With no active NHL players, the sizzle is gone from the Olympic Hockey Tournament. The quality of play won't be the same. Not even close.
But if watch Olympic hockey, you will see a competitive tournament. You will see players you know, names you recognize and a collection of young players who will be in the NHL next season. Anaheim's Mason McTavish is one of them. He plays for Canada.
These guys don't want to win any less than NHL players do. When you wear you country's sweater, nationalism usually fuels you best effort.
Here are eight reasons why we should watch Olympic hockey:
1. U.S. Team boasts many future NHLers: Most players on the roster are college players, led by North Dakota Jake's Sanderson who should be a regular next season with the Ottawa Senators. Michigan's Matty Beniers was the No. 2 pick in last summer's draft. He could be in Seattle's top six next season. Brendan Brisson is a Vegas Golden Knights' first round pick and the son of player agent Pat Brisson. Defenseman Brock Faber is one of the Los Angeles Kings' top prospects.
2. Owen Power plays for Canada:It will be fun to see how much the 6-foot-6 Power has improved since he helped Canada won last spring's World Championships. The former NHLers on Canada's roster are impressed by him. He's going to do for the Buffalo Sabres next summer what Moritz Seider is doing for the Detroit Red Wings. Canada isn't the favorite, but you can never rule them out. 3. China's team has few Chinese players: Only nine Chinese players are on the roster and they are essentially non-factors. The host Chinese are using players from their China-based Kontinental Hockey League team (Kunlon Red Star). That list includes Chris Chelios' son Jake and Brandon Yip who played 174 NHL games. The final tally for the Chinese roster: Eleven Canadian players, nine Chinese, three Americans, and a Russian.
4. Of course Russia is favored: Once the NHL pulled out, the Russians (Officially the Russian Olympic Committee) became the favorite. NHLers were not at the 2018 Games and the Russians won the gold. They have a long history of strong performances in Olympic hockey, dating even before the 1980s when the KLM line of Vladimir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Sergei Makarov ruled. The Russians have seven players remaining from that 2018 gold medal team.
5. Beware of the Finns: Finland boasts plenty of quality players who aren't in the NHL. The Finnish program proved that in 2019 when it won the World Championship without using any full-time NHLers. The Finns also won the silver medal at the 2021 World Championships.
6. Americans are underdogs: It wouldn't be another Miracle on Ice if they won. But Riverbets has them at +1700 odds. With a team full college players, USA ranks below Russia, Finland, Canada, Sweden, Czechia and Switzerland. But America does have some history of doing well with college kids. 7. David Krejci is playing for Czechia: Much to the disappointment of the Boston Bruins, Krejci decided to go home and finish his career. The 35-year-old center has 17 goals and 36 points for Olomouc Hockey Club this season. In case you are wondering, Krejci has said publicly that he is not coming back to the NHL after his Czechia season is over. 8. The Vadim Shipachev enigma: Shipachev, 34, leads the KHL in scoring with 24 goals and 67 points in 48 games. The name should be familiar to you because the Vegas Golden Knights signed him believing they were getting a dominant scorer. But it didn't work out. Not at all. He played three games for the Golden Knights (and scored one goal) before going back to the KHL. He was comfortable in the NHL enviroment. But he will be a dangerous perfomer at the Olympics.