MONTREAL – Have you also asked yourself this question? What would the Russian team look like if it participated in the 4 Nations Showdown?
We will never know, as the NHL chose to respect the banning of Russia from international competitions by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) following the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s army in February 2022.
However, that doesn’t stop us from speculating and having a little fun. Here is the Russian selection, as imagined by RDS.ca.
And before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight right away. No, Ivan Demidov is not in our picks, as tournament rules only make NHL players eligible.
Damage.
Imagine the scene: the Canadian’s hope, skating on the ice of the Bell Center before the time…
We would have taken it, just for the fun.
The strength
The guardians
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Igor Shesterkin
Sergei Bobrovsky
None of the four countries invited to the event held from February 12 to 20 in Montreal and Boston – Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland – can compete with Russian depth between the posts. There is no room for debate here.
With four Vezina Trophies to their name, including two for Bobrovsky, Russia’s three goalkeepers would claim one more than the 12 goalkeepers taking part in the competition combined. Connor Hellebuyck (United States) has won the distinction twice, most recently in 2024, while Linus Ullmark (Sweden) was recognized in 2023.
The question to ask is rather who would be Russia’s No. 1. On a strictly statistical level, Vasilevskiy is the one who at the time of writing these lines displays the best goals against average (2.31) and the best efficiency rate (.916) of the three.
His two Stanley Cups and his Conn Smythe Trophy have also demonstrated that he knows how to win when the stakes are at their highest. We would therefore imagine him leaving with a head start for the starting position ahead of Shesterkin and Bobrovsky.
But are there bad choices here?
Not really, and that’s a good thing, because the Russian defense would probably often have no other choice but to rely on the miracles of its goalkeeper.
Doubt
The defenders
Vladislav Gavrikov and Andrei Vasilevskiy
Mikhail Sergachev – Dmitry Orlov
Dmitry Kulikov – Vladislav Gavrikov
Alexander Romanov – Ivan Provorov
Nikita Zadorov
No Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, Erik Karlsson or Victor Hedman here.
Of all the members of the Russian defensive brigade that we would have selected, none have won a Norris Trophy, or even been considered throughout their career for the honor awarded each year to the best defenseman in the NHL.
Sergachev, who established himself as a first-pair defender upon his arrival in Utah this season, would undoubtedly obtain similar responsibilities within the Russian selection. The reason is very simple. None of his compatriots can dare claim to be a better offensive quarterback than him. The reincarnation of Sergei Gonchar is still waiting for him in the country of Sergei Kulikov.
21-year-old Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov could have been a potential candidate to play this role and generate his share of offense, but his timid production of three goals and six assists this year is definitely not living up to his promising 28-point haul in his rookie season last year.
On the defensive level, our candidates certainly have the ability to protect their territory and compete against the international elite. But for how long would the Gavrikovs, Kulikovs, Romanovs and Zadorovs resist the repeated attacks of the McDavids, Matthews, MacKinnon and co?
The show
The attackers
Nikita Kucherov
Kirill Kaprizov – Evgeni Malkin – Nikita Kucherov
Artemi Panarin – Pavel Buchnevich – Andrei Svechnikov
Alexander Ovechkin – Ivan Barbashev – Matvei Michkov
Kirill Marchenko – Vladislav Namestnikov – Valeri Nichushkin
Evgenii Dadonov
Imagine the five-forward power play. Why not? After all, this exercise is just for fun.
Kucherov, Kaprizov, Panarin, Malkin and Ovechkin, sent onto the ice at the same time to make Brad Marchand regret sitting on his butt in the penalty box, we said yes to that on the spot. Just for show.
With so many talented attackers united on one team, Russia would certainly have the ability to impress. From there to having the last word on Canada, the United States and Sweden? Maybe not.
Because apart from Malkin, who at 38 still has the skills to pivot a first trio completed by star compatriots, Russia would lack depth at the center player position compared to the other four nations.
Buchnevich and Barbashev would thus be called upon to fulfill a mandate that is not usually entrusted to them on a regular basis in the NHL. But with a Kaprizov or an Ovechkin on their left, and a Svechnikov or a Nichushkin on their right, let’s say that they would not be deprived of the resources to shine.
And what about Michkov who would have the opportunity to share the ice with Kucherov and co? Would he do better than Ivan Demidov?
We’re talking there…
The projection
So. Now that you have a better idea of what the Russian team would look like if they had been invited to this short tournament, where would they finish this one?
Defeating Canada and the United States seems to us to be challenges that are a little too steep.
Beat Sweden? It’s doable, but perhaps less likely than getting the upper hand on Finland.
This is why we would rank Russia third, ahead of the Finns.
And you?
