Russians Add Firepower for Worlds

Team Russia got a big-time injection of top level forward talent today when a trio of Capitals forwards signed on for the 2008 IIHF World Championships.

Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Sergei Fedorov were added to Team Russia’s roster today, as was Nashville forward Alexander Radulov.

Russia opens preliminary round play with a date against Italy on Friday. The Russian team will leave Moscow with 25 players tomorrow, embarking for Montreal where it will play exhibition games against Canada and Switzerland. The Russians currently have 29 players (three goaltenders, nine defensemen and 17 forwards), including their four additions of Monday. Only 20 of the 26 skaters can be registered for the preliminary round.

When I spoke with Fedorov last week after the Caps were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, he indicated he might sign on for the Worlds.

“It’s still up in the air as far as I know,” said the veteran center last Wednesday. “There will be some communication between myself and the coaching staff. Maybe, maybe not. It sounds like my brother is going to make it, so that is exciting news. We’ll see if they have one more spot for me.”

Fedor Fedorov is more than a decade younger than his older, more famous brother. The younger Fedorov was a sixth round (182nd overall) draft choice of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He did not sign with the Bolts, and was a third round (66th overall) draft choice of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2001 Entry Draft.

Fedor Fedorov has two assists in 18 career NHL games with Vancouver and the Rangers. He spent last season with Moscow Dynamo of the Russian Super League where he racked up a dozen goals, 25 points and 117 PIM in 49 games.

Sergei Fedorov will be skating in the World Championships for the first time in 18 years. He helped lead the Soviet Union to consecutive gold medal finishes in 1989 and 1990. The second gold medal came just months before he defected from the U.S.S.R. to join the Detroit Red Wings.

The Russian Federation was apparently able to overcome the obstacle of insuring Ovechkin’s 13-year, $124-million contract. The Caps star winger mentioned last Wednesday that his participation in the Worlds would hinge upon his team’s ability and willingness to insure his NHL contract.

Ovechkin played in the 2007 World Championships in his native Moscow, but was used as a fourth-line winger and on the team’s second power play unit. He had one goal and three points in his limited role on Team Russia. This marks the sixth consecutive spring in which Ovechkin has represented his country in the World Championships. He was named to the World Championship All-Star Team in 2006.

Semin was invited to the Russian team’s camp last spring, but was left off the team when he reported late. He has previous experience in four World Championships from 2003-06.

The three Washington forwards will be joined on the Russian roster by goaltender Simeon Varlamov, Washington’s first-round (23rd overall) choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

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