Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov leads a list of three Lightning players set to join Team Russia at the World Cup of Hockey late this year.
We may not be in an Olympic year like 2014 when many of the National Hockey League’s greatest players made their way to Sochi, Russia for the Winter Olympic Games, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of international play to go around. This year, some of those very same players from Sochi will be making their way to Toronto to play in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
The Tampa Bay Lightning has a number of players who will be making their way to Canada for the tournament. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov will lead the way for three Lightning players (including himself), who will be headed to Toronto as a member of Team Russia. Kucherov will be joined by Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy.
It comes as no surprise that Kucherov has been named to represent his country in the international tournament, which kicks off on September 17, 2016. Kucherov has led the way for the Lightning in all manners scoring for a good portion of the season. It was only when Nikita Kucherov was forced to miss a string of games with an injury that he was surpassed by Lightning captain Steven Stamkos.
So far this season, Nikita Kucherov has played in 61 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In that amount of time, Kucherov has scored 24 goals and 26 assists for a total of 50 points. This is just two points shy from retaking the lead from Steven Stamkos in overall points on the Tampa Bay Lightning.
One of the names making their way to Toronto for the tournament that may surprise some people is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov. Namestnikov, who is in the middle of his first full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, has had what some would consider a breakout year. Despite a rocky start, Namestnikov has worked his way to being one of the Lightning’s top offensive assets.
So far this season, Namestnikov has scored 10 goals and 17 assists for a total of 27 points. As you can imagine, these are all career-high numbers for the young Russian forward.
The final name to make the cut from the Tampa Bay Lightning roster should come as absolutely no surprise. Andrei Vasilevskiy has been solid as a rock for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the course of the season. Despite making multiple trips to and from the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, to keep him well-played, Vasilevskiy has managed to maintain a record of 11-5-0 in the 18 games he’s played this season.
Much like Lightning netminder Ben Bishop, Vasilevskiy is capable of making tremendous saves and really coming up big for the team, even when he doesn’t get the same kind of assistance from the defensive line.
Here is a list of Nikita Kucherov, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy’s teammates on Team Russia courtesy of NHL.com.
There is more than a few talented veteran players making their way to Toronto for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. It will definitely be a good things for young players like Kucherov, Namestnikov, and Vasilevskiy to play alongside some of the very best talent in the National Hockey League.
It may even provide them with an opportunity to expand their game and become an even more dangerous asset for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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What do you think of Team Russia’s selections for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey? Do you think they have omitted anyone who should have made the cut? Who was the biggest surprise to have been named to the roster for Team Russia? Let us know what you think in the comments below.