I've been looking at the teams eligible for GP spots next year, and worrying that it might be really hard for I/Z to get 2 spots - there are so many teams guaranteed something it leaves very little room for anything extra. I/Z definitely get 1 spot because they are 7th on the SB list. There are 48 spots available in total, and around 40 are already "taken" based on Worlds results, seasons best lists and the world rankings. Then there's the question of V/M maybe using their comeback spots, and junior teams potentially turning senior, so it might turn out that there are only 4 or so slots available to assign to skaters who don't have 2 already.
The best hope is a situation similar to S/K this year - let them get the guaranteed assignment at another event, leave the host picks open until the latest opportunity, and if they haven't got in anywhere else, give them COR. I/Z should be at the top of the subs list anyway if it works properly. But the biggest consideration for the Russian fed is that only 1 team is guaranteed 2 spots, S/K. Then B/S, I/Z and S/B all have 1. (And Popova/Vlasenko, but it looks like they split and she is now skating with Mozgov, and Loboda/Drozd, but I have heard they stay junior.) Then there is Z/G, who will want to get out on the GP, but are not eligible for anything but a host pick. If I was the federation, I'd say let Z/G prove themselves on the challenger circuit - their one international outing at the Santa Claus Cup last year wasn't all that impressive - leave the host pick slots open and then use it for the 2nd assignment for B/S, I/Z and S/B, so they end up with 4 teams who have a shot at GPF. But that assumes they have that flexibility with the host picks - if every fed took that approach, they couldn't give all teams who are guaranteed a spot an assignment. I wonder if the ISU will come under any pressure to go back up to 10 teams per event for dance? The feds won't be happy if they can't use their host picks, but they can't take away "guaranteed" spots from skaters who have earned them based on last years results.
I think that makes it crucial to have a strong start to the season - look great at test skates, get good early results at senior B or challenger, because they are going to be depending on the fed to get a 2nd spot, and this season showed that I/Z don't get any favours from anyone. They are going to have to be ready to fight.
