Russia 2010

The Russians seem to have turned their team around after years of incompetence on the international stage, largely because of bureaucratic mismanagement and infighting. As per usual with the Russians, they should have a dynamic and explosive set of forwards, a solid group of defenders, and goaltending that carries a question mark or three.

First the forward possibilities; Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Radulov, Morozov, Datsyuk, Semin, Kozlov (Viktor), Frolov, Kozlov (Slava), Fedorov, Saprykin, Kovalev, Filatov, Zherdev, Kabanov, Artyukhin, Brylin.

The Defensemen: Zubov, Grebeshkov, Markov (Andrei), Markov (Danil), Gonchar, Volchenkov, Tyutin, Kalinin, Atyushov (KHL), Kulikov (OHL)

Goalies: Dmitri Nabokov, Ilya Bryzgalov, Nikolai Khabiboulin, Alexander Eremenko (KHL), Simeon Varlamov.

The top line; Ovechkin - Malkin- Kovalchuk

I think the temptation to play the three best forwards on the same line will be hard to resist, and it has the makings of being one of the scariest units ever put together by any team. OV and Kovie are absolutely lethal shooters who operate at the highest speeds, Malkin is an elite playmaker who can also drop the hammer when necessary, and while Kovie isn't the most physical of players both OV and Malkin can give and take a hit, and none of them are intimidated by rough play.

2nd Line: Semin - Datsyuk - Radulov

Semin was the league's leading scorer at the quarterpole before an injury knocked him off, and if you pro-rate his production over a full season he would be a 100pt player. Datsyuk is a legit Selke candidate and offensive dynamo. Radulov is a game breaker, and to make the team would need to be on one of the top lines.

3rd Line: Frolov- Kozlov (Viktor) - Morozov

I tried to put a bigger third unit together that wouldn't be defensively suspect and at least a little on the physical side. Morozov despite not being in the NHL is probably a lock to make the team, and is a thick-set forward with a full array of skills. Kozlov and Frolov aren't the swiftest skaters, but they have some defensive acumen, and will be a dangerous third unit.

4th Line: Kozlov (Slava) - Fedorov - Saprykin

Not a lot of Russian checking forwards to choose from, and Fedorov will be positively ancient by the time 2010 rolls around. Saprykin is now a KHL regular, but his forte was always more of the grit and grind variety that suits a checking role. Slava Kozlov isn't a pure checker, but he honed his abilities in Buffalo where defensive responsibility was key to ice-time, so he won't be a slouch.

Spares: Alexei Kovalev, Nikita Filatov, Nik Zerdev, Kiril Kabanov

Kovalev may be a strange guy to leave off for a roster spot, but I just don't see him locking into one of the top two lines where he would be most effective. Of the other spares, Filatov and Kabanov are outside shots to take a role from someone.

Defense:

Top D pair: Zubov- Tyutin

Zubov (assuming he is healthy) is the Russian version of Lidstrom; a super slick tempo setting guy who can log huge minutes, run the powerplay and make everything look effortless. Only concern is his accumulation of nagging injuries and the inhuman mileage on his odometer. Tyutin is a hard hitting mobile defensive defenseman who can compliment Zubov's all-round game.

2nd D Pair: Gonchar- Volchenkov

Gonchar may be creeping up in age, but he's still one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL, and an underrated defensive stalwart. Volchenkov is an excellent compliment and defensive concscience for him.

3rd D Pair: Markov(Andrei) - Grebeshkov

Markov is a younger version of Gonchar - while Grebeshkov is a two-way rearguard just coming into his prime. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if Kulikov's game advanced enough to garner him the last spot and displace Grebeschkov from this third pairing. Kulikov just finished an eye-popping turn in the OHL where his allround game appears to be very well developed.

Spares: Dmitri Kalinin, Vitali Atyushov, Dmitri Kulikov

Goalies: Nabokov, Khabiboulin, Varlamov

Tough to see a KHL goalie like Eremenko crack the top three. Varlamov shouldn't displace any of the two most senior guys, but he gets my nod over Bryzgalov so that he gets some international experience as at 21 he is clearly the Russian goalie of the future.

Thoughts?