It’s come to our attention that we somehow overlooked this years upcoming IIHF Men’s World Championships. With that, let’s take a quick look at the Russian roster and the tournament which officially starts on Friday. Russia arrives in Sweden hoping to capture any kind of silverware as last year they were bounced by eventual champions Finland before losing to the Czech’s in the bronze-medal game.

The team heads into the tournament as the no.1 ranked team in the world for the third straight year and brings along one more NHLer than 2011. Representing the players we all hold dear to our hearts are Aleksandr Burmistrov (substitute), Hart Trophy candidate Evgeni Malkin, Nikita Nikitin, Pavel Datsyuk, Alexei Emelin, Nikolai Kulemin, and Semyon Varlamov.

The majority of the roster is naturally from the KHL and consists of young prospects Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko (substitute) who belong to the Capitals and Blues respectively.

Russia will open their campaign against Latvia on Friday and go on to face Norwary, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, a re-match with the Czechs before closing out the preliminary round against Italy. The team will be led by Zinetula Bilyaletdinov who replaced Vyacheslav Bykov after a disappointing fourth place finish a summer ago. Bilyaletdinov had been an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes.

Below is the full roster. Highlighted names signify game-day players.

5 D Ilya Nikulin Ak Bars Kazan
6 D Denis Denisov SKA Saint Petersburg
7 D Dmitri Kalinin SKA Saint Petersburg
8 F Aleksandr Burmistrov Winnipeg Jets
11 F Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins
12 D Nikita Nikitin Columbus Blue Jackets
13 F Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings
15 F Alexander Svitov Salavat Yulaev Ufa
22 D Konstantin Korneyev Ak Bars Kazan
25 F Danis Zaripov Ak Bars Kazan
27 F Alexei Tereshchenko Ak Bars Kazan
33 D Denis Bodrov HC Spartak Moscow
37 F Anton Burdasov Traktor Chelyabinsk
40 F Evgeny Ketov Severstal Cherepovets
48 D Evgeny Biryukov Metallurg Magnitogorsk
50 D Alexei Emelin Montreal Canadiens
52 F Sergei Shirokov HC CSKA Moscow
77 D Evgeny Ryasensky HC CSKA Moscow
82 D Yevgeny Medvedev Ak Bars Kazan
87 F Vadim Schipachev Severstal Cherepovets
91 F Vladimir Tarasenko SKA Saint Petersburg
92 F Evgeny Kuznetsov Traktor Chelyabinsk
93 F Nikolay Zherdev Atlant Moscow Oblast
95 F Nikolai Kulemin Toronto Maple Leafs
F Denis Kokarev SKA Saint Petersburg
F Alexander Perezhogin Avangard Omsk
F Alexander Popov Avangard Omsk

1 Mikhail Biryukov Yugra Khanty-Mansiysk
30 Konstantin Barulin Atlant Moscow Oblast
41 Semyon Varlamov Colorado Avalanche

As the Washington Capitals equalized their semi-final series last night against the Rangers thanks in part to captain Alex Ovechkin, news this morning reached Caps land that their brightest future star won’t join the team come next season. According to the ever reliable Pavel Lysenkov of Sovsport, Kuznetsov has decided to stay in the KHL for not one, but two years.

Kuznetsov told the newspaper that he’s “not ready” to join the team stating he wants to remain in the motherland to prepare for the Olympics. His motive or that of the leagues hierarchy (looking at you Medvedev) is simple. If he leaves or forsakes his country (again this is how the KHL spells it out) he can kiss a spot on the extremely competitive national team goodbye. For a player with the skill set that the one Caps fans call “Kuzya” possesses it would be hard to imagine he would be overlooked by the Russian Hockey Federation.

However things back home are never decided equally and if you anger the suits there’s nothing stopping them from blacklisting you from anything they can control. An argument can also be made that the money he will earn with Traktor Chelyabinsk is a major reason he stays since he is reportedly promised over $2 million next year not to mention a 13% flat income tax rate.

When you compare that to what rookies make in the NHL it’s a pretty significant difference. With that said, the Capitals have little choice but to let him stay and await his return since the man who razzled and dazzled his way through the U-20′s will be staying put for the foreseeable future. That’s how it is in the old west that is the KHL.

As if things weren’t going well enough already in Nasvhille it appears that it’s only going to get better. Earlier today it was reported that 25-year-old winger, Alexander Radulov, is set to return to the team he abandoned for the KHL 3 years ago where he will be received with open arms. Radulov has agreed with his KHL team Salavat Ufa to return to the NHL while they retain his rights for next year.

However, this summer sees him become a restricted free agent allowing him to stay in the league should their be no lockout. It is expected however that Radulov honors his contract with the Preds and then return to the KHL to honor Salavat’s remaining contract. Failure to return to Russia would see him buy out the $5 million remaining on his contact with Salavat.

