yaroslavl Lokomotiv

Someone should alert the team and his family, I'm surprised he died several decades ago and nobody but you noticed.

You didn't get the joke: Marshal G. Zhukov was a formost general during WWII. Stalingrad, Berlin, and so on - his work.

 

[Den]

I was under the impression that Malkin was the best player not in the NHL. Do you think I would honestly expect you to name a random American player AHL or ECHL and know exactly who he is?

No, Su is. No point to compare Su with an AHLer - this is ridiculous to anybody who knows.

 

[Proffessor G DIDDY]

No offense but this might be very well be the defensive crop in the whole tournament. Guys like Gonchar, Andre Markov and Tyutin are highly skilled attackers but have the speed and stick handling to be effective blue liners. While Danny Markov, Volchenkov, Kasparaitus and Vishnevski are all extremely good skaters, hitters and very solid on defense.

Overall I think this Russian defensive pack has the best skating, hitting and offensive ability on the larger Olympic rink.

 

[nik jr]

Sergei Zhukov - Yaroslavl Lokomotiv

Someone should alert the team and his family, I'm surprised he died several decades ago and nobody but you noticed.

that was georgi zhukov, not sergei.

 

[Osprey]

Wow, thats going to be the most frustrating line on earth. Way too much talent and no shots on goal...

No kidding. That 3rd line will be a lot of possession and cycling, but likely few shots. Personally, I was hoping that Frolov would play with Ovechkin. Frolov needs a kick in the pants and likely won't make much difference unless paired with a difference maker.

 

[Kimi]

oh im sorry, excuse me for not knowing every single player, to come out of your country. I was under the impression that Malkin was the best player not in the NHL. Do you think I would honestly expect you to name a random American player AHL or ECHL and know exactly who he is?

I'm English so it's quite safe to say you won't know any players from my country other than Steve Thomas.

Anyhow, going by the AHL and ECHL are not the top league in the country, it would be like me asking you to name a player from the second Russian League or something. I'm not asking you to know the players in the the second division, am I?

But some people say Malkin is best, others Sushinski. Malkin will be a better player, but right now I'd say Su is better.

 

[houtan99]

Afinogenov - Malkin - Ovechkin


This line is gonna be the fastest and most creative of the tournament. Can't wait.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

I'm gonna sleep for 30 hours straight, and wakeup to watch the tournament!

 

[Amen evil king]

a true russian hero...congrats to him for making the team. i didn't even know he played hockey anymore...truth be told, i was under the impression he had died...several decades ago.

but i guess anyone who leads an army into berlin deserves special consideration.

 

[Kimi]

I'm gonna sleep for 30 hours straight, and wakeup to watch the tournament!

Time zone killing you? The first game of the day is at noon here in the UK LOL.

 

[joshjull]

one thing is for sure : Russia's strenght is its speed. I don't think any team can match guys like Ovechkin, both Kovys, Malkin, Afinogenov, Kharitonov and such.

Just curious what the Russian fan's opinion is of Afinogenov

 

[Metallian*]

I've seen someone else use this word on this board before!

its not original

 

[Slitty]

oh im sorry, excuse me for not knowing every single player, to come out of your country. I was under the impression that Malkin was the best player not in the NHL. Do you think I would honestly expect you to name a random American player AHL or ECHL and know exactly who he is?

We are talking about top quality players and not some ECHLers.




As for my opinion on Afinogenov: bloody fast but couldn't score on a soccer net with no goalie. However, he is the one who always seems to score the big goal for Russia on every occassion, guess he deserves to be there simply because of that.

 

[Choice]

Kovalev-Datsyuk-Kovalchuk is flat out scary

 

[Kimi]

We are talking about top quality players and not some ECHLers.




As for my opinion on Afinogenov: bloody fast but couldn't score on a soccer net with no goalie. However, he is the one who always seems to score the big goal for Russia on every occassion, guess he deserves to be there simply because of that.

We don't need to score lots of goals, just the one to win the game. I'd take a team full of player the score one goal a year if every goal was a game winner.

 

[SwisshockeyAcademy]

Sushinski a no-name!? Some call him the best player out side the NHL... Kharitonov no scrub.

Must be part of the "plays out side NHL, must be bad player" group...

I remember both Kharitonov and Sushinsky when they were in the NHL. They are both small water bug types both smart and skilled. I find it hard to believe that Morozov would not be the choice to fill the role of non NHLer which most Euro countries like to do to reward their own for staying in the domestic leagues. They will be a fun team to watch with anything from a silver to out in the QF's a possibility. The ultimate wildcard.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

No offense but this might be very well be the defensive crop in the whole tournament. Guys like Gonchar, Andre Markov and Tyutin are highly skilled attackers but have the speed and stick handling to be effective blue liners. While Danny Markov, Volchenkov, Kasparaitus and Vishnevski are all extremely good skaters, hitters and very solid on defense.

Overall I think this Russian defensive pack has the best skating, hitting and offensive ability on the larger Olympic rink.

It's not the best defensive core in the whole tournament, but it does have some nice balance with offense and defense.