Team Russia vs Team Canada. Team Russia can win?) all-stars
- Thread starter Bear12Good
- Start date
NyQuil
Big F$&*in Q
Anything is possible if you get good reliable goaltending (look at the Finns this year) but I like Canada's defence more than Russia's which would make me lean their way over an entire series.
Could Russia win? Sure.
Would they likely win? I would bet on no.
So I'm not really sure how to answer your question.
Could Russia win? Sure.
Would they likely win? I would bet on no.
So I'm not really sure how to answer your question.
Bear12Good
Registered User
With mister Vorobyov or Znaroks? Russia probably lose.
With good coach ? . . . anything can happen)))
With good coach ? . . . anything can happen)))
koyvoo
Registered User
- Nov 8, 2014
- 17,264
- 17,038
Can they win? Sure, the personnel are there to definitely accomplish such a feat in a one-off game. Should they, or are they the odds-on favorites? Absolutely not.
The question as phrased should really be a 100% answer for "Yes", but I voted No because I feel it's sort of a baiting question...
The question as phrased should really be a 100% answer for "Yes", but I voted No because I feel it's sort of a baiting question...
Canada is much better balanced overall and much more stronger depth. The most natural competitor are the USA. Russia must fight vs Sweden and Finland for "place 3".
JackSlater
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2010
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Can win? Yes, in that Russia's chances would be above 0%. If this was 8 games, as seen in the Summit Series, then I really would not expect Russia to win. Maybe a 15% chance. Probably better odds in a few years.
TheBeastCoast
Registered User
Canada has to much balance and skill up front. Would over whelm Russia. How exactly does someone gameplan against a top line with Mackinnon and McDavid and a 2nd line with Marchand-Crosby-Bergeron? Like it isn't possible.
RageQuit77
Registered User
All I would want to see is some kind annual best-on-best tournament of let's say Top 8 nations without gimmicks. There could very well be more than one teams per nation tho depending on and in ratio of how many players each nation have (counted from some predefined pool of top leagues of those nations and players playing in them, for example U.S. players playing in all other Top 8 nations leagues listed to pool would give a ratio, and amount of max teams for U.S. when compared to other nations' similar player counts). Maybe total 16 or 24 teams in the tournament arranged to some kind rational divisions. It would entirely possible that for example Russia's A-team and B-team would play against each other in the playoffs, or that Canada's A, B, and C teams would reach with Sweden's A-team to semifinals. Point being that ALL best players of each country could participate to the tournament relative to their amounts in world's top level hockey in "natural" National teams.
There could be even arranged such way that tournament brackets would allow re-utilization of players of B team in A team if the B-team doesn't qualify/drops out at some phase of tournament (and visa versa), reflecting better available player resources of that country.
*tired dreaming*
There could be even arranged such way that tournament brackets would allow re-utilization of players of B team in A team if the B-team doesn't qualify/drops out at some phase of tournament (and visa versa), reflecting better available player resources of that country.
*tired dreaming*
There would be no interest in Russia for such a series unless it was home-and-home, like 1972. I can't imagine there would be much of any interest in Canada either. They are not alone at the top today as they were in 1972. Its not the same rivalry. As for who would win, I give credence to observations about the weakness of the Russian defense, so Russia certainly would be a big underdog. Really, we're talking about something that has no chance to happen.
Baxterman
Registered User
- Aug 27, 2017
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I think for Russia a one off would be much preferable as that would be a much greater chance for them to win than a 8 game series like the Summit series was in which I would say they had a pretty close to zero percent chance of winning.
Russia can match in goaltending and top end skill but that defense is awful and the bottom two lines are pretty weak as well.
The 8 game series with the way the Canadians can play physically would really wear down those Russian players and likely highlight even more how weak the defense was. Canada could play their 7 guys equally and not suffer, where Russia would really need to rely on a few key guys or give up a lot of chances when their weaker guys were out there.
As others have said the two countries are no longer the clear top two above everyone else anyways so a tournament with more teams would be preferable.
Russia can match in goaltending and top end skill but that defense is awful and the bottom two lines are pretty weak as well.
The 8 game series with the way the Canadians can play physically would really wear down those Russian players and likely highlight even more how weak the defense was. Canada could play their 7 guys equally and not suffer, where Russia would really need to rely on a few key guys or give up a lot of chances when their weaker guys were out there.
As others have said the two countries are no longer the clear top two above everyone else anyways so a tournament with more teams would be preferable.
I like the idea but LOVE how the bolded was followed by an extremely gimmicky idea. HahhahaAll I would want to see is some kind annual best-on-best tournament of let's say Top 8 nations without gimmicks. There could very well be more than one teams per nation tho depending on and in ratio of how many players each nation have (counted from some predefined pool of top leagues of those nations and players playing in them, for example U.S. players playing in all other Top 8 nations leagues listed to pool would give a ratio, and amount of max teams for U.S. when compared to other nations' similar player counts). Maybe total 16 or 24 teams in the tournament arranged to some kind rational divisions. It would entirely possible that for example Russia's A-team and B-team would play against each other in the playoffs, or that Canada's A, B, and C teams would reach with Sweden's A-team to semifinals. Point being that ALL best players of each country could participate to the tournament relative to their amounts in world's top level hockey in "natural" National teams.
There could be even arranged such way that tournament brackets would allow re-utilization of players of B team in A team if the B-team doesn't qualify/drops out at some phase of tournament (and visa versa), reflecting better available player resources of that country.
*tired dreaming*
