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Winter Olympics 2018: Men’s hockey power rankings

By Derek Grochowski

This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
This picture taken on February 14, 2017 shows South Korea's ice hockey team player US-born Mike Testwuide (L) during a practice session at a rink in Goyang, northwest of Seoul.South Korea sit 23rd in the world ice hockey rankings and have never qualified for the Winter Olympics' blue riband event. But as the host nation of Pyeongchang 2018 they have an automatic berth and are scrambling to build a competitive roster to avoid embarrassment. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je / TO GO WITH AFP STORY Oly-2018-ihockey-KOR-CAN-SKorea-social BY HWANG Sung-Hee (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk (front) celebrates with teammates after his hat-trick against team Germany during the preliminary round match Germany vs Russia of the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship in Helsinki on May 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOV RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Russia’s Ilya Kovalchuk (front) celebrates with teammates after his hat-trick against team Germany during the preliminary round match Germany vs Russia of the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship in Helsinki on May 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOV RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images) /

1. Olympic Athletes of Russia

The Olympic Athletes of Russia benefit the most from the NHL ban. Russia has not won a medal since 2002, this will be their best chance to break the streak. During the games they will not be known as simply Russia. Russia was banned from the Olympics due to a doping scandal. Athletes from Russia were still allowed to compete under the name “Olympic Athletes of Russia”. The Olympics will serve as an opportunity to for the younger wave of players to make great impressions while veterans will be looking at their last chance at a gold medal.

Next: When does the Men's Hockey tournament start

There are a few players to watch from this team. Some familiar names like Pavel Datsyuk and Ilya Kovalchuk will be crucial factors for the team. There are some players who didn’t work out in the NHL that could be playing as an audition to return. Mikhail Grigorenko was a former first round pick of the Buffalo Sabres that never really panned out.

Vadim Shipachyov had a brief run with the Vegas Golden Knights before leaving for the KHL, due to how well Vegas is doing this season he may look to return after the Olympics. The game to watch for the Olympic Athletes of Russia will be against the United States in the group stage, both teams will be fighting for the top seed.

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