The next series of blogs are going to focus on players and their nationalities. I am going to select the best starting six for many of the world’s top hockey playing countries. The only parameters I have are to select three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. I don’t care about moving centers to wing or a defenseman on their off side. These players are elite and they’ll figure it out. Each day I am going to offer up a new country until I run out of countries that can provide a quality starting six. I don’t care about their previous histories playing for their country. I don’t care about “waiting their turn” to make the team. I’m picking the six players I want on the ice to maximize success.
So far I have picked Canada's best starting six. You can find that
here
Team USA can be found
here
Team Sweden can be found
here
Team Finland can be found
here
Today’s team has legendary status, Team Russia. For decades they dominated the international scene and would defeat teams in laughable fashion. Their skill and ability to come in waves was undeniable. Their influence on the sport also undeniable. However, the rest of the world has caught up to them. They no longer dominate when every country is allowed to send their best players (NHL). They have not won a single Gold Medal in the Olympics since NHL players have been allowed to compete. They have only made the finals once and that was in 1998. I can hear some of you already, “they won last year!”. Sorry, 2018 doesn’t count because the NHL didn’t send their players and THEY WEREN’T RUSSIA. Russia was banned. They were Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR).
All that said the Russians still have some high octane talent at the top of their lineup and solid goaltending. They can still hang with the best. Here’s my best starting six for Russia
Center – Evgeni Malkin
He’s the best Russian center. He’s among the best players in the league regardless of nationality. He had a great 2019-20 season after a good 2018-19 season (contrary to what some believe). At least I think 72 points in 68 games is good. Listen, if 72 points in 68 games is a “down” year you can deduce this player is damn good. Weirdly enough Russia has never treated Malkin like the #1 center at the big events (Olympics). They do strange things with their lineup. For me the choice was easy. Any team would be lucky to have Evgeni Malkin on the ice for them, Russia included.
Left wing – Artemi Panarin
Uh oh. Not the name you were expecting. Let it out. I can hear you.
Alex Ovechkin is not my starting left winger on Team Russia despite probably being the captain of the team and still scoring another 48(!) goals this year. He’s still really awesome at the thing he’s really awesome at. This isn’t a dig at Ovechkin. He is a victim of circumstance. The fact of the matter is while Ovechkin’s 2019-20 was really good the guy replacing him should win the Hart Trophy. Artemi Panarin was amazing this year for the Rangers. To bump Alex Ovechkin off of the starting left wing position you need somebody to put up a Hart caliber season. Panarin did just that.
I do think it is fair to point out that Ovechkin is closer to a one dimensional player than he’s ever been even if that one dimension is the one you want if you only have one. Holistically I think Panarin will create and generate more offense and is capable of doing more things at this stage of Ovechkin’s career. It’s weird to not have Ovechkin’s name here when he’s still one of the best goal scorers in the world, but it is what it is. Anybody who disagrees…
Right wing – Nikita Kucherov
What about Ovechkin on the right wing? I mean he did win first team honors in the 2012-13 at right wing (and left wing because NHL). Well, he’s running into the same problem he did with Panarin. The defending Hart Trophy winner is just too good. Kucherov is still a beast and is a natural right winger.
The forwards are great for Russia. Ovechkin being left off is proof enough. Other names left off include: Evgeny Kuznetsov, Andrei Svechnikov, Evgeny Dadonov, and Vladimir Tarasenko.
How about the defense? This is where things start to look a lot like Finland. Gone are the days of the Sergeis, both Zubov and Gonchar. Things are pretty thin. Other than the two players I actually picked you have a couple of Dmitri’s (Orlov and Kulikov) and a couple of Nikita’s (Zadorov and Zaitsev) as options. How is this all they have?
Left defense – Ivan Provorov
Provorov is a good player. He’s young and entering his prime. Although, he’s not exactly the name you expect to see here for Russia if we are being honest. Russia is known for top end skill and talent. The truth is that is reserved for the forwards. The Russians don’t produce many high end defensemen at all. Remember how Finland only had 14 NHL defensemen? Russia only has ten. Yes, the KHL is certainly a factor and deserves to be mentioned, but let’s be honest all the high end Russian forwards play in the NHL why wouldn’t the defensemen? The top scoring Russian defender in the KHL this year was Slava Voynov, so yeah. We’re good.
The other option here was Dmitry Orlov who probably would have been the pick a few years ago.
Right defense – Mikhail Sergachev
You know what, Sergachev has matured into a quality player. He had a really nice 2019-20 season with the Lightning. He’s not Sergei Zubov, but he shouldn’t hurt the team.
Even though Sergachev is good I still am surprised that he and Provorov are the best Russia has to offer at the position. Perhaps I’m off base to assume Russia should be capable of churning out high end players at this position, but that’s how I feel.
Goalie – Andrei Vasilevskiy
The forwards are elite and so is the goalie. We also have our third player from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vasilevskiy is an easy choice here after Sergei Bobrovsky went off the deep end in Miami Beach. He is the defending Vezina Trophy winner and while not a Vezina caliber goalie this year at .917 it is still plenty solid. You know what the ceiling is with this player and you know the floor is still acceptable. He’s one of the best at his position and he’s in his prime. Very easy choice to go with Vasilevskiy.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»