Russia’s absence from the Olympic stage begs the question: What would a Russian Olympic hockey team look like if the country were allowed to participate in Milan? The level of decision-making of the NHL guys is just great.”What would Team Russia look like? “You need the mind to take whatever it takes to play with talented players.’’Skill trumps all in Larionov’s hockey philosophy. A team that would’ve likely been the bronze medal favorite, just a shade ahead of Sweden within the same tier. Sweden would join Canada in Group A, while Russia would join the U.S. in Group C, creating significantly more friction in both.

Source: International New York Times February 07, 2026 17:05 UTC