Team Russia shocked the world by coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the gold medal game against Canada to win the IIHF U20 World Junior Championship one year ago. Tremendous coaching, discipline, and a lot of luck made a good team great. Several players also proved that they were the real deal, including Dmitry Orlov (currently playing in Washington), Vladimir Tarasenko (Blues prospect currently ranked fifth in KHL in goals), Maxim Kitsyn (KHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk), Artemy Panarin (Vityaz), and — the youngest of the bunch — Evgeny Kuznetsov. Role players from last year’s team, Nikita Dvurechenski (KHL’s Vityaz), Anton Burdasov (third-line center on the KHL’s Traktor Chelyabinsk), and Nikita Pivtsakin (KHL’s Avangard Omsk), have also graduated to become full-time KHL players.

Unfortunately, age eligibility rules have forced a drastic change to Russia, who is looking to repeat as champions for the first time since 2002 and 2003. The only returning player is Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuzya, the captain wearing #25, is sure to be a major key to success for the Russians. He’s played in the tournament before, scored, and assisted on clutch goals.

Kuznetsov’s been very successful at the professional level this year: he leads the KHL in game-winning goals (5), scored the game-winner in the Karjala Cup, and plays on the first line of the Russian league’s best team, Traktor Chelyabinsk.

How young is Team Russia this year? Consider that only two players on the team have recorded more than ten points in their KHL careers. Kuznetsov is the first, and the other is Zakhar Arzamastsev (Metallurg Novokuznetsk) who has tallied 11. Kuzya’s 65 career KHL points and five points with the Russian National Team make him the team’s go-to offensive player at even strength and on the power play. How will Kuznetsov — who is set to play center instead of his customary right wing — handle the pressure of being captain and being heavily scouted? We will see.

Is potential 2012 first overall selection Nail Yakupov ready for the bright lights in Calgary? (Photo credit: Alyonka Larionov)

To replace other leaders on last year’s team, Head Coach Valery Bragin chose players who represented Russia at the U18 level last year and won the bronze medal. The new core is Nikita Kucherov (Central Sports Club of Army – Red Army), Mikhail Grigorenko (QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts), and Nail Yakupov (OHL’s Sarnia Sting) – three points leaders of that tournament, as well as draft-eligible goalie Andrei Vasilevsky (Salavat Yulaev’s MHL affiliate Tolpar Ufa) who topped last year’s U18 WJC in save percentage.

It seems to me that Russia will go with two lines stacked with high-scoring talent and two lines of role players. I predict one of these two lines will be Nikita Gusev (undrafted), Mikhail Grigorenko (2012 Draft eligible), Nikita Kucherov (drafted by the Lightning). They grew up playing together in the same system (CSKA) and show good chemistry. If their line works in Calgary, look for them to be one of the most dangerous trios of the tournament.

Two other players to be locks in the top-6 are, of course, Evgeny Kuznetsov and potential #1 draft pick on 2012 NHL Draft Nail Yakupov (#AvsFailWatch). The only spot left is arguable, though Boston Bruins’ draftee Alexander Khokhlachev has made a strong case to play on the first line.

Team Russia actually had to cut some of their offensive talent on Friday. Anton Zlobin, who is tied for fourth in goals in the QMJHL, and Vladislav Namestnikov, who was the only Russian drafted in the first round last summer (by the Bolts) were let go. Among the complementary players, one name that stands out is Jets’ prospect Ivan Telegin.

The most surprising cut, however, came at the back end. Guelph’s Andrei Pedan (a big, physical defenseman who sticks up for his teammates) was dismissed. Instead, the Russians went with only one player who plays in the Canadian juniors, defenseman Artem Sergeev of Val-d’Or. The team’s defense will also miss Red Wings’ draftee Alexey Marchenko, who is done for the year with a knee injury that required surgery. Zakhar Arzamastsev (KHL’s Metallurg Novokuznetsk), who went undrafted in the 2011 NHL Draft, will be Russia’s most experienced defenseman with 97 KHL games under his belt.

