2022 World Junior Championship Team Russia Preview

While Russia is usually never the clear champion to win each World Youth Championship, they always have a well-balanced roster and the ability to surprise teams. This team is filled with younger-than-usual talent, and the coaching staff has recently changed, with Sergei Zubov appointed head coach. Like every other nation, they’ve put together their preliminary squad and this looks like a solid defensive group that benefits from stellar scoring.

Talent seems thin at the top of the table with just the first three picks, but the disparity isn’t as dramatic as expected. The majority of players have been included in the second and third rounds of the recent NHL Drafts, with young talent expected to be brought in as early as next July.

Related: Guide to Young World 2022

After a 4-1 loss to Finland in 2021 game bronze medal, this group is looking to present itself as a great power and climb to the top. Since the tournament will take place on December 26, let’s take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of this Russian team as they anticipate playing in Red Deer and Edmonton.

Objective: Askarov faces vengeance

Yaroslav Askarov predicted to be the top scorer in this entire tournament, as the 19-year-old once ranked 11th by the Nashville Predators overall in the 2020 NHL Draft has a lot to prove. After the team’s loss to Finland last year in the bronze medal match, he stood at the green line during the opposition team’s celebration to show his support, which earned respect. in the hockey community. After defeating Canada to won gold medal in 2019, this is his third and last time participating in this tournament. So far, he has struggled with SKA St.Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) starting the 2021-22 regular season, boasting a .904 (SV%) save rate over five games. .

Looking at his competition, with three other goalkeepers in the preliminary round, it’s clear that Askarov will be the team’s starter, and no one is likely to challenge him for that. Yegor Guskov, who played in the Four Nations Under-20s, is fighting for a reserve role in this team. He played for Loko Yaroslav in the Children’s Hockey League (MHL), the largest children’s league in the country and had 0.915% SV in 13 appearances for the team.

Looking at two other players vying for the spot, Zakhar Vinogradov is a 19-year-old player who plays for Buran Voronezh in the Supreme Hockey League (VHL). He currently has 0.918 SV% in 17 appearances, which is impressive considering his 5-9-2-1 record shows that his team is struggling. Maxim Motorygin is the youngest player in the group, 18 years old. He plays for CSK VVS Samara in the VHL and has only one win in his 13 starts this season. Shocking is an understatement if he comes to the bench at the end of the pick camp.

Defense: Mukhamadullin leads the way

This defensive core isn’t the most talented group in the league, and it could end in their decline if the team struggles. However, underrated players like Shakir Mukhamadullin took the lead, the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils. He just signed an entry level contract by the NHL franchise on December 1, as he played very strongly against Salavat Yulaev Ufa in the KHL.

Kirill Kirsanov is one player expected to be among the six defenders playing for this team, as he was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings. He was on the team last year, playing in a power style and combining with Artemi Kniazev defended great. Nikita Novikov is looking to make the roster for the first time, as he was drafted by the Buffalo Sabers in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. He played in 30 games for Dynamo Moskva in the KHL, creating one goal and three assists and has a steady average minutes.

The depth of this group is slim, and if Mukhamadullin gets injured, it could potentially end their medal chances at this tournament. Fortunately, they have Askarov in the net, making each defender’s job a little easier each time he plays.

Forward: Learn about Michkov

There are some outstanding young talents in this Russian group, such as Matvei Michkov, a qualified prospect for NHL Draft 2023. The 17-year-old has a superb shot, isn’t afraid to try his hand at creative play, and is known for dominating the international scene. Playing against KHL’s SKA St.Petersburg, he currently has two goals and five points in 13 games, which is impressive considering the youth he is playing at a professional level. All eyes will be on him for production, but keep in mind that this is a league designed for dominant 19s and 20s, so he shouldn’t be expected to be the best striker in the competition. team.

Looking at the other picks, Danila Yurov and Ivan Miroshnichenko have both individually ranked in the top 10 in various rankings for The upcoming draft NHL 2022. Both are playing in this tournament for the first time and providing different elements to their game. It has been a difficult season in the KHL for Yurov, as he is without a point in 21 games, suggesting he should be sent down to play in the MHL. He’s a player who can score instantly with a wrist shot or stand on half a wall in a game of power and unleash exciting power in a timed shot. For Miroshnichenko, this is also a huge opportunity to show himself, as he has not excelled this season when he splits his time between the MHL and the VHL, especially defensively and out of place. Some scouts believe he could be a potential top 5 talent due to his ability to create goals in the area with his ability to hold the ball and sometimes slither into the middle of the ice to open up his own firing line. Dear.

Looking at the returning players, Marat Khusnutdinov is likely to take the lead for this group of strikers, playing in this league for for the second time in his career. He has cemented his role for SKA St.Petersburg in the KHL, scoring 11 points in 29 games so far, and is known for his ability to play difficult passes to teammates. He has a knack for big moments, such as scoring the goal in extra time against Sweden last year in the qualifying round, ending their 54-year unbeaten streak.

Russia will become a medal competitor

Based on changes to this Russian group, such as the absence of potential Vancouver Canucks Vasily Podkolzin and and prospect Toronto Maple Leafs Rodion Amirov, it’s hard to see this group compete for the gold medal. Their defensive core isn’t top-notch compared to other nations, and if they get an injury or two in the backline, they don’t seem to have the depth to sustain that. However, their scoring ability will allow them to compete in every game and at least appearing in the bronze medal match is entirely achievable. Their group of forwards will likely surprise teams with the number of young picks they are bringing in, assuming that NHL Draft 2022 and 2023 qualifying prospects make the cut.

In the end, Russia will rely on solid goalscoring ability and hope the unknown players take the leap. This team may end up winning a gold medal, but if anything goes wrong, they may find themselves not even getting a medal.

THW Final Tentative Lineups for Team Russia

Goalkeepers – Yaroslav Askarov, Yegor Guskov, Maxim Motorygin

Defense – Shakir Mukhamadullin, Kirill Kirsanov, Nikita Novikov, Yegor Savikov, Vladimir Grudinin, Maxim Fedotov, Nikita Smirnov

Forwards – Nikita Chibrikov, Marat Khusnutdinov, Matvei Michkov, Kirill Tankov, Ivan Miroshnichenko, Alexander Pashin, Fyodor Svechkov, Nikita Guslistov, lya Ivantsov, Danila Yurov, Pavel Tyutnev, Ivan Didkovsky, Bogdan Trineev, Vasily Ponomaryov

All information about the 2022 World Youth Championship team:

Jordan Jacklin is a freelance writer who has covered the Buffalo Sabers at The Hockey Writers. Jordan is a student in Ryerson’s Sports Communication program and uses video analytics and scouting to gauge your favorite players in the game.