The "other" best team in 2010...

I've made it clear from the start of my conversations with Matty about the Canadian Twentyten team that the Russians have to be the team to give Canada the most trouble at the games in Vancouver.

Yesterday, the invitees to the Russian camp were announced, and they definitely have a solid group of players going to their own little camp.

Obviously, the list is headlined by Ovechkin, Malkin and Kovalchuk. I'm not "wowed" by their goaltenders, with Nabokov really being the only one with a proven track record (though not when it matters), although Varlamov really showed some resilience in the playoffs this year, until game 7 when he put on his best Roman Cechmanek impression in game 7 versus the eventual cup champs. I was surprised to see Khabibulin not even on the camp invitee roster. Their defense will definitely have skill, but I don't know they'll have the physical ability to really challenge a lot of the players they'll have to deal with from our Canadian squad.

All in all though, with the offensive fire power these guys have, they're going to be tough to stop, but I have to believe that our boys are better than theirs.

WHAMMO!!