Canada enters this tournament as the team to beat. Twenty of the players on the team were picked for the World Cup team that won only 15 months ago. Twelve players were on the 2002 Gold Medal team at the Olympics.
But this is far from an easy tournament. The Czechs have two elite goaltenders and lots of offence up front. Their only weakness is their defence (that's nothing new), but Hasek and Vokoun should be able to bail them out. The Czechs will make it to the gold medal game.
Finland has much of the same team back that went to the World Cup final. I still think the Czechs are a better team this year, but don't ever underestimate a team with Kiprusoff in net. Lots of grit, toughness and hustle. They'll be playing for a medal.
Sweden? Never thought I'd say this about the Swedes, but it depends which Swedish team shows up. Lots of veteran talent, and Lundquist gives them strong goaltending. (Although still not as good as Canada, Finland or the Czechs). Keep in mind that goaltending is NOT the reason the Swedes lost 6-1 to the Czechs last year in the World Cup. Underachieving from everyone not named Modin was.
If Khabibulin is on Russia, they're dangerous. Lots of firepower up front. Like the Czechs, defence will be their weakness. We'll see how the Russian kiddie corps (winners of three WJC gold medals and several silvers the past eight years) holds up.
U.S.? Transition year. Not even a lot of young talent on the team, mostly inexperienced guys in their late 20s/early 30s. Still, DiPietro, as inconsistent as he is, can steal a game. Slovakia? Always fun to watch with their offensive players, and the defence is improving every four years, but Budaj can't keep up.