The Russians should be solid in goal with Vasilevsky, the Saskatoon Blades’ Andrei Makarov and Sergei Kostenko from Metallurg Novokuznetsk’s MHL affiliate, the Bears. The team will play their first game tonight at 10pm against Switzerland.

Team Canada

Will Mark Visentin lead Canada to gold? (Photo credit: Nathan Denette)

Just like every other year, Team Canada has the most talented roster of the tournament. The roster’s almost completely composed of first-round talents with a rack of CHL experience, despite the fact that the Canada’s best young players are in the NHL. Team Canada should be especially hungry this year since they haven’t won since 2009 (where they were champions for five straight years) and were embarrassed by Russia in the final period of last year’s gold medal game. They have lots of talent on the blue line and on offense, but their lack of a solid goaltender (Mark Visentin‘s five-goal meltdown in the third period of last year’s final) could prove to be costly. I expect them to be upset yet again.

Team USA

Emerson Etem: Cowabunga, dude. (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

Jack Campbell enters his third WJC in net for Team USA and if he plays like he did in ’10, expect USA to be a frontrunner for the gold, especially with Anaheim Ducks’ prospect Emerson Etem leading the offense for the Americans. They don’t have John Carlson, but he might not be needed this time.

Team Sweden

Jonas Brodin (Photo credit: Bruce Bennett)

Another candidate to upset the Canadians, Sweden is solid on defense featuring first-round picks Jonas Brodin and Oskar Klefbom. Sweden’s next great defenseman Adam Larsson and scoring threat Gabriel Landeskog are already playing in the NHL, so look for Mika Zibanejad to prove himself as a leader for the Swedes.

Team Finland

Mikael Granlund’s lacrosse goal against Team Russia last year netted him a stamp in Finland.

All eyes will be on Mikael Granlund during this tournament. The Wild prospect doesn’t have the supporting cast like Canadian and American leaders have, but Finland is still solid and could prove to be dangerous. Look out for 2013 Draft frontrunner Aleksander Barkov to start making a name for himself on the big stage. There’s a rivalry developing between the Finns and Russians and there’s a chance they’ll meet in the quarterfinals, just like last year. Russia won in a thriller then, and another Kuznetsov/Granlund showcase could be a really intriguing match-up.

Kuzya multi-tasks while talking to the media Tuesday.

The KHL is currently taking the week off so that the Russian National Team can participate in the upcoming Karjala Cup, an annual tournament held in Finland where the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, and Russia all face off against one another. 19-year-old Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov was invited to play on the National Team and joined his teammates in Novogorsk, Moscow Region to prepare for their first game Thursday.

Despite the fact that the team is filled with stars such as Alexander Radulov and Vladmir Tarasenko, Kuznetsov — who was working out at the time — was mobbed by journalists during his media availability. In interviews to both Sovetsky Sport and Sport-Express, the gifted and versatile forward discussed his NHL plans, gossiped about the latest KHL news, and mused on what it will be like to play center again during the four day tourney.

Below the jump, check out my translation of the interview.

Question: Did you see what happened in Minsk with former Traktor coach Andrei Nazarov on Sunday?

Answer: Not yet, but I heard about it. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I think this story is overblown.

Q: You don’t see a coach going at the stands with a stick much…

A: The fans should blame themselves. They need to be respectful and not throw bottles at players on the ice. It was not pretty. And I understand Andrey Viktorovich. He’s an emotional person. You don’t need to blame it all on the coach because we are people. Everybody loses their temper sometimes.

Q: What do you think about the policy of the coaching staff directed to make the national team younger?

A: I’m all for it, because I’m the youngest [laughing]. Of course, I want to see more young players on the team.

Q: Did you hear that they wanted to try you at the center position [during the tournament]?

A: For me it’s more interesting and even more comfortable to play at center.

Q: But you’ll have to play more defense!

A: And that’s what I like!

Q: You’re the youngest player on the team. You’ll most likely have to pick up pucks after the training session…

A: That’s not a problem. The veterans here don’t push the youngsters around. We’re not living in the 80′s.

