Team Russia: World Juniors Roster Predictions/Snubs

Sep 14, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Team Russia fans cheer against Team Canada during the second period in a World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game at CONSOL Energy Center. Team Canada won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 14, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Team Russia fans cheer against Team Canada during the second period in a World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game at CONSOL Energy Center. Team Canada won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Team Russia World Juniors Roster Predictions/Snubs: Russians looking to improve upon their silver medal finish in 2016 after falling short 4-3 to Finland in the gold medal game

Team Russia announced its preliminary World Juniors roster back on December 1st. The list contains 34 names, including 10 NHL prospects.

Among the drafted players: Denis Gurianov (DAL), Kirill Kaprizov (MIN), Yakov Trenin (NSH), Nikita Korostelev (TOR), Yegor Rykov (NJ), Sergei Zborovsky (NYR), Mikhail Sergachev (MTL), Ilya Samsonov (WSH), German Rubtsov (PHI), and Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI).

Team Russia will have 5 returnees in 2017: G Ilya Samsonov, D Yegor Voronkov, D Yegor Rykov, F Alexander Polunin, and F Kirill Kaprizov

This year’s World Junior Championship will be held in Montreal and Toronto. Of the 10 countries participating: Finland, Russia, USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark, Switzerland, and Latvia.

Group A (Will Play at Bell Centre in Montreal)

Finland
Sweden
Czech Republic
Denmark
Sweden

Group B (Will Play at Air Canada Centre in Toronto)

Russia
USA
Canada
Slovakia
Latvia

Team Russia Schedule

Dec.26 – Canada vs. Russia (8:00pm et)
Dec.27 – Latvia vs. Russia (4:00pm et)
Dec.29 – Russia vs. USA (3:30pm et)
Dec.31 – Russia vs. Slovakia (8:00pm et)

The quarterfinals are set to be played on January 2nd following the first relegation game at 11am. The first QF is at 1pm in Toronto, the 2nd at 3:30pm in Montreal, 3rd at 5:30pm in Toronto, while the last will be played at 8pm in Montreal.

More from International Tournaments

Game two of the best-of-3 relegation series takes places as the lone contest on January 3rd in Montreal.

On Jan.4th, semifinals kick off at 3pm in Montreal and wrap-up later that night at 7:30 (all semi and final games will be played at the Bell Centre).

The final day of action will be on January 5th beginning with game three of the relegation series (if needed). Later on, the Bronze Medal game takes place at 3:30pm, with the Gold Medal match-up taking place later that evening at 8pm.

Team Russia Preliminary Roster

Forwards:

Denis Alexeyev, Ryazan (RUS) – Artyom Artyomov, Sibir Novosibirsk (KHL) – Kirill Belyayev, Yugra (KHL) – Denis Gurianov, Texas (AHL) – Roman Ivashov, Avtomobilist (KHL) – Kirill Kaprizov, Salavat (KHL) – Pavel Karnaukhov, CSKA (KHL) – Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia (OHL) – Mikhail Kotlyarevksy, Salavat (KHL) – Danila Kvartalnov, CSKA (KHL) – Nikita Li, Spartak (KHL) – Mikhail Maltsev, SKA St. Petersburg (RUS) – Alexander Polunin, Lokomotiv (KHL) – German Rubtsov, Vityaz (KHL) – Yakov Trenin, Gatineau (QMJHL) – Artur Tyanulin, Ottawa (OHL) – Kirill Urakov, Torpedo (KHL) – Mikhail Vorobyov, Salavat (KHL) – Danil Yurtaikin, Ryazan (RUS)

Defensemen:

Artyom Chmykhov, CSKA (KHL) – Grigori Dronov, Metallurg (KHL) – Kamil Fazylzyanov, Neftekhimik (KHL) – Vadim Kudako, Severstal (KHL) – Ruslan Petrishchev, Salavat (KHL) – Yegor Rykov, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) – Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor (OHL) – Mikhail Sidorov, AK Bars (KHL) – Artyom Volkov, Dynamo (KHL) – Yegor Voronkov, Vityaz (KHL) – Mikhail Yepishin, Vityaz (RUS) – Sergei Zborovskiy, Regina (WHL)

Goalies:

Anton Krasotkin, Lokomotiv (RUS) – Ilya Samsonov, Metallurg (KHL) – Vladislav Sukhachyov, Chelyabinsk (RUS)

Team Finland World Juniors Roster Projection

Kirill Kaprizov (MIN) – German Rubtsov (PHI) – Nikita Korostelev (TOR)
Alexander Polunin (undrafted) – Yakov Trenin (NSH) – Artyom Artyomov (undrafted)
Mikhail Maltsev (NJ) – Mikhail Vorobyov (PHI) – Artur Tyanulin (undrafted)
Danil Yurtaikin (undrafted) – Denis Alexeyev (undrafted) – Nikita Li (undrafted)
xs: Kirill Urakov (undrafted)

Mikhail Sergachev (MTL) – Sergei Zborovsky (NYR)
Yegor Rykov (NJ) – Mikhail Sidorov (undrafted)
Vadim Kudako (undrafted) – Mikhail Yepishin (undrafted)
xs: Yegor Voronkov (undrafted)

Ilya Samsonov (WSH) – Vladislav Sukhachyov (undrafted)
xs: Anton Krasotkin (undrafted)

Next: NHL Power Rankings: Week 9

Top 10 Team Russia Roster Snubs

1. F Vitaly Abramov, Gatineau (QMJHL) – 3rd round (65th overall) by CLB in 2016
2. F Vladimir Bobylov, Spartak (KHL) – 5th round (122nd overall) by TOR in 2016
3. G Konstantin Volkov, SKA St. Petersburg (MHL) – 6th round (168th overall) by NSH in 2016
4. G Mikhail Berdin, Sioux Falls (USHL) – 6th round (157th overall) by WPG in 2016
5. F Dmitri Zhukenov, Chicoutimi (QMJHL) – 4th round (114th overall) by VAN in 2015
6. F Nikita Pavlychev, Penn State (NCAA) – 7th round (197th overall) by PIT in 2015
7. F Klim Kostin, Dynamo (KHL) – 2017 Draft Eligible
8. F Artur Kayumov, Lokomotiv (MHL) – 2nd round (50th overall) by CHI in 2016
9. D Dmitri Samorukov, Guelph (OHL) – 2017 Draft Eligible
10. G Maxim Zhukov, Green Bay (USHL) – 2017 Draft Eligible