Your Expectations for 2015 WC

[ViD]

I have some mixed feelings here.

In one hand, it seems to me that the value of the tournament has dropped or perhaps it's just me and numerous wins by team Russia in the recent years just made the win at this level not as valuable as it was before.

On the other hand, recent team performance at the EHT has been just horrible, and I am not sure the team will be very prepared; also, it seems that we won't have that many additions from the NHL. So the team will not be as strong as in the recent years, and it will be interesting to see how they can perform.

Anyway, what's your expectations from team Russia in the upcoming tourney?

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[Caser]

My expectations:

1. Winning. It's still 4 in 20 years for me, not 4 in 6 years. Besides, there's nothing better than winning to strenghten team's confidence, which I think is still not very good after Sochi.
2. Seeing some new players/combinations for NT.
3. Ability for coaches to work with NHL guys (I think we've seen in Sochi that this is important). Also NHL stars playing in NT jersey is really good for hockey popularity in Russia.

 

[Atas2000]

We will again have a mixed bag of players due to injuries/NHL playoffs. I don't know what to expect.

 

[Yakushev72]

We will again have a mixed bag of players due to injuries/NHL playoffs. I don't know what to expect.

It certainly looks like there will be a less talented roster in comparison to some years.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

I think that we should stop caring about WC, at least for a few years. We should have done it last year too. Having Ovechkin, Malkin and a gold medal was nice, but also too easy. We should really send an all under 25 team or something like that, maybe with some veteran like Kovalchuk or Radulov or so, but sincerly, what is the point of winning another gold medal? It would be much better to have young players working hard. Canada and USA will invite McDavid and Eichel, why we can't invite Buchnevich, Slepyshev, Nichushkin (ok we did), Zadorov, Grigorenko (not that I think he has much upside), Tolchinsky, Gusev?

 

[Jussi]

I think that we should stop caring about WC, at least for a few years. We should have done it last year too. Having Ovechkin, Malkin and a gold medal was nice, but also too easy. We should really send an all under 25 team or something like that, maybe with some veteran like Kovalchuk or Radulov or so, but sincerly, what is the point of winning another gold medal? It would be much better to have young players working hard. Canada and USA will invite McDavid and Eichel, why we can't invite Buchnevich, Slepyshev, Nichushkin (ok we did), Zadorov, Grigorenko (not that I think he has much upside), Tolchinsky, Gusev?

McDavid won't be at the Worlds. Schedule would be too tight.

 

[1Gold Standard]

McDavid won't be at the Worlds. Schedule would be too tight.

That would be correct. The earliest McDavid would be available is 28th in the event of a 4 game sweep by SSM over Erie. I seriously doubt Erie loses 4 straight, meaning by the time he becomes available the tournament will already be in progress; and Hockey Canada is not flying in a junior player late to replace an NHL player.

The good news for Team Canada next year is, he'll be available early.

 

[Atas2000]

I think that we should stop caring about WC, at least for a few years. We should have done it last year too. Having Ovechkin, Malkin and a gold medal was nice, but also too easy. We should really send an all under 25 team or something like that, maybe with some veteran like Kovalchuk or Radulov or so, but sincerly, what is the point of winning another gold medal? It would be much better to have young players working hard. Canada and USA will invite McDavid and Eichel, why we can't invite Buchnevich, Slepyshev, Nichushkin (ok we did), Zadorov, Grigorenko (not that I think he has much upside), Tolchinsky, Gusev?

I won't comment on the main point. I'm undecided on that. Look, I'm actually going to those games. I'd rather watch Datsyuk play again in person.

I will throw my 2 cents in on the candidates.

Don't know about Buchnevich, he might be injured? Slepyshev? Really? I don't htink he should be there at all. Zadorov should be invited, but from the latest scratches from the camp I get it Znarok wants to invite a bunch of SKA and AkBars D-men that will take away the spots. I stillt think Zadorov should be invited. Grigorenko is playing in the AHL, as well as Goldobin. Gusev I would only invite ot reunite him with Grigorenko and Kucherov. Not likely right now. Anyway guys like Tolchinsky and Goldobin without real experience in a men league won't be invited I think. And I actually think that it's okay.

 

[Atas2000]

The good news for Team Canada next year is, he'll be available early.

I knew it! That was the plan all along!

