Well, in this season of giving, we were presented with a gift that many in the country of Russia are ecstatic to receive. We were given the roster for the 2010 Russian Olympic Hockey team. And wow, what a group of players it is.
In goal there is Evegeni Nabokov, Ilya Bryzgalov, and Semyon Varlamov. These goalies have a combined total of 52 wins thus far this season. Their average GAA is 2.19, with an average save percentage of .925. They also have a grand total of 9 shut-outs between the 3 of them. Now, the Olympic tournament is one where you probably won't have time to have 3 goalies play, so who is the starter? Well, we can probably safely rule out Varlamov for a few reasons. Firstly, he's been on IR for the Caps for a most of this month and, talented though he is, he is a rookie in the NHL this year and gives up a lot of experience, especially Olympic experience, to the other 2 goalies. My money would be on Nabokov to be the #1, but not by much. In fact, I think that it is quite possible that you may see a pretty decent split in time between Nabokov and Bryzgalov. While Nabokov has more experience in the olympics, Bryzgalov has had, in my opinion, the more impressive year. 21 wins, and 5 shutouts the Coyotes who have impressed thus far while their management has been a huge question and source of contraversy thus far in the year. At any rate, whomever starts for this team will provide quite a test for any and all opposition.
On Defense:
Sergei Gonchar (Penguins), Fedor Tyutin (Columbus), Dmitry Kalinin (from the Russian KHL league), Denis Grebeshkov (Edmonton), Anton Volchenkov (Ottowa), Andrei Markov (Montreal), Konstantin Korenyev (KHL), Ilya Nikulin (KHL).
Many of these players we know, and many of them we probably are hearing for the first time since we, in North America, don't have a lot of access to the KHL. That being said, people following hockey in the last few years are aware that the European Elite Leagues have begun to compete financially, especially the KHL, with the NHL and have taken some of the biggest names in the sport across the pond. So simply because they are not players in the NHL is no reason to assume they won't provide heavy, HEAVY challenges. The Russian definitely have a solid defense, anchored by Sergei Gonchar, the immensely talented Penguin blueliner who loves to chip in offensively, and is the quarterback for the powerplay.
Things only get better for the Russians as we move up to the forwards. Here is what will no doubt be an incredibly deadly set of forwards for the Russian Offense.
Alexander Ovechkin (Capitals), Ilya Kovalchuk (Thrashers), Evgeni Malkin (Penguins), Maxim Afinigenov (Thrashers), Alex Semin (Capitals), Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings), Alexei Morozov (KHL), Viktor Kozlov (KHL), Alexander Radulov (KHL), Danis Zarapov (KHL), Sergei Zinoviev (KHL), Sergei Fedorov (KHL).
Now, if you ask me, the Russians have done an amazing job with these picks. Not just because each of these players are immensely talented, which you know they are. But the thing that most people probably overlook about these picks is the fact that these 12 forwards come from a total of 8 teams. Might seem like a lot, especially since many of them are spread through the KHL, but look at this. Fedorov played with Semin and Ovechkin in Washington. Kozlov played with Afinigenov and Kovalchuk in Atlanta. If you look at it that way, it's essentailly 12 forwards from 6 teams. Plus, Ovechkin played on Russian National Junior teams with Malkin. These guys have history with each other and already have a built up chemistry that you need to be able to have with these kind of teams that is sometimes lacking from these kind of all-star national teams.
If you ask me, and I know that they didn't but still, this is what I would make my first line.
Datsyuk centering Ovechkin and Semin. Datsyuk is just so natural at the center position, and Ovi and Semin can work their wings amazingly. Follow that up with Malkin between Kovalchuk and Afinigenov. Same story with that. And just imagine the power play on this team! Datsyuk with Ovechkin and Semin, with Gonchar and Fedorov on the points. It's really almost automatic.
Overall team grade: Well, since I'm not totally familiar with all of the players, seeing as I can't watch the KHL, I can't go all thet way, but I definitely can't give them less than an A. So they get an A.
So, there's a look at the first Olympic squad to be announced. It's always hard to pick a favorite in these tournaments now, since the pros have been allowed to play and almost all the teams are so stacked, but what a start to what we know will be some amazing hockey. I will be back with Canada, USA, Czech, Sweden, Finland, and other rosters for the Olympics. So see ya soon!
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