Just got word that Alex Ovechkin's insurance issues have been officially cleared up and he will play for Russia in the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Quebec and Halifax. Ovechkin's mates bested Canada 6-2 in an exhibition game last night, and that was without him, Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Semin and Alexander Radulov. Not only are the Russians one of the favorites at this tournament, but they could throw out a scary good group of forwards in Vancouver at the 2010 Olympics.
How does a first two lines of Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Kovalev and Kovalchuk-Malkin-Semin sound? Of course, the Russian Federation will have plenty of the guys who play in the Super League involved, but there is going to be plenty of star power and forward depth (don't forget guys like Radulov, Alexander Frolov and Maxim Afinogenov as well). If it is the last Olympics with NHL players, it could be one to remember.
