When it comes to international tournaments, Canada is always one of the favorites. You don't even have to look at the roster.
Canada expects to be successful and the sentiment is usually self-fulfilling.
Even after NHL officials announced it wasn't going to allow its players to go to the 2022 Olympic Games, you knew Canada would be a medal contender. The NHL stayed home from the 2018 Olympics in South Korea and Canada still came home with a bronze. Too much hockey talent in that country to ever be non-competitive.
Here are players to watch from the Canadian squad, which opens the Olympics against Germany Thursday at 8:30 a.m. EST.
Eric Staal, free agent: The expectation is he will sign with an NHL team as soon as the Olympics are over. He is captain of the Canadian team. Staal, 37, brings 1,293 games of NHL experience to these Olympic Games. Staal played in the Stanley Cup Final for Montreal last season He showed he can still create offensively when he played for the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League as a tune-up for the Olympics. He posted two goals and three assists in four games.
Defenseman Owen Power, University of Michigan. Power was the No. 1 pick by the Buffalo Sabres in last summer's NHL draft. He's 6-foot-6 and played a key role in helping Canada win a gold medal at last spring's World Championships. Power presumably will step into the Sabres' lineup after his NCAA season is over. He reminds people of Victor Hedman.
Forward Mason McTavish, Anaheim Ducks: McTavish is a beastly, bullish 210-pound center with goal-scoring potential. The Ducks sent him back to OHL because he's only 19 and needs ice time to perfect his game. But they saw enough of him to know that he's going to be an impact performer at the NHL level. He's difficult to play against. McTavish always seems to be in the way.
Defenseman Mark Barberio, Kazan Ak-Bars, KHL: The NHL isn't technically at the Olympics. But Canada has an NHL pedigree in its roster. Barberio also brings eight seasons of NHL experience to the team. He plays in the Kontinental Hockey League now, but also played two seasons in Switzerland. The Montreal native is a savvy competitor.
Forward Corban Knight, Avangard Omsk: The former University of North Dakota player is third in the KHL scoring race with 48 points in 47 games. Knight played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. Knight has been an offensive presence in the KHL. He won a KHL championship last season with Avangard Omsk in 2021.
Goalie Devon Levi, Northeastern: The Buffalo Sabres acquired his rights from Florida in the Sam Reinhart trade. He has forced the Sabres to pay attention to him by playing brilliantly in his freshman season in college (1.55 goals-against average, 9.48 save percentage).
Forward Landon Ferraro, Cologne Sharks: He's the 30-year-old son of former NHLer Ray Ferraro. He's an effective point-producing forward in the German League. Landon has 31 points in 37 games this season.
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