The United States men's hockey team is poised to make history at the Winter Olympics, with a squad that may be the strongest ever assembled. With a deep player pool and elite talent, Team USA is ready to take on the world. But here's where it gets controversial: the NHL's decision to pull out of the 2018 and 2022 Olympics has left some players, like Brad Marchand, waiting for their chance to compete at the highest level. And this is the part most people miss: the Olympics have always been a platform for hockey nations to showcase their talent and prove their worth. The Americans' 1980 run became the stuff of Disney films, and the Czechs' performance in 1998 proved they could hang with the best. Now, it's time for Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon to have a career-defining tournament. But who will come out on top? The NHL's best and brightest will be in Milan, and hockey fans are eager to see the best-on-best action. A United States-Canada final would be a ratings bonanza, and the Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman believes that every team must step on the gas from the opening faceoff. So, who will be the dark horse of the tournament? David Pastrnak and the Czechs could surprise everyone, with Pastrnak being perhaps the best player in the NHL from Jan. 1 to the Olympic break. But will he be able to prove it over the next two weeks? Only time will tell. Matt Porter can be reached at matthew.porter@globe.com. Follow him on BlueSky at mattyports.bsky.social.
