I might add some ol'man grumpiness.After the Finland game:
Liked: Amirov, Safonov, Groshev
Didn't like: defense
Am i the only one who thinks that Dmitri Sheshin , Alexei tsyplakov, Dmitri Ovchinnikov and Danill chechelev deserve a chance ?
Hope Knyazev will be ready and Healthy same for Spiridonov .
I agree though i just read that the coaching staff really like vasili ponomaryevTsyplakov might be interesting, yes, at least he can do some passing. We're deep at wings, so Ovchinnikov and Sheshin don't make much sense, as for Chechelev I don't think it really matters who is the third goalie, yet if it will matter (due to injuries or something) then it is better to have a goalie with some non-MHL experience and here both Akhtyamov and Zherenko are ahead.
I agree though i just read that the coaching staff really like vasili ponomaryev
We are back to same old after one odd adequate D-roster. Stellar goaltending will be expected and needed, but same old, we have Askarov. The D will be more of a motivational thing. If they gel and fight every game out like there is no tomorrow they will be able to give Askarov a chance against top teams. Some injuries too will play a role(you can read @Caser 's writup on that. In a perfect world Nikishin would give the D an intimidating presence to slow down other team's top lines, Knyazev is healthy and might add some much needed effective puck moving on the blue line. Forwards... same old. Centers are pretty much mediocre. They are interchangeable in the top 9, no one stands out. It will come down to chemistry with wingers. Three wingers will be relied on to carry the offence: Podkolzin, Amirov, Chinakhov.Russia is always a threat for gold, I will be watching and hoping they do well this year as a couple key leaf prospects will be on the team barring injury. How does this years team compare to years past?
We are back to same old after one odd adequate D-roster. Stellar goaltending will be expected and needed, but same old, we have Askarov. The D will be more of a motivational thing. If they gel and fight every game out like there is no tomorrow they will be able to give Askarov a chance against top teams. Some injuries too will play a role(you can read @Caser 's writup on that. In a perfect world Nikishin would give the D an intimidating presence to slow down other team's top lines, Knyzev is healthy and might add some much needed effective puck moving on the blue line. Forwards... same old. Centers are pretty much mediocre. They are interchangeable in the top 9, no one stands out. It will come down to chemistry with wingers. Three wingers will be relied on to carry the offence: Podkolzin, Amirov, Chinakhov.
We've had worse rosters(and Bragin pulled out some results with them), we've had better. Obviously Askarov is the X factor. If he pulls out a game or two in the elimination games, everything is possible.
Has FHR reached out to New Jersey draft pick Artyom Shlain at all? He played for USA at the Hlinka cup but as a dual he is eligible to play for Russia as well. Might be able to compete for a WJC spot this year or next year at a Center position which has been pretty thin
He already played for the USA at the Hlinka. He could switch, but why would he unless he has a good reason to?
I don't see any records of him playing in Russia? Being a dual citizen does not make you eligible playing for both nations if you only ever played in one of those nations.Has FHR reached out to New Jersey draft pick Artyom Shlain at all? He played for USA at the Hlinka cup but as a dual he is eligible to play for Russia as well. Might be able to compete for a WJC spot this year or next year at a Center position which has been pretty thin
I don't see any records of him playing in Russia? Being a dual citizen does not make you eligible playing for both nations if you only ever played in one of those nations.
I believe you have to spend two seasons playing in a nation to be eligible to represent that nation if you have not represented the other nation at any official IIHF events
He is eligible, as until like 2017 he played in Russia... not sure if we'd need him though, is he even good?
Whoops, I missed checking his tournament stats in EPHe is eligible, as until like 2017 he played in Russia... not sure if we'd need him though, is he even good?
High school players don’t get drafted as often these days and he also made the USA Hlinka roster meaning he was one of the top prospects in the country outside the NTDP so yes he has skill but just currently doesn’t have a huge sample size against high level competition. If NCAA started on time it would have helped .
You remember a guy named Dennis Yan, right?