Yes, they will be missed, and most especially by Piseev, who can't be expecting to qualify 3 pairs for Worlds again next year. He is sending Bobrov & Soloviev, who finished third behind Rubleva and Shefer at Russian Nationals in addition to K&N and R&S.. R&S went to Europeans and finished only 13th there. I don't see either R&S or B&S placing high enough at Worlds to qualify three teams.
To qualify 3 teams for Worlds next year, the sum of K&N's and R&S's (or B&S's) placings needs to be 13 or lower.
Here's how Bobrova & Soloviev finished this year:
Skate Canada 151.97, (5th behind H-M/C, who scored 152.16)
COR 161.51 (4th, barely ahead of Copely & Stagniunas)
At Europeans, the 11th place skaters were Zadorozhniuk & Verbillo, with a score165.11, significantly ahead of Rubleva & Shefer in 13th.
At 4 continents, HM/C 164..02 finished 6th.
So at Europeans and 4 Continents there were 17 teams who finished significantly ahead of Bobrova/Soloviev's or Rubleva/Shefer's best total score for the year. Granted Grand Prix scores are depressed with respect to European and 4 Continents socres. However, Z&V finished ahead of B&S at COR, with B&S having home ice advantage, so to speak.
Even if through some unprecedented occurrences, Khoklova & Novitski finish first, the second Russian team would have to finish at least 12th. I can't see either R/S or B/S finishing higher than about 15th unless some miracle occurs.
For one of these 2 teams to penetrate the top 10, they would have to beat at least two of the following teams: Belbin Agosto,Delobel Schoenfelder,Virtue Moir,Davis White,Pechalat Bourzat,Faiella Scali,Kerrs,Zaretskis,Capellini Lanotte, & NavBoms. That's not counting Zaretskis, Zadorozhniuk & Verbillo, and Fraser & Lukanin whom I also expect to finish ahead of both Russian teams. Additionally, NavBoms and Weaver and Poje should finish ahead of them. Hann-McCurdy & Coreno, Stagniunas and Copley, and the Reeds are about equal to the 2 Russian teams, and it could go either way.
As I said, I find it hard to see how either team could finish 12th, let alone in the top 10.
If I were Piseev I would be praying for a miracle cure for DomShabs, for sure.
