The 2020 Russian team will stand and fall with its goalkeeper, top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Yaroslav Askarov. Russia plays a much better defensive game with him in net rather that any of the other options, as was evidenced in the Four Nations tournament in November where the netminder kept the score down in the games for which he got the start. Askarov is very good — so good that he has already guarded the goal for SKA Saint Petersburg in KHL. A hot goalie can take a team far in a short tournament, and while Lucas Raymond got all the headlines in last year’s World Under-18 Championship, Askarov was the standout goalie of the event.
In regards to the defence in front of him, it will be up to Montreal Canadiens prospect Alexander Romanov to anchor it. Sweden’s coach, Tomas Montén, had nothing but praise for the prospect when asked about him.
“He is so good, strong, fast, and he can deliver hits. It feels like he plays all the time when you face Russia, but in reality it’s only around 25 minutes. I voted for him as the best defender in last year’s [World Juniors].”
Can Romanov repeat the performance that earned him Top Defenceman honours a year ago? That is the main question at the moment.
Team Russia final roster
| # | Player | Position | League | Current team (NHL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Yaroslav Askarov | G | VHL | SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (2020 draft) |
| 20 | Daniil Isayev | G | MHL | Loko Yaroslavl |
| 1 | Amir Miftakhov | G | VHL | Bars Kazan |
| 3 | Danila Galenyuk | D | MHL | SKA-1946 St. Petersburg |
| 5 | Anton Malyshev | D | MHL | Loko Yaroslavl |
| 25 | Daniil Misyul | D | KHL | Loko Yaroslavl (NJD) |
| 6 | Daniil Pylenkov | D | KHL | Vityaz Podolsk |
| 26 | Alexander Romanov | D | KHL | CSKA Moscow (MTL) |
| 4 | Yegor Zamula | D | WHL | Calgary Hitmen (PHI) |
| 2 | Daniil Zhuravlyov | D | KHL | AK Bars Kazan (COL) |
| 24 | Nikita Alexandrov | F | QMJHL | Charlottetown Islanders (STL) |
| 14 | Grigori Denisenko | F | MHL | Loko Yaroslavl (FLO) |
| 27 | Pavel Dorofeyev | F | MHL | Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (VGK) |
| 28 | Maxim Groshev | F | KHL | Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk (2020 Draft) |
| 7 | Alexander Khovanov | F | QMJHL | Moncton Wildcats (MIN) |
| 12 | Ilya Kruglov | F | KHL | Dynamo Moscow |
| 9 | Kirill Marchenko | F | KHL | SKA St Petersburg (CBJ) |
| 8 | Ivan D. Morozov | F | MHL | SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (VGK) |
| 11 | Vasili Podkolzin | F | KHL | SKA St Petersburg (VAN) |
| 19 | Nikita Rtishchev | F | MHL | Zvezda Moskva |
| 13 | Yegor Sokolov | F | QMJHL | Cape Breton Eagles |
| 17 | Maxim Sorkin | F | VHL | Zvezda Moskva |
| 10 | Dmitri Voronkov | F | KHL | AK Bars Kazan (CBJ) |
Daniil Zhuravlyov and Daniil Pylenkov are two other KHL players, but the rest of the defence is made up of MHL and VHL players, with the exception of Yegor Zamula who plays in North America with the Calgary Hitmen.
The spotlight will be on SKA Saint Petersburg and Vancouver Canucks prospect Vasili Podkolzin to contribute the offence. Personally, I have a favourite in Maxim Groshev. The Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk player and 2020 NHL Draft prospect is big, but has skill in the areas around the net.
Strengths
The goaltending will be what decides how far this team will go. Can Askarov hold up for a full tournament, and if he doesn’t, can Daniil Isayev step in and fill that position? You would have to think so. Both of them have played in the KHL this season, and they are used to the angles and bigger ice in Europe.
Weaknesses
While the the top defenders are strong, the uncertainty of the depth players is the biggest conern. The same goes for the forwards. The top lines are interesting and can probably outscore many teams, but what about the next two lines? Can they play to a draw when they are on the ice?
X-Factor
Can Vasili Podkolzin lead from the front and score at will as he did in the international games leading up to WU18C last year? He may need to if the Russians are going to keep advancing through the tournament, regardless of how well Askarov limits offence for the opposition.
Prediction
The spine of the team will be Askarov-Romanov-Podkolzin. If it works, Russia can go deep into the medal rounds. The Red Machine can perhaps challenge for the gold medal if Askarov plays well, Romanov is the rock that the defence is built upon, and Podkolzin scores at will.
