2014 World Junior Hockey Championships – Group B Preview

RUSSIA

Russia

Last Year:  The Russians were supposed to win, playing on home ice but they fell to the Swedes in the semi-finals.  Credit to them for showing up and beating Canada in the Bronze medal game after the disappointment of the semi-finals.

Returning Players:  G Andrei Vasilevski, G Igor Ustinski, D Andrei Mironov, F Anton Slepyshev, F Mikhail Grigorenko

Key Missing NHL players:  Valeri Nichushkin

Ottawa Interests:

Key Players:  F – Grigorenko has been loaned to the Russians by the Buffalo Sabres, had 2 goals and 6 points last year.    D – Nikita Zadorov is a big defenseman who has seen time with the Sabres this season before being returned to the London Knights of the OHL.   G- Vasilevski is playing in his 3rd WJHC and will be the backstop in all important games for the Russians.

Draft Watch:  Ivan Barbashev is projected to be a top 20 pick in the first round this coming summer.

Key To Victory:  The veteran presence of Vasilevski could provide the edge they need in goal, and that could be the difference between a 2nd and a 3rd place finish in the round robin.

Projected Round Robin Finish:  It will be the pesky Finns and the talented Russians who battle for the 2nd seed behind the Swedes and a much easier quarterfinal matchup, avoiding Canada and the US presumably.

Potential Finish: There are essentially 5 teams compiting for 4 semi-final spots, and the Russians could see themselves on the outside looking in at that group.  Or they could be powerful enough to score their way into the semis and a shot at another medal.