World Cup of Hockey – Team Russia 16-Player Roster Prediction
Russia tends to take a different approach on the International stage. Since the evolution of the KHL, the Russians tend to see less NHL representation in comparison to other teams – that should change this time around.
It’s an NHL held tournament, with NHL rules, on NHL sized ice surfaces – meaning we should see far fewer KHL players.
This may perhaps be the next most intriguing roster to North America when Wednesday’s announcement is made. One thing Russia continues to develop is potent goal-scorers.
Coaching Staff:
Vladislav Tretiak, President
Roman Rotenberg, First Vice President (KHL Executive Board Member)
Dmitry Kurbatov, Executive Director (KHL Hockey Operations Vice President)
Oleg Znarok, Head Coach (Russia Men’s National Team Head Coach)
Harijs Vitolins, Assistant Coach (Russia Men’s World Championship Head Coach)
Rules and Format:
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2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey will feature eight teams (Team Canada, Team USA, Team Russia, Team Sweden, Team Czech Republic, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Europe). The tournament will be held in September 2016, and is a group effort with the NHL and NHLPA, in association with International Ice Hockey Federation.
The rules differ from that of IIHF held tournaments, and will follow NHL rules, with games being played on NHL-sized ice surfaces. Because of the league’s involvement, fans can expect to see far less European players than we’re used to seeing at World Championships or Olympics in the 2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey.
Previous World Cup of Hockey roster predictions and more in-depth information can be found here.
16-Player Roster Predictions:
| Team Canada | Team North America | Team Europe | Team Sweden |
| Team Russia | Team Finland | Team Czech Republic | Team USA |
2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey – Rosters and Groupings:
23 players, 20 skaters, 3 goalies
Group A: Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team USA
Group B: Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden
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2016 NHL World Cup of Hockey – Team Russia 16-Player Roster Projection:
G Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Semyon Varlamov, Colorado Avalanche
G Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens
D Dmitry Kulikov, Florida Panthers
D Evgeny Medvedev, Philadelphia Flyers
D Fedor Tyutin, Columbus Blue Jackets
F Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
F Evgeny Kuznetsov, Washington Capitals
F Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
F Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
F Vladimir Tarasenko, St.Louis Blues
F Artemi Panarin, Chicago Blackhawks
F Alex Radulov, KHL
F Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
F Artem Anisimov, Chicago Blackhawks
Blue Line Station
Russia can easily name three goalies on March 2nd. The only Russian goaltenders on the radar beyond those three Anton Khudobin or Ilya Samsonov. There’s always a possibility that Vasilevskiy’s spot could be given to a KHL netminder.
The Achilles heel of Russian hockey is defense. They seldom produce elite defenders, with Andrei Markov and Sergei Zubov as the lone standouts over the past couple decades. Kulikov, Medvedev, and Tyutin should be on the final 23-man roster regardless of whether they are named on Wednesday.
Other names in the mix include: Dmitry Orlov, Nikita Nesterov, Ivan Provorov (CHL), Alexei Emelin, Alexey Marchenko, Alexander Loginov (KHL), Nikita Zadorov, Anton Belov (KHL), and Maxim Chudanov (KHL).
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If any forward group can give the Canadians a run for their money depth wise, it’s Russia. The first five names listed above are superstars in the NHL. Panarin and Kucherov are both up and coming elite players. If any KHL player is to be named tomorrow, it’s most likely Alex Radulov who has shown the ability to produce in the NHL. Other players vying for roster spots include: Valeri Nichushkin, Nail Yakupov, Vladimir Namestnikov, Alex Burmistrov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Nikolai Kulemin, Alex Khokhlachev, Anton Slepyshev, Viktor Tikhonov, Nikolay Goldobin, Stanislav Galiev, Sergey Kalinin, Sergei Plotnikov, Nikita Scherbak, Sergei Mozyakin (KHL), and Evgeny Dadonov (KHL).