The rest of the hockey world began narrowing the gap a long time ago. But make no mistake, Canada remains the team to beat in these tournaments, having won four of the past five best-on-best events dating back to the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and then adding victories at the last World Cup in 2004, the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and of course the most recent test, the 2014 Games in Sochi. Overall, going back to the inaugural Canada Cup (later renamed World Cup) in 1976, Canada has won eight of the 12 best-on-best events staged in the history of the sport. So of course the road to victory in this year's World Cup goes through the host team. But that is not to say Canada is unbeatable, however. Far from it.
How Team Canada could win
Where to start? The back-to-back Olympic champs are loaded up front, led by Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, Steven Stamkos, Joe Thornton and Claude Giroux. Team Canada is once again a who's who of superstars up and down its four forward lines.
A big key was that head coach Mike Babcock identified early in training camp the two wingers who will play with Crosby -- Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron -- potentially solving a riddle, finding a line fit for his best player, that had perplexed him throughout the past two Olympics. That trio showed immediate chemistry during the first day of camp.
In goal, the 1-2-3 punch of Carey Price, Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford is matched perhaps only by Team USA's netminders in terms of quality and depth, although most observers agree that Price is the best goalie in the world when he's back in form. The coaching staff, led by Babcock, has star- and brain-power. It features Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien, Barry Trotz and up-and-comer Bill Peters. This team will be expertly prepared.
Price was steady in Sochi when tested, but never had to steal a game, as Canada's keep-away, puck-possession strategy on the bigger ice delivered a surgical, undefeated Olympic performance. Now that Team Canada is back on NHL-sized ice, the system has been tweaked. But the stars both on the ice and behind the bench are aiming for a similar result -- and desire to own the puck.
How Team Canada could lose
Duncan Keith's absence because of injury is potentially devastating. If this team has any soft underbelly, it's on the left side of its defense. Marc-Edouard Vlasic has proven to be up to the task, elevating his game both in Sochi and in the NHL the past few years to become one of the league's top defensemen, but he doesn't have the offensive talent that Keith does, and the drop-off to an aging Jay Bouwmeester and Team Canada newcomer Jake Muzzin is real. It has led to right-handed Alex Pietrangelo beginning camp playing on the left side, which is something Babcock would rather avoid but clearly feels has no choice but to do.
If Canada falters, critics will wonder why a guy like Kris Letang or P.K. Subban, though both right-handed, weren't named after their outstanding seasons. The right-left defense debate will rage on in hockey-mad Canada if the host team loses.
Another wild card for Canada is Price's form. The goalie missed most of last season with a knee injury. It's been nine months since he has played a real game. Can he shake off the rust in time to lead Canada to a World Cup title? Would Babcock consider pulling him for Holtby or Crawford midway through the tourney -- like he did Martin Brodeur for Roberto Luongo at the 2010 Games -- if he feels Price hasn't found his A-game? It's something to monitor, to be sure.
What to watch for: As Stamkos goes, so goes Canada
Stamkos has waited for this chance for a long time. A broken leg robbed him of a trip to Sochi in 2014 in what would have been his first Olympics. He's champing at the bit to make his mark at this stage for his native country. He also happens to be the best pure goal scorer on this ridiculously talented team. He has spent most of camp and pretournament on a line with Logan Couture and Toews, a very responsible, two-way unit that obviously still has offensive firepower. Stamkos observed during camp that Toews was underrated offensively, that he is always on the right side of the puck, which creates opportunities for a shooter like Stamkos. If Canada does win again, look for the Tampa Bay Lightning captain to be a central figure.