Q: Do you follow the Capitals, the team who drafted you?

A: I have a routine I follow so I can’t stay up late. But I do look up the score and see who scored goals.

Q: When are you going to leave Russia for the NHL?

A: I’ve made a decision. I know where and how I will spend the next few years of my hockey career. But I won’t talk about my plan. It would be uninteresting if I did so.

Q: Have you spoken with Dmitry Orlov who plays with the Capitals’ affiliate in Hershey?

A: Yes, we’ve talked over Skype a few times. He says that “things are okay over here”. It’s much more difficult to make it to the NHL for defensemen. There are a lot of players on one-way deals.

Q: Team Russia plays the Finns on Thursday. Mikael Granlund, who scored an interesting goal against the Russian National Team during last year’s World Championships, plays there.

A: I could make a joke about that, but I’m not of an age where you can say whatever you want to the media anymore. I will only say that I have a bet with [Traktor forward Petteri] Kontiola – the one who loses pays for dinner.

We need to beat Finns and Swedes right away. They need to know who the Russians are. We need to beat them with any players on their roster. Because if we lose once or twice, we’ll have a complex. That’s psychology!

Q: Everyone was surprised by Traktor’s great start…

A: I was surprised as well [laughing]. The key is that we are good on defense. It has helped the result so far.

Q: What are your thoughts on the World Junior Championship in Calgary?

A: I need to make the team first.

Q: WJC Head Coach Valery Bragin said you’re the only one who has a guaranteed spot on the team.

A: What if I play bad? Nobody has a guaranteed spot.

Q: Many people say that Russia hasn’t had such a strong roster as this in quite a long time.

A: Players who play in the Canadian junior leagues need to show something in the KHL first. Everybody talks about them as the top players for the next draft. I don’t want to offend the guys but I don’t think the level of hockey there is higher than in the MHL. I was offered a chance to go to the CHL myself. Many thanks to my Russian agent Valery Guschin who talked me out of taking that step. I’m just happy I didn’t go there. What would I do there? Clean windows in McDonald’s? I can do it here as well [laughing].

Russia will face Finland on Thursday, Sweden on Saturday and the Czech Republic on Sunday.

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.

Photo credit: Reuters

Mikael Granlund’s eye-popping goal was all Finland needed to best Russia for the second time this week, but the Finns still plied on while Russia’s offense looked lifeless. The 3-0 loss for Russia ends their chance at gold — they will face the Czech Republic for bronze Sunday at 10:00 AM Eastern Time — while Finland will move onto the championship game against Sweden.

Alex Ovechkin was more of a factor Friday than any other game in the tournament, though unluckily for him, in a negative way. The Great Eight was called for two slashing penalties after poking Finnish goalie Petri Vehanen on multiple occasions, while failing to convert on great chances to score. He finished the game a minus-one while registering five shots on goal and 18:31 of ice time. In five games since joining the team, Ovi has neither scored a goal or tallied an assist. Ouch.

Via Alex Ovetjkin, here’s the disappointed man himself after the game:

“We did not seize the moments that we created, and the first goal by Finns… I think it is one of the best ever goals that could happen in hockey. They had skill and luck, it was all in one pile for them. We had no luck on our side. The scoring chances were good, but we couldn’t put the puck in the net. We have a game ahead for the third place. It doesn’t matter who is the opponent. If Czechs then it’s Czechs. We just have to go out and win at least some kind of medal.”

Additional Photos and Video

Goal of the century millennium.

Before the game, IIHF President Rene Fasel presents Vladimir Putin with a jersey after Russia was named the host nation of the 2016 Worlds. (Photo credit: Reuters)

Putin signs autographs for Team Russia’s fans. (Photo credit: Reuters)

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Team Finland celebrates Granlund’s goal. (Photo credit: Matthew Manor)

Photo credit: Matthew Manor

Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Reuters

Photo credit: Reuters

Photo credit: Reuters

Ovechkin and Team Russia react after the loss. (Photo credit: Reuters)