For the second consecutive Winter OlympicsThe National Hockey League ended all hopes of hosting a tournament for men’s hockey.
A funding dispute with IOC led to the NHL opting out of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. This upset the players who had negotiated participation to the 2022-2026 Winter Olympics in their last collective bargaining agreement. The league did add a caveat to its Beijing Games decision. If the regular-season schedule of 2021-22 was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic it could withdraw from the Olympics.
The omicron-based variant arrived, and more than 100 NHL games were canceled. Therefore, the NHL decided that the Olympic break would be used to make up the games. Players were not allowed to participate again.
What does this mean for the 2022 tournament in Beijing? We take a look at the field, and some of the familiar names still participating in the Olympics. The preliminary round for men started Wednesday in Beijing.
Remember that the teams are ranked from 1 to 12 after the preliminary round. The quarterfinals will be decided by the top-ranked teams in each group, as well as the second-best. Everyone else must play in a qualification round.
Group A
Canada
2018 finish:Bronze medalist: Defeated Czech Republic by 6-4. The other two gold medals were won by the Czech Republic, which highlights the subtle differences between Canada and Canada without NHL players.
Names you may be familiar with:Captain Eric StaalThe NHL veteran, who played in 1,293 games and scored 441 goals. After making a Stanley Cup Final run last season with Montreal, the 37-year old decided to pursue a second gold medal. Daniel WinnikHe played 798 games in an 11-year NHL season; Owen Power, University of Michigan defenseman, was drafted by the NHL as the first overall pick. Buffalo Sabres2021
Name:Forward Mason McTavish, who was drafted as the third overall draft by the Anaheim DucksLast year. To paraphrase: He is a pure goal scorer. one memorable draft scouting report:McTavish’s typical shift is filled with violence and aggression.
Outlook:Canada has the highest-ranked team because of its combination of top prospects and players with NHL experience. It is likely that the team will go as far as Eddie Pasquale and Devon Levi. It could even lead to gold.
China
2018 finish:This is China’s debut appearance in the Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament. They were chosen as the host country.
Names you might be familiar with:Forward Brandon YipThe most NHL experience has been with the team, playing 174 games between 2009 and 2014. Most of these were with the Colorado Avalanche.
Name:Forward Spencer FooHas a significantly lower NHL experience. He shared a cup of coffee with the team for four games. Calgary Flames2018 In 2018, he was still the Kunlun Red Star’s top scorer (33 points), which was a Kontinental Hockey League team that was an incubator of the Chinese national hockey team.
Outlook:China was the host nation but it was not recognized as such. almost pulledBecause the International Ice Hockey Federation was worried about the team’s home-ice embarrassment, they pulled out of this tournament. This could still happen with the combination of international imports and players from mainland China, but the NHL opt-out gives China a chance to be competitive in pool play. Anything beyond that would be a miracle of ice.
Germany
2018 finish:In overtime, Russia’s Olympic Athletes defeated the United States to win an Olympic silver medal. It was the first Olympic medal for men’s ice hockey since 1976 Innsbruck Games.
Names that you may know:Forward Tobias RiederPlayed 478 NHL games, most of which with the Arizona Coyotes. Last time he appeared with the Buffalo Sabres in 2020-21; defenseman Korbinian HolzerPlayed 206 NHL games, most of them with Anaheim Ducks; winger Tom KuhnhacklTwo Stanley Cups won by the Pittsburgh PenguinsIn 2016, 2017 and beyond Dominik KahunAfter 2021, Kahun decided to leave the NHL to join Bern SC in Switzerland. There, he has 41 points from 37 games. Kahun is one the most explosive offensive players in Germany.
Name:Goalie Mathias Niederberger from Eisbaren Berlin seems to have taken over the goalie position from Danny aus den Birken at 36 years old. He was the most outstanding goaltender at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Niederberger had a save percentage of.929 at the IIHF world championships.
Outlook:The most important change for the Germans occurred behind the bench. Coach Marco SturmHe resigned after winning Olympic gold to pursue his dream of being an NHL coach. Los Angeles Kings. Toni Söderholm takes over as head coach for the fifth-ranked team in the world. They could again challenge for a medal if their offense isn’t faulty with strong goaltending.
United States
2018 finish:Czech Republic beat Czech Republic 3-2 in a shootout in the quarterfinals.
Names you might be familiar with:Michigan’s Center Matty Beniers was the second overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft. This was also the first-ever selection to the expansion. Seattle Kraken; defenseman Steve KampferPlayed 231 NHL games, primarily with the Boston Bruins; fore Justin AbdelkaderA “taxi squad” reserve for America, he had a 739-game NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings.
