Russian roster

Here we go with the annual Canada-Russia series rant.....I went looking for the roster that Russia plans to use in the "Subway Super Series" games against the WHL, and found a roster on the Pipeline Show's blog.

I see (surprise!) that it's the usual group of Jr-B reject calibre Russian players. 25 players on that list, all 18 or 19 years old. Of that group:

- 3 are not yet NHL draft-eligible

- 3 are NHL draft picks: 1 2nd rounder and 2 3rd rounders

- 19 have been eligible for the NHL draft and were not picked

And now to run down the WHL roster here.....there are 33 WHLers selected to play in the two WHL-vs-Russia games of this series. Of those 33 players:

- 5 are not yet draft-eligible

- 6 were NHL first round picks

- 4 were NHL second round picks

- 6 were NHL third round picks

- 5 others were fourth round picks or later picks

- 3 were not drafted but signed with NHL teams as free agents

- only 4 have been eligible for the NHL draft but are not still drafted/signed

Tell me again why we are sending our very best players to play games against a bunch of Russians who are mostly hacks who aren't close to being good enough to play in the WHL, let alone the World Juniors?

With this series we basically give the Russians a free look at most of the players who are going to eventually play for Canada at the WJCs, while they give us diddly squat in return. Enough already.

I'd like to propose an alternate WHL roster for these games:

Forwards: Cameron Abney, Kyle Beach, Lance Bouma, Mike Brown, Rigby Burgart, Darian Dziurzynski, James Henry, Tayler Jordan, Brett Lyon, Randy McNaught, Garrett Mitchell, Brock Montgomery, David Robinson, Ian Schultz
Defencemen: Curt Gogol, Dylan McIlrath, Ryley Miller, Mike Reddington, Tanner Sohn, Teigan Zahn

None of these guys is likely to be invited to play for Canada for real, but I think they could give this ragtag bunch of Russians a run. Plus, they would be the most physical Canada-Russia games ever and who doesn't enjoy watching the Russians get pounded through the boards? Fun!