Between Nikita Kucherov, Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, Russia might never have had a deeper pool of NHL players.

Alex Ovechkin skated on a line with Evgeni Malkin. Sergei Bobrovsky was in net. And at one point, Artemi Panarin tried a Michigan-style lacrosse goal on a breakaway.

If nothing else, the KHL versus NHL Russian All-Star charity game that occurred in Moscow last weekend was another reminder that some of the most talented players on the planet also happen to be born in one of the most unpopular countries on the planet at the moment.

It also was a reminder of what we’ll be missing when Canada, the United States of America, Sweden and Finland will play one another in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 

Russia will not be competing in that NHL-NHLPA event due to the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. And while you can argue whether players, such as Nikita Kucherov — who didn't play in the charity game — or Panarin, who has been critical of Vladimir Putin, should be punished for the geo-political decisions of their country’s leader, hockey fans are missing out. This is arguably the best collection of Russians we’ve ever seen in the NHL at one time. And we're not going to see it on the global stage.

Kucherov, who was a Hart Trophy winner in 2019, just led the NHL in scoring for the second time in six years. Bobrovsky, a two-time Vezina Trophy winner, just led the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals. And while players like Malkin and Ovechkin are getting older, they are still NHL stars. 

This raises the question: if Russia had not invaded Ukraine and were permitted to participate in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, where would they rank? Are they better than Finland and Sweden? Are they as good as the U.S.? Could they compete with Canada?

Based on the players at their disposal, you could easily argue that they would be the favorites.

Forwards

Nikita Kucherov — Evgeni Malkin — Alex Ovechkin

Artemi Panarin — Evgeny Kuznetsov — Valeri Nichushkin

Kirill Kaprizov — Ivan Barbashev —  Andrei Svechnikov

Pavel Buchnevich — Vladislav Namestnikov — Vladimir Tarasenko

Extras: Ivan Barbashev, Kirill Marchenko

Whether it’s Kucherov, Panarin and Kaprizov on the left side or Ovechkin, Svechnikov and Nichushkin on the right, the Russians are loaded on the wings. 

Where they lack top-end talent and depth is down the middle. Right now, 37-year-old Malkin would be the No. 1 center, which would look a lot better back in 2014 when the Olympics were in Sochi than it does today. The same goes for Kuznetsov, who was recently released by the Hurricanes and is likely returning to the KHL, which would make him ineligible for the NHL tournament.

Defense

Mikhail Sergachev — Ivan Provorov 

Dmitry Orlov — Nikita Zadorov

Pavel Mintyukov — Artem Zub

Extra: Vladislav Gavrikov, lya Lyubushkin, Alexander Romanov

The blueline has traditionally been Russia’s biggest downside. And once again, that hasn’t really changed. 

While Sergachev, who was recently traded to Utah, has established himself as a top-pairing defenseman, he’s no Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes or even Victor Hedman. In fact, there is not a single Norris Trophy winner — or even finalist — among Russia’s defensemen. 

There is, however, some size and physicality, particularly with Zadorov and Lyubushkin, which other teams might lack. But overall, Russia is lacking in game-breakers from the back end.

Goaltenders

Sergei Bobrovsky

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Igor Shesterkin

This is where Russia truly has the edge. No team — not even the U.S. — has as many options in net as Russia does. Is Bobrovsky the No. 1 goalie? Or is it Vasilevskiy? How about Shesterkin? Or Sorokin? Russia has such an embarrassment of riches in net that Alexandar Georgiev, who won more games than any goalie last season, and Pyotr Kochetkov, who had the lowest goals-against average of any goalie who appeared in 30 or more games, would probably not even be among the top three.

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