Name:If the U.S. is successful in this tournament, it will be because of Goalie Strauss Mann. Mann, who is 23 years old, was playing his first pro season in Sweden following leaving the University of Michigan. His stats were impressive. Maybe Mann will be remembered for something more than his strict paleo diet which has been the main focus of much of his coverage.
Outlook:USA Hockey moved in a different direction after a mismatched group of non-NHL pros didn’t medal at South Korea. This roster includes approximately 15 NCAA players, many of whom are former coaches New York RangersDavid Quinn is the bench boss. Is that a team that is full of enthusiasm, or one that isn’t ready for prime-time? We do know this: There are always college students involved in U.S. and Olympic men’s Hockey.
Group B
Czechia
2018 finish:Canada lost the bronze-medal game to Canada 6-4, after defeating eventual gold-medal winner Olympic Athletes From Russia (Semifinals).
Names you might be familiar with: Center David KrejciThe tournament’s star player is expected to be Corey – 35. After 15 seasons in the NHL, the veteran decided to return home to play for his country. After arriving in Beijing, Krejci was tested positive for COVID. Czech media reportsHe then followed up with two negative tests. Michael FrolikIn a 13-year NHL playing career, played 858 games, mostly with Calgary Flames. Florida Panthers; and fore Vladimir SobotkaPlayed 548 NHL games, most of them with the St. Louis Blues.
Name:Forward Roman CervenkaCzechia may not be the ageless wonder that we all hoped to see — 49-years-old Jaromir JagrPlayed his last Olympics in 2014, but the four-time Olympian is still strong at 36 with 55 points from 43 games in Swiss league.
Outlook:Czechia is proud of its international veteran rosters. The Olympic team has 12 players over the age of 29. If Simon Hrubec, a 30-year-old KHL goalie, plays well enough to start, the sixth-ranked team could be a big contender. The team has been struggling in international play recently.
Denmark
2018 finish:Denmark will be making its Olympic debut in men’s ice hockey.
Names you may be familiar with: Center Frans Nielsen37-year-old played 925 NHL games with the New York IslandersDetroit Red Wings. He was a flag bearer for Denmark at the opening ceremonies. Forward Mikkel Boedker709 games were played in the NHL, with the Coyotes.
Name:Sebastian Dahm, the goalie for Austria’s hockey league, should be the first. The 34-yearold, who plays for Austria’s hockey league in Austria, was absolutely outstanding in Denmark’s world championships as well as the Olympic qualifying games. He had a.929 save ratio and a shutout during the latter.
Outlook:Although it is the least-ranked team outside of China in the tournament, they were able to qualify for Beijing by beating Norway in Oslo during the qualification tournament. Of course, Denmark had Winnipeg JetsStar Nikolaj EhlersThen, not so much now. It also boasts other offensively skilled players — former Canucks forward Nick JensenThe front runners are probably the most experienced, but they may not have the depth to do a deep run in round two.
ROC
2018 finish:They were then known as the Olympic Athletes from Russia and won the gold medal against Germany after an overtime goal by a former Los Angeles Kings defenseman. Slava Voynov.
Names you might be familiar with:Voynov (32 years old) is back in Russia. After being arrested for domestic violence, Voynov was released from the NHL in 2015. After pleading no contest to a lesser misdemeanor, he was sentenced to 90 days in prison and agreed to travel to Russia to avoid deportation hearings. Nikita Nesterov28-year-old he played 170 NHL games, the majority of which were with the Tampa Bay Lightning; fore Mikhail GrigorenkoPlayed 249 NHL games, most of them with the Colorado Avalanche; and forwarded Nikita GusevThe gold-medal winning team had a member named ‘Juliet’, and she spent two years with them. New Jersey Devils. He scored 12 points in six of the tournament’s games and was named the tournament’s best forward.
Name:If you are looking forward Vadim ShipachyovIf this sounds familiar, that’s because he played three different games with the Vegas Golden KnightsIn their first season before they left for the KHL. He has been dominating that league since then, with 67 points in 48 Dynamo Moscow games this season.
Outlook:This is the third-ranked team worldwide, but it is the favorite to win the second consecutive gold medal. Russians lack some of the well-known names that they had in 2018 — Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel DatsyukCurrent Minnesota WildStar Kirill KaprizovThey are among the best — and they have a lot of talent on both the front and back from KHL.