With an expiring CBA and the potential for another lockout it appears Radulov will have to return to Russia for at least one more year before returning again at 27 to test the NHL free agent market. He could technically sign with the Predators for a long term deal this summer but would have to ante up big money to avoid problems back home. KHL President Alexander Medvedev stated he wants Radulov back ASAP in order to be with the national team ahead of the World’s in May therefore I don’t see him leaving the KHL so easily.

For now, the Predators receive one of the best KHL players who since leaving has tailed 254 points in 210 games, won the league MVP twice, and will easily fit in anywhere in the top 6 slots under Barry Trotz. Prior to his departure, Radulov had 95 points in 145 games and will look to that total starting Thursday in Pittsburgh.

In there last 10 games, Nashville has gone 6-3-1 as they try to catch the St.Louis Blues in the Central Division.

The Kostitsyn era in Montreal has officially come full circle as the second half of the Belorussian brothers was dealt earlier today in the first major deal of the NHL trade deadline. While the destination isn’t officially nicknamed the “City of Brotherly Love” Andrei Kostitsyn was dealt to the team which acquired his brother, Sergei, back in 2010.

That team of course are the Nashville Predators who sent a second round pick along with the fifth round pick which they received with Hall Gill last week to acquire the 27-year-old winger.

The obvious reason this trade happened is due to Kostitsyn’s upcoming free agency and quite possibly his attitude to the amount of playing time he was receiving in the last few weeks. Perhaps the departure of his younger brother finally caught up to him or possibly the Montreal media circus painted him in a way he did not approve.

Whatever the reason his production hasn’t significantly dropped as he has 12 times the goals as a certain Scott Gomez does for a year’s worth of hockey. He is one goal shy of 100 in 379 career games and perhaps under Barry Trotz can find a rhythm much like his brother did last season.

On Sunday night when Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin launched himself into Pens’ Zbynek Michalek many wondered whether he would face disciplinary action from Brendan Shanahan. Earlier today they got their answer as the VP of player safety handed a 3 game suspension more commonly known as a Shanaban. His third suspension in his career, the hit was deemed dangerous not only because Ovi’s elbow made contact with Michalek’s head but also because he left the ice which is a big no-no in the NHL today.

Ovechkin will still participate in this weekend’s NHL All-Star Game despite the suspension as long he doesn’t opt out in the coming days. While most hits to the head have warranted suspensions this year it’s refreshing to know that marquee players don’t get passes for dangerous hits such as the one by Ovechkin. Below is an explanation by Shanahan.

Having spent time in Toronto, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, and Carolina the Poni Express was routed to New Jersey Friday night as the Hurricanes dealt Alexei Ponikarovsky to the Devils for fourth-round draft pick and an AHLer. The 31-year-old Kiev native has become something of a journeyman going to his fourth team since 2010.

Acquired to fill in on the third line for the Devils, the winger has not had much success finding the net since being traded from Toronto totaling just 14 goals with 3 different teams. While he spent most of last season injured he was brought to Carolina to hopefully regain the spark from his Toronto days. 15 points in 49 games was not good enough for the Canes who off-loaded him to the Devils.

New Jersey receives a formidable veteran who in 603 NHL games has scored 128 goals while dishing out 169 assists. The Devils have lacked consistent scoring on their 3rd line and haven’t really sacrificed much to gamble on the streaky winger. Ponikarovsky has had 3 20+ goal seasons in the past and he could still try to reach that plateau by seasons end.

He could impress management enough to consider offering him a contract as he becomes a free-agent at the end of the year. For a guy who has yet to find a steady home in the NHL it’s now or never as the allure of playing back home will inevitability pop up as it does for most players born in the Soviet Union.

Perhaps the presence of Russian-speaking players in Ilya Kovalchuk, Anton Volchenkov, and Dainius Zubrus will help Ponikarovsky feel more comfortable in the locker room and turn his game around.

(Courtesy of JC Pinheiro/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Last time Russia met Canada at the Junior World stage it took a five goal rally by the Russians to clinch their first gold medal since 2003. Last night, the Russians avoided a similar rally at the hands of the Canadians when their 5-1 lead entering the third period quickly vanished.

Nikita Kucherov continued the Russian onslaught early in the 3rd after his team got a hat trick and an assist from Evgeny Kuznetsov in the early going. His goal proved to be pivotal as Canada began to score at will with goals by Dougie Hamilton, Jaden Schwartz, Brendan Gallagher, Brandon Gormley in the span of 11 minutes.

In what looked like a Canadian team that was left for dead, the boys in red came out flying and capitalizing on two Russian penalties, a first for Russia this tournament, and chasing 17-year-old netminder Andrei Vasilevski in the final six minutes in favor of Andrei Makarov.

Bringing on a new goalie in favor of the one who had stopped 44 of 49 shots was a gamble that paid off for head coach Valeri Bragin as he made seven crucial saves to hang onto a pivotal victory. The victory marked the first time Canada will miss the gold medal game since 2002 and gives Russia their first chance to claim back-to-back golds since 2002-2003.

