Team Russia 2018 Olympics Defense

[ViD]

What do you guys think the state of Russian dmen is? Is there improvements or we are still in a stalemate with no progress?

One possible lineup if everybody keeps developing as predicted

Vyacheslav Voynov (28, SKA top 2) - Dmitry Orlov (27, Capitals top 4)

Dmitry Kulikov (28, Panthers top 6) - Alexei Emelin (32, Habs top 6)

Ivan Provorov (21, Flyers top 6) - Nikita Zaitsev (27, Leafs top 4)


Other possibilities: Nikita Nesterov, Alexei Marchenko, Nikita Zadorov.

Markov will be 40 years old, so i think we rather give him some rest.

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[Fantomas]

Ideally Zadorov, Paygin and Gavrikov continue developing and earn spots.

I don't want Kulikov, Voynov nor Emelin anywhere near this team. Love Orlov, Zaitsev and Provorov of course. Marchenko will be solid too.

 

[CatOTails]

It looks terrible even on paper.

 

[MaxV]

I lot of hope for guys like Sergachyov, Provorov and Paigin to develop well and quickly.

 

[Fantomas]

Would be great if Sergachev is an NHL regular by then. He can do it although I prefer to at least see a guy at World Juniors before projecting his pro upside.

Nevertheless I think he is the real deal, but it might take him several years to become really good.

 

[ViD]

Yeah, I guess the main thing is that guys like Paygin and Sergachev won't be able to develop to be Olympic team dmen by 2018 so we probably will have to use Voynov and Emelin

 

[ViD]

Also, I don't know about you guys, but I'm totally convinced that right now North America is the place to go for our young dmen as it's preparing them for NHL style play way better

 

[Yakushev72]

Ideally Zadorov, Paygin and Gavrikov continue developing and earn spots.

I don't want Kulikov, Voynov nor Emelin anywhere near this team. Love Orlov, Zaitsev and Provorov of course. Marchenko will be solid too.

I definitely agree with you about Voynov and Kulikov. Voynov cost Russia almost every time he was on the ice in Sochi, but particularly against Finland, and Kulikov just doesn't belong on the same ice as the international elite, IMO. I'll take Emelin (wish there was more to look at) because of his defensive nature and physical toughness, which is often lacking for Russia in these kinds of tournaments. Love Zadorov, Paygin and Gavrikov, although Zadorov is quickly being turned into an AHL player.

 

[Yakushev72]

Also, I don't know about you guys, but I'm totally convinced that right now North America is the place to go for our young dmen as it's preparing them for NHL style play way better

How many Russians who are now top-level NHL defensemen have gone the CHL/USHL route? Zadorov is currently playing in San Antonio of the AHL.

 

[Atas2000]

What do you guys think the state of Russian dmen is? Is there improvements or we are still in a stalemate with no progress?

One possible lineup if everybody keeps developing as predicted

Vyacheslav Voynov (28, SKA top 2) - Dmitry Orlov (27, Capitals top 4)

Dmitry Kulikov (28, Panthers top 6) - Alexei Emelin (32, Habs top 6)

Ivan Provorov (21, Flyers top 6) - Nikita Zaitsev (27, Leafs top 4)


Other possibilities: Nikita Nesterov, Alexei Marchenko, Nikita Zadorov.

Markov will be 40 years old, so i think we rather give him some rest.

When will ppl realize Kulikov has no business here? And Zaytsev denied all Leafs rumours.

Zaytsev - Orlov

Zadorov - Provorov

Nesterov - Marchenko

Sergachyov/Paigin - Voynov

Emelin, Chudinov if they do not regress.

 

[Atas2000]

It looks terrible even on paper.

It only looks terrible if you are biased. Orlov, Zaytsev, Zadorov, Provorov - all first round material and Sergachev is coming up to that group.

 

[Fantomas]

When will ppl realize Kulikov has no business here? And Zaytsev denied all Leafs rumours.

Zaytsev - Orlov

Zadorov - Provorov

Nesterov - Marchenko

Sergachyov/Paigin - Voynov

Emelin, Chudinov if they do not regress.

Again, I would add the criminally underrated Gavrikov to this list. I think it 2 years he will be very solid.

 

[MaxV]

I like Andrei Mironov also. I think he can be a NT player as well.

 

[Atas2000]

Again, I would add the criminally underrated Gavrikov to this list. I think it 2 years he will be very solid.

I like Andrei Mironov also. I think he can be a NT player as well.

