It's kind of wild how big a difference there is between winger quality and centre quality on Team Russia. The wingers are loaded, but as far as international best-on-best those centres leave a lot to be desired with Malkin declining and no real heir-apparent. Goaltending is obviously unreal, and the defense is stronger than it has historically been. But I think they'd struggle matching up with other top countries' centre depth.

Yeah its pretty wild tbh, my only theory is that they either play a completely different style of hockey that doesn’t require a solid center or that the russian leagues just lock up all their young prodigy centers before they hit international markets

I think it's a lot more the former than the latter. The KHL isn't exactly loaded up with strong, young centres either. Probably a stylistic difference in development. Maybe more emphasis on shifting the best players to wing?

Definitely some type of culture problem in their minor and junior programs where they have it hard wired into their brains to be “offense first and skill rules” over the 2way forward playstyle that centers tend to be and you can even say something about their dman prospects and current players Not being game breakers. Article i read said “ i came from russia where we play a skill game. Dump the puck and the coach will yell at you. Do it twice you get benched. It shows your afraid to take the hit or dont have the skill to make a play.”