Which NHL team has the best all-time roster from one country that isn't Canada?

Since we’re all in an international hockey mood this week, let’s try a roster challenge that reader Derrick sent in a while ago. His question was simple: Which NHL team could produce the best lineup of three forwards, two defensemen and one goalie from the same country, that isn’t Canada.

That sounds just about perfect for a Wednesday time-killer while we wait for tonight’s return of best-on-best hockey. Let’s see where this takes us.

And yes, before we start, I know what you’re thinking. It’s the same thought I had when I first saw Derrick’s question, and he told me he had it too. It’s that this is too easy, because the answer is obviously going to be the Detroit Red Wings and their Russian contingent. Start with the famed Russian Five, mix in Pavel Datsyuk, and this one is over before it starts. Except it isn’t, because it turns out that the Red Wings have never had a Russian goaltender, meaning they can’t ice a team for this challenge.

That tells me two things. First, today’s column won’t be 200 words long, and second, this might be tougher than it sounds. Let’s find out.

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