All viable options. They just need to show progress until 2018.

 

[Yakushev72]

All viable options. They just need to show progress until 2018.

Agreed, but at the same time, the weakness on defense is glaring, and it makes me wonder whether it effectively takes Russia out of contention for Gold or Silver.

 

[MaxV]

Agreed, but at the same time, the weakness on defense is glaring, and it makes me wonder whether it effectively takes Russia out of contention for Gold or Silver.

They aren't the favorites, but favorites don't always win. I still think that they should bring a strong contending team to the tournament.

Quality coaching is needed.

 

[ViD]

How many Russians who are now top-level NHL defensemen have gone the CHL/USHL route? Zadorov is currently playing in San Antonio of the AHL.

Voynov(AHL), Provorov, Zadorov, Nesterov(AHL).

Now, when we look at the recent experience of our top KHL dmen that went straight to NHL it's not looking that good - Belov, Medvedev.

 

[Fantomas]

None of those are top-level NHL defensemen. Medvedev has been all right in the NHL.

 

[MaxV]

Canada is better at developing defensemen. It's the only position where a move to CHL might not be a terrible idea.

 

[Yakushev72]

Voynov(AHL), Provorov, Zadorov, Nesterov(AHL).

Now, when we look at the recent experience of our top KHL dmen that went straight to NHL it's not looking that good - Belov, Medvedev.

If I recall correctly, Voynov and Nesterov spent their junior years in Russia before going to the AHL after being drafted by the NHL.

I am not saying that you're wrong, but I don't see any compelling evidence to show that going to the CHL will bring better results for the player than playing in the KHL, for instance. The KHL is widely recognized as the second best hockey league in the World, so its hard to say that playing in the CHL against junior age players only is a better experience.

If a future in the NHL is the only consideration, then its possible that CHL rink size and the style of play will be closer to what the player will have to adapt to in his NHL career. But considering all of the other language, cultural and general living adaptations that must be made by 17-year old kids, you could also reasonably argue that the odds are too greatly against it. So far, its hard to identify any glaring examples of defensemen who have shown remarkable development after playing in the CHL.

 

[ViD]

None of those are top-level NHL defensemen. Medvedev has been all right in the NHL.

We don't have any top level NHL defensemen , simple as that. Medvedev has watched a handful of games from the press box. I would hardly consider it an all right performance considering the expectations

 

[ViD]

If I recall correctly, Voynov and Nesterov spent their junior years in Russia before going to the AHL after being drafted by the NHL.

I am not saying that you're wrong, but I don't see any compelling evidence to show that going to the CHL will bring better results for the player than playing in the KHL, for instance. The KHL is widely recognized as the second best hockey league in the World, so its hard to say that playing in the CHL against junior age players only is a better experience.

If a future in the NHL is the only consideration, then its possible that CHL rink size and the style of play will be closer to what the player will have to adapt to in his NHL career. But considering all of the other language, cultural and general living adaptations that must be made by 17-year old kids, you could also reasonably argue that the odds are too greatly against it. So far, its hard to identify any glaring examples of defensemen who have shown remarkable development after playing in the CHL.

Well, the thing is that our ultimate goal is the best on best tournament success and 90% of those best players are in the NHL. Therefore we need our players to be competitive , and they can only achieve that by playing in that league.

So far the evidence is that our homegrown defensemen in most cases just can't perform on the highest level straight in the NHL and need to adjust to the NA style of play through junior leagues or AHL

 

[enj92]

I'm all for that our young defensemen are leaving for CHL or others NA junior leagues to develop their skills. Look at Sergachev. Before this season he was considered as more defensive minded defenseman and now his offensive capabilities was phenomenally upgraded to a whole nother level. Who knows what would have happened if he decided to stay in Russia. Provorov is product of NA system and he's considered as our best young defenseman and he proved that on past WJC tourney. Zadorov is another story. His lacking of high hockey IQ could hurt his career and OHL has nothing to do with it. And I've just never really been impressed with Kulikov. Lack of hockey sense as well as attitude problems played a low-down trick with him and it was always clear his skills had never actually translated well to NHL. But we still have guys like Paigin and Orlov who have legit top-4 potential coupled with kids like Serg and Provo who have legit top paring if not 1D potential. 2018 Olympics defense still will be meh, but 2022... Watch out guys.

 

[Yakushev72]

I still don't see any compelling benefit in going to NA, but the fact is, the matter has been settled. They are all leaving Russia as fast as they can get out!