Will the desire to promote Putin's KHL impact the selection of Russia's '10 Oly Team?

I'd love to say that sport and politics never mix in Russia...

I'd love to say that sport and politics never mix in Russia...

Yes, Putin will be coaching himself :laugh: . His buddy Medvedev will score in OT against Canada, who will have Chretien in goal.

P.S. But the only true reason Russia will be able to defeat Canada is because the defensive juggernaut Nikolai Dallmanov will accept Putin's personal invitation to become Soviet citizen (Russia will be changed back to Soviet Union) and be able to shut down those skilled canucks.

Shhhhh......don't let the secret out, but Putin is sending Emelianenko to beat up the entire country of Canada. That way all-KHL team is sure to win.

Still, Emelianenko must watch out for a sneak attack off the top ropes from Saakashvili.


Putin = WIN:handclap::handclap::handclap:

I'll leave Putin out of this and say there will be a strong KHL presence on the Russian Olympic team. So what? I think the proof is in the pudding. There's a stronger base in that league to draw off of anyway. Some excellent players who buy into a style of play that goes underappreciated in NA.

Agree with ranger here. Nothing to read into if their team has a lot of khl players.

I've watched their contributions in the last 2 gold medal wins and they are a good fit and possibly better fit then any other nhl guys you could slot in there.

khl players or not, if your team is going up against Russia in next years olympics be prepared to come and play your best hockey because you're going to need to.

they'll have an excellent team with their top nhl stars mixed in with the KHL players.

I actually wish they would go with an all nHl team as i think they would become an easier touch, chemistry wise those KHL guys seem to fit in real well.

Agree with ranger here. Nothing to read into if their team has a lot of khl players.

I've watched their contributions in the last 2 gold medal wins and they are a good fit and possibly better fit then any other nhl guys you could slot in there.

khl players or not, if your team is going up against Russia in next years olympics be prepared to come and play your best hockey because you're going to need to.

they'll have an excellent team with their top nhl stars mixed in with the KHL players.

I actually wish they would go with an all nHl team as i think they would become an easier touch, chemistry wise those KHL guys seem to fit in real well.

Typically I'd agree, but this year the olympics are on NHL ice. Russia would be making a massive mistake to try to load their team with KHL players at the expense of deserving NHL players. In fact, between two equal players, one playing in the NHL and one playing in the KHL, if Russia wants to win they should obviously choose the NHLer. Fact is though, they're going to choose the KHLer.

I just hope that if Russia heavily favors players from its own league they don't use the ice as an excuse when they go home without a medal.

...I just hope that if Russia heavily favors players from its own league they don't use the ice as an excuse when they go home without a medal.

No Worries...the Russian Conspiracy theorists will come out of the woodwork, a la 2002 OG in Salt Lake City ( even though that tourney was played on Big Ice ) insisting that the FIX WAS IN, the refs were instructed to ensure a North American ( read Canadian ) victory...yadda, yadda. :laugh:

I see your point but those khl players didn't seem to have a difficult time adjusting the year before in Quebec City/Halifax so i don't think it's as big an issue as you may think.

I think they are fine to use on the small rink albeit they will be facing way tougher games night in and night out in a best on best competition then in the 2nd rate world championships.

they may play a factor in proving you right.

Either way, Russia is going to have a team with a decent chunk of KHL guys, that's a given. Still, it will be the NHL guys, not the KHL guys that ultimately decide whther or not their team brings home Gold or not.

Their NHL stars have to play at their top level or Russia won't win.

Typically I'd agree, but this year the olympics are on NHL ice. Russia would be making a massive mistake to try to load their team with KHL players at the expense of deserving NHL players. In fact, between two equal players, one playing in the NHL and one playing in the KHL, if Russia wants to win they should obviously choose the NHLer. Fact is though, they're going to choose the KHLer.

I just hope that if Russia heavily favors players from its own league they don't use the ice as an excuse when they go home without a medal.

Sad to say hammerbound but it will be more then just the Russians that come out of the woodwork in the case of any Canadian victory should it happen. Basically about 80-90% of all European fans will say Canada won because of biased reffing/Games being on home soil. That is a given in all my years of experience with European fans on many hockey boards over many years.

There are a few classy ones that will suck it up and wish you well and admit you deserved to win but not many truthfully.*Apologies to the good ones here and other boards that will do it* They are out there for sure.

Wouldn't matter if Canada wins every game by 2-3 goals and the final by 5.

It's a shame if Canada wins that is what our fans will have to put up with but that is the way it always is, which i am sure you already know from experience also.

Losing to Canada is not European hockey fans strong point.

And having the games in Vancouver already provides the mental case homers with a built in excuse. They have it already tucked in their back pocket like a football yellow card ready to go.

No Worries...the Russian Conspiracy theorists will come out of the woodwork, a la 2002 OG in Salt Lake City ( even though that tourney was played on Big Ice ) insisting that the FIX WAS IN, the refs were instructed to ensure a North American ( read Canadian ) victory...yadda, yadda. :laugh:

Even if Bykov goes with the predominantly KHL players, nobody in their right mind can say that this would be to their disadvantage. For a very simple reason: all of these so-called "KHLers" have plenty of NHL / small rink experience!

Look at the potential KHL candidates:

Defensemen:

D. Markov, Kalinin, Nikulin, Aytushov, Proshkin. 2 out of 5 -- with the NHL experience. All but Atyushov played on the small rink in Quebec.

Forwards:

Fedorov, Morozov, Perezhogin, Zinoviev, Saprykin, Radulov, Sushinsky, Gorovikov, Zaripov, Tereschenko. 7 out of 10 -- with the NHL experience. The other three played in Quebec.

Add all the NHLers, and you will have no shortage of familiarity with the small ice surface.

Would you really take Zherdev and Samsonov over Radulov and Saprykin? Exactly.