Russia looks to extend WJC streak with largely unknown squad
There has been nobody more consistent at the World Juniors than Russia. They’ve medalled in each of the past seven tournaments, and only four times since they stopped competing as the USSR in 1992 has Russia not earned at least a medal.
But without a household name like Ovechkin or Tarasenko and many veterans from last year’s squad moving on, the Russians are in tough this year to continue their streak in Buffalo.
Forwards
C: Klim Kostin, German Rubtsov, Georgi Ivanov, Dmitri Sokolov
RW: Andrei Altybarmakyan, Artyom Manukyan, Marsel Sholokhov, Andrei Svechnikov
LW: Vitali Abramov, Atrur Kayumov, Mikhail Maltsev, Alexei Polodyan
The biggest name among Russia’s forwards is 2018 projected top-five pick Andrei Svechnikov. Though it wasn’t certain that the big sniper would be available for the tournament because a hand injury derailed a decent chunk of his season, Svechnikov will be expected to play a key offensive role on the team.
The group’s leaders will be Klim Kostin, the No. 31 overall pick of the St. Louis Blues from 2017, and German Rubtsov, the No. 22 overall pick of the Philadelphia Flyers from 2016 and Russia’s only returning forward. Those two players will be looked upon to provide in leadership roles on this Russian squad.
Another interesting name to watch will be Artyom Manukyan. While he hasn’t done much at the KHL level this season, he set the all-time record for points in Russia’s Junior league last season, racking up a whopping 105 points in 60 games. A return to the junior level could give the undrafted forward a chance to shine.
Defence
Nikolai Knyzhov, Nikita Makeyev, Artyom Minulin, Dmitri Samorukov, Alexander Shepelev, Vladislav Syomin, Anatoli Yelizarov, Yegor Zaitsev
Unfortunately for the Russians, Mikhail Sergachev is having too good of a rookie season with the Tampa Bay Lightning to be let go for this tournament. To add insult to injury (or, I guess injury to insult), Russia also won’t have Grigori Dronov, the other player from last year’s team eligible to return in 2018, because of injury. As a result, the Russians will need to use a defence-by-committee as the team lacks a true No. 1 option on the blueline.
Goaltending
Vladislav Sukhachyov, Alexei Melnichuk, Mikhail Berdin
The Russian goalies will have big shoes to fill as 2015 No. 22 overall pick Ilya Samsonov has moved on and is playing professionally in the KHL. At last year’s tournament, Samsonov had a .930 save percentage in six games, playing a major role in the team’s bronze medal win.
Vladislav Sukhachyov, who was the team’s backup appearing in one game last year, has the inside track to be Russia’s starter in Buffalo. He has a .930 save percentage in 20 games in the VHL, but Mikhail Berdin, a 2016 draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets, has been excellent in the USHL this year.
Thoughts
With only Svechnikov as the headliner and a couple first-round talents, this is certainly one of the least intriguing Russian teams we’ve seen at the tournament in recent memory.
That said, we’ve seen Russian players without NHL draft pedigree put together massive performances at the World Juniors before, and the team has only missed the podium once since Valeri Bragin took over behind the bench back in 2005. So while it seems like 2018 is a year to forget about the Russians, that’s never something you should do at the World Juniors.