WI: The Rus' Khagnate nobility were not Slavified?

As we know, the nobility of the Rus' Khagnate was Norse in nature, as the Khagnate itself was founded by vikings, but what if the Norse were not slavified, thus preventing the creation of the Kievan 'Rus and possibily pushing the Christianization of the 'Rus further?

Let us brainstorm!
 
From what I have gathered, at the time of the seizure of Kiev (either 882 or the 920s, depending on what history you use) the Rus' were still Norse culturally. There were comparatively fewer Slavic tribes in the north than in the south. By the time of the Slavicization the Rus' Khaganate did not exist (although the king sometimes used the title "khagan").

In either case (no Rurik leads to a survival of the Khaganate), the best POD would be (IMO) the failure to take Kiev in 882. So the Rus' remain concentrated in the north, numerous enough to not assimilate. Maybe if they stayed there for a few more centuries, the population could have accumulated enough to allow for outward expansion while still retaining their Norse culture?

How's that sound?
 
Top