Russians favoured, but in absence of NHL players, men's hockey a toss-up

In an interview with USA Hockey, American forward Noah Cates offered up the best advice he has ever received in advance of the men's Olympic hockey tournament.

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard," said Cates, repeating what should be the mantra of every men's hockey team – besides the favoured Russians – at the Beijing Winter Games.

On paper, Russia has a stacked roster, even with the NHL and its players deciding not to participate because of game cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So Russia (officially known at these Games as the Russian Olympic Committee for failing to turn over accurate data from the Moscow drug-testing laboratory) is the team to beat.

But don't count out Finland, Sweden, Canada, Czechia, the United States or even Germany with COVID-19 threatening to sideline any number of players on any team.

WATCH | Canada blends youth and experience at the Games:

"It is a level playing field," says Valtteri Filppula, who carried the flag for Finland in the opening ceremony. "If a team gets hot, a goalie gets hot, any team has a chance."

Four years ago, Germany shocked the hockey world by winning Olympic silver. Defenceman Moritz Mueller also likes Germany's chances in Beijing — even though this tournament will be played on NHL-sized ice, which is advantageous to Canada and the USA.

"It is tough to predict anything," he said. "I see everybody as kind of in the pool together."

Here's a breakdown of the teams standing in Canada's way of the podium in men's hockey:

The Russians have depth and star power that's the envy of the tournament. Barring any positive COVID-19 tests, the defending gold medallists can throw seven players with noteworthy NHL experience over the boards in Mikhail Grigorenko, Artem Anisimov, Slava Voynov, Nikita Gusev, Nikita Nesterov, Vadim Shipachyov, and Sergei Plotnikov.

NHL fans may remember Shipachyov for his 2017-18 dalliance with the Las Vegas Golden Knights that ended in a hasty return to Russia. Clearly more comfortable at home, Shipachyov leads the KHL in scoring with 20 goals and 66 points in 57 games for Moscow Dynamo.

Voynov, 32, is an all-around defenceman with offensive touch who is known for scoring big goals in big moments. A two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Los Angeles Kings, Voynov's NHL career ended after he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charge of corporal injury to a spouse.

The only question mark for the Russians is in goal with Timur Bilyalov, Ivan Fedotov and Alexander Samonov vying for the starting role. But goaltending may be an afterthought if this team can score at will.