After the NHL withdrew its participation in the Olympics, men’s ice hockey tournament took the form of a giant question mark at this year’s Winter Games. With about a month to name an official lineup, how does a country form a roster with little preparation and abundant unpredictability? What would those rosters even look like? And how much intrigue would remain?
Days before the men’s tournament begins, some of those questions have been answered. Teams like the Czech Republic and Finland prioritized experience. The United States went in the opposite direction, leaning into the unknown by relying on an infusion of young talent. Canada split the difference.
With no NHLers, parity reigns. The Russian Olympic Committee and Finland are the tournament’s two top teams. Sweden, Canada and the Czech Republic form a group of strong medal contenders, but they’re part of a larger anything-can-happen tier with Germany, the U.S., Switzerland and Slovakia. The 2018 PyeongChang Games already showed that a country like Germany, which won just one game in group play, can surprise and make a gold medal run.