 

[Slava]

I would enjoy watching Nichushkin(OK), Buchnevich, Kucherov (Tampa PO hm), Mironov etc young players in WC.

 

[cska78]

That would be correct. The earliest McDavid would be available is 28th in the event of a 4 game sweep by SSM over Erie. I seriously doubt Erie loses 4 straight, meaning by the time he becomes available the tournament will already be in progress; and Hockey Canada is not flying in a junior player late to replace an NHL player.

The good news for Team Canada next year is, he'll be available early.

if he is in edmonton, he will be next year

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

McDavid won't be at the Worlds. Schedule would be too tight.

That is some serious cherry picking

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

I won't comment on the main point.

What's the point on posting then
Jokes a part, how many time is Kovalchuk world champion? Radulov? Medvedev? Ovechkin? Two times? Three times? I frankly don't get the point to get another gold medal for them and "stealing" place to youngsters who would need some good experience much more than them.

 

[Jussi]

That is some serious cherry picking

What, you said Canada will invite McDavid, I explained why it won't happen. Go to the Team Canada WC thread at the International Tournaments section, they've already talked that to death.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

What, you said Canada will invite McDavid, I explained why it won't happen. Go to the Team Canada WC thread at the International Tournaments section, they've already talked that to death.

I understand that McDavid won't play, but I had a lot of examples, and you just picked up one name for the sake of posting, or at least this is the impression I had.

 

[Fantomas]

Buchnevich, Slepyshev, Zadorov, Gusev. I'd like to see these guys at the World Championships.

Not so much the others. Nichushkin because he's hurt. Otherwise I would like to see him on the team.

Grigorenko and Tolchinsky aren't ready.

 

[kp61c]

no, only the best players available must play there. those youngsters listed above AINEC to them. inviting them would make no sense whatsoever

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

no, only the best players available must play there. those youngsters listed above AINEC to them. inviting them would make no sense whatsoever

So it's better to win 50 WCs and 0 Olympics?

 

[kp61c]

So it's better to win 50 WCs and 0 Olympics?

if you think that inviting young players of not so great talent to begin with to the wc will make us closer to winning olympics then you are sorely mistaken.

 

[m4tt145]

So it's better to win 50 WCs and 0 Olympics?

Getting pretty cocky here eh? Since 2000 Russia has 4 golds. Stop acting like we are back in the 60's and you are rooting for the Soviet Union.

 

[Alessandro Seren Rosso]

if you think that inviting young players of not so great talent to begin with to the wc will make us closer to winning olympics then you are sorely mistaken.

Ok, sorry, I lost my cool and you should accept my apologies. However, I wouldn't call Nichushkin, Zadorov or Yakupov "of not so great talent". We need this kind of players gathering experience, if needed we can even lose a couple of WCs, it isn't really important, it's a second-rate tournament

 

[kp61c]

Ok, sorry, I lost my cool and you should accept my apologies. However, I wouldn't call Nichushkin, Zadorov or Yakupov "of not so great talent". We need this kind of players gathering experience, if needed we can even lose a couple of WCs, it isn't really important, it's a second-rate tournament

no need to apologize, i just don't share your opinion on inviting players simply because they are young. they have a 82 game season year in and year out to gather experience in the nhl. a couple of games in the wc won't make a lot of difference regarding our chances in olympics. and we are not some swedes or canadians, the wc is the main tourney of the year in russia, nobody in their sound mind will be sacrificing it for some dubious gains in the future

 

[Yakushev72]

Ok, sorry, I lost my cool and you should accept my apologies. However, I wouldn't call Nichushkin, Zadorov or Yakupov "of not so great talent". We need this kind of players gathering experience, if needed we can even lose a couple of WCs, it isn't really important, it's a second-rate tournament

We don't know to what degree the Russian Federation will participate in the World Cup, and we don't know if the NHL will be making the trip to Korea for the Olympics in 2018. Gary Bettman hinted that the NHL might direct its international focus on the World Cup, given the fact that coming to the Far East for two Olympics in succession seems very unlikely. So, for better or worse, the World Championships might be all there is left.

 

[Fantomas]

I think a lot of these young players are good enough, which is why I would invite them.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

Tretiak's recent comment about 'any medal would be a success' is startling - what kind of attitude is that? It's gold or nothing, it's the WC. You can't go into tournaments with such a view of things.