I think it's another year of Canadian NHL players dodging this event, especially with the war in Ukraine. Maybe I'm wrong?
I'm from Finland and I'm feeling that Canada will send a monster team. Pretty much all the best available Canadian players who aren't injured and who aren't in the playoffs. McDavid and so on if he isn't in the playoffs. Perhaps some 35+ year old super stars would decline the invitation though.
Reasons for Canada sending a strong team:
-WHC in NA sized rink. No more Euro rink.
-Canada reminding people that they are the best despite of not being #1 on IIHF ranking.
-No NHL players present in the Olympics. Players want to represent their national team.
-Canadians know that Finland is a good tournament host and will create a well organized tournament and we will finally see full and sold out crowds for national team games as well for the first time since Covid pandemic started.
-World Cup might come in 2024 and it's already time to see how some players look under tournament circumstances.