The pre-tournament games are over and it's finally time for the World Cup of Hockey to begin on Saturday. Now the big question: How do the teams match up?
The tournament not only features Olympic-like rosters for Canada, Sweden, Russia, Finland and the Czech Republic, but it also includes the most intriguing group in Team North America, which is made up of all under-24 stars from Canada and the U.S.
The addition of North America and Europe (players from European countries not named Sweden, Russia, Finland or the Czech Republic) adds a layer of competitiveness that does not always exist in the Olympics. It also makes the tournament a much tougher call than just assuming Team Canada will run away with the best-in-the-world title.
Of course, the Canadians are still the favorites, but in order to get a clearer view on how well other teams stack up, let's look at Hockey Prospectus author Tom Awad's projected 2016-17 goals versus threshold (find more information on GVT here) for each roster:
Note: Players who did not play primarily in the NHL in 2015-16 do not have projected GVTs.
Group A
Total GVT per player: 11.5
The players left off of Team Canada could form a team and still be among the favorites in this tournament. Canada has the world's best player, Sidney Crosby, in a familiar position of top-line center, and whoever they play alongside him will be a superstar. Matching lines against Canada is a fool's errand, as they can use the most dynamic scorers in the sport like John Tavares and Steven Stamkos in offensive situations, and elite shutdown two-way players like Patrice Bergeron and Jonathan Toews in defensive situations.
Canada also sports defending Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty and the defenseman with the best shot in the world in Shea Weber. Oh, and they have the 2015 Vezina Trophy winner, Carey Price, in goal. Good luck, world.
Total GVT per player: 9.9
Many have noted some of the surprising roster decisions made by Team USA when it came to adding players like Justin Abdelkader and David Backes to create a strong defensive roster. The only true one-dimensional player is last season's Hart Trophy winner Patrick Kane. Everyone else in the forward group is known for being able to slow down opponents' offensive attacks.
It's a strategy that worked back in the 2010 Olympics, but it may be a tough road to travel here against the blazing speed and skill of other clubs. The USA defense group lags behind the other top teams, too. Jonathan Quick is a terrific goaltender, so that is the only area where USA matches up with the top teams.
Total GVT per player: 5.1
The team that will likely struggle the most to keep up with the pace is the Czech Republic. Fans in their respective markets understand how under-appreciated Michael Frolik, Martin Hanzal and Ondrej Palat are, but they are excellent complementary players, not play-driving stars. And those three, outside of Jakub Voracek and Tomas Plekanec, are the best forwards the Czechs have.
Their defense would be well below average by the standards of an NHL team, as they don't sport a single top-four NHL blueliner; obviously, this is a problem when other teams are stacked with multiple All-Stars. The bright spot is the goaltending; Michal Neuvirth nearly stole a playoff series last spring, and Petr Mrazek is one of the NHL's top young rising netminders.
Total GVT per player: 6.3
Great idea for a team, but still not enough talent. Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar has a little more to work with than when he's played for his home country of Slovenia, but it's not going to be enough to win the World Cup. Edmonton center Leon Draisaitl looks like he could soon become a top-end player, and Roman Josi is a star on defense, but the rest of Team Europe is made up of well-past-their-prime stars like Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Zdeno Chara, and complementary players like Mats Zuccarello and Nino Niederreiter.
There isn't enough skill or speed to keep up in a best-of-the-best format. And Europe definitively has the worst goaltending in the tournament, even if Thomas Greiss is coming off a solid playoff run with the Islanders.
Group B
Total GVT per player: 8.3
If we were ranking which teams had the best forward group, defense and goaltending, Team Sweden would be close to Canada on defense and goaltending. They sport the most mobile and skilled blue line in the tournament, with former Norris winner and top-scoring defenseman in 2015-16 Erik Karlsson to go along with two defenders who should soon win a Norris of their own, in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Victor Hedman. And they are back-stopped by Henrik Lundqvist, who has not fully turned the "Best Goalie in the World" title over to Price.
Unfortunately for the Swedes, their forwards aren't close. An NHL team featuring all of these players would be dominant, but in this tournament of star-laden sides, they will have a tough time getting the job done.
Total GVT per player: 8.5
If the young guns are motivated to show the world they are the next wave of NHL talent, Canada might have a challenge on their hands. The next generational player Connor McDavid leads the team -- which could make for an awesome McDavid vs. Crosby matchup in the medal round -- and he is flanked by blazing-fast stars all over the ice. Jack Eichel, the second overall pick in 2015, and 2016 No. 1 overall selection Auston Matthews will be difficult matchups, even for the best in the world.
The defense group is made up of players who could all soon be No. 1 franchise defensemen, outside of Aaron Ekblad, who is already a top-pairing star for Florida. But given the relative inexperience, this D group may have its ups and downs. Goaltending was a question when we first learned of this tournament two years ago, but it certainly isn't now with Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray in net. Speed, skill and effort may give Team North America a shot.
Total GVT per player: 7.2
The Russians' group of wingers is marvelous, with Vladimir Tarasenko, Nikita Kucherov and Alex Ovechkin leading the way. Beyond their best wingers, however, Russia is going to have a difficult time keeping up with Sweden and North America in their group (let alone a matchup against Canada if they make it to the medal round). While Artem Anisimov is a strong two-way center, he isn't an elite player, and Pavel Datsyuk is past the days where he could match up against top-flight opposing centers.
The defense corps is well below the level of the other top teams, though Russia does have three strong goalies in Semyon Varlamov, Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy. They will have to hope to convert a high number of power-play opportunities, and lean on great goaltending in order to make noise here.
Total GVT per player: 6.0
For whatever reason, Finland always seems to make life difficult on the favorites in any international tournament -- if not earn a medal or win the thing outright. They often build the club around hard-working, two-way players, which may play in their favor when every team expects to light up the score board.
Finland is far from the most talented at any of the three positions, but they do have a No. 1 center who should be considered the next Jonathan Toews or Anze Kopitar in Aleksander Barkov. The major question is: Where will Finland's offense come from? Though No. 2 overall pick Patrik Laine has had some success on the international stage already, they are otherwise short on big-time point producers. And of course, they will have strong goaltending, with Tuukka Rask in the nets.