World Hockey Championships: Group B Preview

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CANADA
Actual name: Canada
2016 Roster
Do I know any of these people? Brad Marchand, of course. A lot of Canada’s NHL superstars will give the WHC a pass, but it’s Canada so there’s still talent aplenty. Connor McDavid (EDM), Taylor Hall (EDM), Max Domi (ARI), and Mathew Dumba (MIN), to name a few. Team Canada is the only team in the WHC whose entire roster comes from the NHL.
Possible NHL reinforcements: Oodles, but expect the younger ones. Perhaps Jamie Benn (DAL), Ryan Johansen (NAS), John Tavares (NYI), Derrick Pouliot (PIT), Justin Schultz (PIT), or Martin Jones (SJS).
Jersey grade: C
The Team Canada jerseys have always felt corporate-looking and boring to me. It’s possible that they’re using these jerseys instead, which would be an improvement:

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World Hockey Championships: Group A Preview

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RUSSIA
Actual name: Росси́я (Rossija)
2016 Roster
Do I know any of these people? Definitely. Right now about half of Russia’s roster unsurprisingly comes from the KHL, but there’s a ludicrous amount of firepower that can come over from the NHL Playoffs. Russia is pretty much the Dallas Stars of the WHC – lots of offense but not much defense or goaltending. NHLers on Russia’s roster at the moment include Pavel Datsyuk (DET?), Nail Yakupov (EDM), Semyon Varlamov (COL), Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ), Alexei Emelin (MON), and others. If you want a last look at Maxim Chudinov before he ditches the Bruins, here’s your chance. You have a chance to see how Alex Semin is doing these days.
Possible NHL reinforcements Valeri Nichushkin (DAL), Nikolai Kulemin (RUS), Evgeni Malkin (PIT), Vladimir Tarasenko (STL), Nikita Kucherov (TBL), Vadislav Namestnikov (TBL), Nikita Nesterov (TBL), Andre Vasilevskiy (TBL), Alex Ovechkin (WAS), Evgeny Kuznetzov (WAS), Stanislav Galiev (WAS), Dimitry Orlov (WAS). If the Capitals and Lightning are eliminated in Round Two, that’ll be a lot of very angry and very talented players coming over.
Jersey grade: B+
Just the right amount of ostentatiousness. The imperial look suits Team Russia well. The lettering is a nice touch.

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