Switzerland
2018 finish:In overtime, the Swiss lost 2-1 to eventual silver medalist Germany. Ah, the possibilities. …
Names you may be familiar with:Defenseman Yannick WeberPlayed 499 games in 13 NHL seasons, the majority of which were with the Nashville Predators; defenseman Mirco MuellerPlayed 185 NHL games together San Jose SharksNew Jersey Devils and forward Denis MalginHe was a four-season player with the Florida Panthers, before he retired from NHL hockey in 2020 with Toronto. In 37 games, he has scored 40 points.
Name:Actually, there are two names. Leonardo Genoni Reto Berra. These are the goalies that you will be replacing Jonas HillerHe retired in 2020 after a stellar performance in Pyeongchang (.956 save percentage). Berra, 35, has played five seasons in NHL from 2013-18. Genoni, aged 34, has been a good player internationally as well as for EV Zug, the Swiss league.
Outlook:The Swiss placed sixth at the 2021 IIHF World Championships. This team’s back end is its strongest, but can it produce enough offense to win in the medal round. Former Blue Jackets forward Grégory Hofmann could be a difference-maker there.
Group C
Finland
2018 finish:Canada lost 1-0 in quarterfinals.
Names you might be familiar with:Forward Valtteri FilppulaA veteran of 1,056 NHL games, and a Stanley Cup Winner with the Detroit Red Wings; defenseman Sami VatanenForward Markus GranlundThe 335 NHL games played by primarily with the Vancouver Canucks; and center Leo Komarova former Islander and Maple Leaf Maple Leaf who is affectionately called “Uncle Leo”
Name:Niko Ojamaki is a 26-year-old winger who has scored 29 goals in 48 games for KHL Vityaz Podolsk this year. Miro Aaltonen could be his linemate.
Outlook:The Finns are the favorites to win Group B. They are a talented, deep team with extensive NHL and international experience. The program prepares its teams for international play. Jukka Jualonen, Coach, was on the bench for silver and gold at the IIHF world championships. The gold-medal threat.
Latvia
2018 finish:The 2018 Olympics were not a qualifying event for the team. It was last in qualification in 2014, when it achieved its highest finish (8th) in history.
Names you might be familiar with:Forward Kaspars DaugavinsThe 33-year-old had a brief NHL career as a player with the Ottawa SenatorsBoston Bruins and while goalie Kristers GudlevskisWhile he played only three NHL games with Tampa Bay Lightning’s Lightning, his fans might be familiarized with his 55-save performance in the 2014 Games in a very close match of Canada.
Name: 26-year-old Center Rodrigo Abols is a strong offensive threat for Latvia. He has played in Sweden for Orebro for the past two seasons.
Outlook:A narrow win by Latvia over France in Beijing earned them a trip to Beijing. It also eliminated a penalty at their qualification final. We expect the same defense-first formula as in the past for Latvia.
Slovakia
2018 finish:Eliminated by the U.S.5-1 in the qualification playoffs
Names you might be familiar with:Forward Tomas JurcoHe was 29 years old and played 221 games, most of them with the Detroit Red Wings. Marko DanoOver six seasons, he played 141 NHL hockey games.
Name: Winger Peter Cehlarik26-year old Pola has been a shining star in international play for Slovakia with 11 points in eight games at the world championships and two goals during their Olympic qualifying run.
Outlook:Craig Ramsay was the Buffalo Sabres’ coach. Philadelphia FlyersAtlanta Thrashers and Slovakian Olympic Team — twice. That’s quite a bio. Although the Slovaks don’t expect to challenge for a medal, they are not expected to do so. Juraj Slafkovsky and Simon Nemec, both 17, are on the roster. They are expected to be lottery picks in 2022 NHL Draft.
Sweden
2018 finish:Germany defeated Germany 4-3 in overtime to eliminate Germany from the quarterfinals.
Names you might be familiar with: Center Marcus KrugerTwo Stanley Cups won by the Chicago BlackhawksJacob de la Rose was a forward who played 242 NHL games. The majority of these were with the Montreal Canadiens; and center Anton LanderHe was a six-year member of the Edmonton Oilers.
Name:Henrik Tommernes, a defenseman for Geneve-Servette in Switzerland, is one of the most promising offensive defensemen at the Olympics tournament. He is currently on point with 49 points after 41 games.
Outlook:The NHL’s opt out had a significant impact on Sweden, which was also one of the most affected teams. It is still expected to be second in the group, which will bode well for the medal-round seeding. Although their goaltending will be excellent, there are serious questions about who will take the puck to the net. tre kronor.