So, I think it is about time to start speculating about who might make it to the final.
Here are the current standings.
Men: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsmen.htm
Ladies: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsladies.htm
Pairs: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpspairs.htm
Ice dance: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsdance.htm
Ladies
One would expect that all the three JGP winners of the season; Trusova, Tarakanova and Panenkova, would make it to the final for sure. Some of the silver medalists can make it also, like Kihira or Lim or even Gulyakova, although she hasn't got her 2nd assignment yet. There are also ladies like Young You and Stasya Konstantinova who hasn't skated their 1st event yet. It would be really interesting to see Alena Kostornaya getting an JGP event but I would rather give Gulyakova her 2nd JGP event than Alena her 1st. Unless Alena would be getting Sofia's JGP event(s). In my mind it would be really stupid not to give a 2nd JGP event to a lady who scored above 180 points and placed 2nd at her 1st event.
So, how will this play out? I would say four Russians will make it. Kihira will most likely make it also and then either Lim or You. If some of the top non-Russians doesn't deliver then it wouldn't be out of the question that 5th Russian would make it to the final. And if Nastia G is injured or doesn't deliver and also none of the other three ladies; Stasya, Sofia and Alena, doesn't deliver either then there might be only three Russians at the Final.
Ice dance
Lots of Russian teams will make it this year. There might even be 5 of them; Polishchuk/Vakhnov, Shevchenko/Eremenko, Shpilevaya/Smirnov, Konkina/Yakushev and Skoptsova/Aleshin who hasn't skated their 1st event yet. Carreira/Ponomarenko would be the only non-Russian team at the final.
Russia needs to change some of their assignments because at the moment neither of the Russian event winners; Polishchuk/Vakhnov and Shevchenko/Eremenko, have their 2nd assignments. Also silver medalist Konkina/Yakushev doesn't have their 2nd assignment yet. Russia can give Ushakova/Nekrasov their 1st event but they can't give Kuts/Mikhailov an JGP event.
Pairs
Too early to say much really, other than Panfilova/Rylov and Boikova/Kozlovskii will most likely make it. Panfilova/Rylov doesn't have their 2nd assignment yet but Pavlyuchenko/Khodykin have three assignments, so, Panfilova/Rylov can get one of theirs. I am hoping that Kvartalova/Sviatchenko will make it to the final also but Russian assignments are so weird that it looks like they might not even get 2nd event. I mean how on earth did Akhanteva/Kolesov got an JGP event while it looks like team like Zhuk/Britkov doesn't get any and even Kvartalova/Sviatchenko might not get two events? It will be very interesting to see how Kostiukovich/Ialin will do because they are unknown team yet they currently have 2 assignments.
Men
Event winners will most likely make it. I am sure Erokhov will make it to the final also. Other than that it is anybody's guess.
Here are the current standings.
Men: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsmen.htm
Ladies: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsladies.htm
Pairs: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpspairs.htm
Ice dance: http://www.isuresults.com/events/jgp2017/jgpsdance.htm
Ladies
One would expect that all the three JGP winners of the season; Trusova, Tarakanova and Panenkova, would make it to the final for sure. Some of the silver medalists can make it also, like Kihira or Lim or even Gulyakova, although she hasn't got her 2nd assignment yet. There are also ladies like Young You and Stasya Konstantinova who hasn't skated their 1st event yet. It would be really interesting to see Alena Kostornaya getting an JGP event but I would rather give Gulyakova her 2nd JGP event than Alena her 1st. Unless Alena would be getting Sofia's JGP event(s). In my mind it would be really stupid not to give a 2nd JGP event to a lady who scored above 180 points and placed 2nd at her 1st event.
So, how will this play out? I would say four Russians will make it. Kihira will most likely make it also and then either Lim or You. If some of the top non-Russians doesn't deliver then it wouldn't be out of the question that 5th Russian would make it to the final. And if Nastia G is injured or doesn't deliver and also none of the other three ladies; Stasya, Sofia and Alena, doesn't deliver either then there might be only three Russians at the Final.
Ice dance
Lots of Russian teams will make it this year. There might even be 5 of them; Polishchuk/Vakhnov, Shevchenko/Eremenko, Shpilevaya/Smirnov, Konkina/Yakushev and Skoptsova/Aleshin who hasn't skated their 1st event yet. Carreira/Ponomarenko would be the only non-Russian team at the final.
Russia needs to change some of their assignments because at the moment neither of the Russian event winners; Polishchuk/Vakhnov and Shevchenko/Eremenko, have their 2nd assignments. Also silver medalist Konkina/Yakushev doesn't have their 2nd assignment yet. Russia can give Ushakova/Nekrasov their 1st event but they can't give Kuts/Mikhailov an JGP event.
Pairs
Too early to say much really, other than Panfilova/Rylov and Boikova/Kozlovskii will most likely make it. Panfilova/Rylov doesn't have their 2nd assignment yet but Pavlyuchenko/Khodykin have three assignments, so, Panfilova/Rylov can get one of theirs. I am hoping that Kvartalova/Sviatchenko will make it to the final also but Russian assignments are so weird that it looks like they might not even get 2nd event. I mean how on earth did Akhanteva/Kolesov got an JGP event while it looks like team like Zhuk/Britkov doesn't get any and even Kvartalova/Sviatchenko might not get two events? It will be very interesting to see how Kostiukovich/Ialin will do because they are unknown team yet they currently have 2 assignments.
Men
Event winners will most likely make it. I am sure Erokhov will make it to the final also. Other than that it is anybody's guess.
of course, it shows how mighty girls can be 
(unless you're one of those coaches I once read about who criticized a male skater by saying a lady could beat him. As though that were something to be ashamed of
)