With the four points, Kuznetsov has become the leading scorer (13 points) in the tournament as Russia heads into tomorrow’s showdown with Sweden for the right to claim the gold medal. Sweden has yet to lose all tournament. Nail Yakupov of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting recorded four assists to give him a total of nine points (all assists) in the tournament.

It appears the Nikita Filatov experiment has been placed on hold in Ottawa as the 21-year-old and the team have agreed to let the winger finish out the season in his native Russia. Filatov who was traded to the Senators in exchange for a third-round pick failed to lock-up a full-time spot with the Sens and managed only 1 assist in multiple call-ups in a span of 9 games. While with the baby Sens, Filatov had 12 points (7 goals and 5 assists) in 15 games before asking to be sent on a loan to his old club CSKA Moscow.

For those who have been keeping tabs on Filatov ever since he was drafted sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2008, this would be the second time he returns to CSKA having done so with the Blue Jackets in the 09-10 season where he notched 20 points in 22 games before returning to Ohio. Despite looking better in the KHL his offense did not return as needed and after only recording 7 assists he would be sent down to the AHL for the remainder of the year.

Senators GM Brian Murray has stated he plans on tendering a qualifying offer to the soon to be restricted free agent so maybe yet another stint back in the motherland is what Filatov finally needs to breakthrough in the NHL having just notched 13 points in 46 career games since the 08-09 season.

On a busy night in the NHL which saw the goalie tandem of Ilya Bryzgalov and Sergei Bobrovsky give up a combined nine goals, Evgeni Nabokov get yanked ahead of a shootout, Evgeni Malkin razzling and dazzling in said shootout, and Nikolai Khabibulin helping his team beat the undefeated Washington Capitals one man stood above the rest.

That man (or man-child) of course is Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov. Playing in just his fifth career NHL game in light of a Drew Doughty’s injury, the 21-year-old Chelyabinsk native had quite the night not only scoring his first NHL goal but also notching the game-winner with his second. Prior to finding the net he would earn the primary assist on Justin Williams’ goal as well.

In six games, Voynov leads all Russian blueliners with goals scored. However it could be the last time for the foreseeable future he will skate with the big club as Doughty is rumored to return tomorrow night ahead of the team’s trip to Phoenix. Voynov impressed throughout the pre-season as he was one of the last players to be sent down to Manchester but not before earning the praise of teammates as being NHL ready.

It should not come as a surprise to King fans who saw him battle for spot with the big club as his last name Voynov is derived from the Russian word for war (Voyna or Война.)

He clearly showed he belonged last night leading the way for the team as they handed Dallas their first home loss of the year. Will someone else be moved down to allow him to stay up with the return of Doughty? Doubtful. While you never root for any player to get hurt (especially on your own team) the Kings have quite the guy on the blue-line should one of their defensemen go down. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last time we see Slava this year.

Both of his goals can be found below courtesy (as always) of the NHL and NHL.com

All day Friday the hockey newspapers reported Kirill Kabanov was heading to play in Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League (SEL).  After weeks of figuring out what his next step in his career would be, Kabanov contemplated the idea of going to Sweden/QMJHL after not making the New York Islanders squad.  And (as would be expected) reports questioned Kabanov’s commitment to a career in the pros.  His rights were held by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – formerly the Montreal Juniors – when they selected him in a dispersal draft.  The Armada were pegged to be bottom-feeders in the QMJHL this season, a position Kabanov did not see fit for his development.  Not to mention, playing against men in the SEL as opposed to kids in the QMJHL would be better developmentally, wouldn’t you think? 

Out of the blue, the Shawinigan Cataractes took serious interest in Kabanov’s situation with Blainville.  They decided to offer a trade proposal and take a flyer on the Russian who just can’t seem to stray away from the negative spotlight.  The Armada had no choice but to deal Kabanov since he would not play for them this season.  Later that evening, the deal went through.  The following day, Kabanov immediately packed his bags and announced that he would report to Shawinigan for the 2011-12 season.

This may ease some critics views on Kabanov since he will now be playing junior hockey, but there are always those few who just refuse to give him a chance.  Looking at the big picture, Kabanov couldn’t be in a better predicament right now.  Shawinigan is set to host the 2012 Memorial Cup and, although it is still early in the season, the Cataractes are one point shy of the top spot in the entire league.  Kirill also rejoins his former teammates in Lewiston, Pierre-Olivier Morin and Michael Chaput, who helped the Maineiacs achieve success in the playoffs.

Certainly the media hasn’t been kind to Kabanov and some of it was his own wrongdoing, however Kirill isn’t the same person he was leading up to the draft in 2010.  He wants to become a better player (both for himself and for his teammates), ultimately making his way onto the New York Islanders.  Shawinigan is the next stepping stone for Kabanov.  After coming off a very productive playoffs with the Maineiacs, Kabanov’s biggest test this year will be to continue that play consistently throughout the regular season.