Despite having a star-studded squad led by the likes of Edmonton Oilers 2011 first-overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Mark Scheifele, and Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder Morgan Rielly - the 2013 world junior championship won't be a cakewalk for Team Canada, who haven't won a gold medal since 2009.
Canada's greatest rival - the Russians - will be a force to be reckoned with. They are putting together a club that is flawless from the net the out.
Puck-stopper Andrei Vasilevski has proven to be a brick wall on several occasions. The Tampa Bay Lightning first rounder was solid in the CHL's annual Subway Super Series and in last year's world junior tourney.
Russia's goaltending strength doesn't stop there. The Saskatoon Blades' Andrey Makarov, who is expected to be the backup, has also been superb in the blue paint. The Buffalo Sabres prospect was nearly unbeatable in the recent Super Series, maintaining a .966 save percentage throughout two contests.
Canada will need to get traffic in front of the net and try to pepper the goaltenders with quality shots. An early goal could rattle either netminder, possibly unraveling their defensive play.
Up front, the Russians will be led by Oilers 2012 first-overall pick Nail Yakupov and Sabres first-rounder Mikhail Grigorenko. This scoring pairing is arguably the top duo in the tournament. They possess outstanding speed, skill, hockey sense, and also bring a physical element to the table.
However, consistency has been somewhat of an issue for both scorers. Yakupov was invisible in some games at the Super Series. Grigorenko had a very poor playoff for the Quebec Ramparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last year. But to the defence of Grigorenko, he claimed to be suffering from mononucleosis at that time.
Canada's game plan against Yakupov and Grigorenko should be simple - play the body hard and often. If they continually get rocked every time they touch the puck, they will want to pass it off rather than taking it into open ice.
After head coach Mikhail Varnakov had his club playing a solid and simple trap system in the Super Series, Canada can't underestimate Russia's strong coaching techniques.
If Russia does play the trap system again in the world juniors, which is likely, it might be best for Canada's head coach Steve Spott to follow suit. The run-and-gun style could encounter problems because a mistake on the offensive rush could lead to Russia having a quick breakout. This could really open up opportunities for Yakupov, Grigorenko, and the rest of Russia's offensive arsenal.
The ice surface could also cause problems for Canada. Overseas rinks have larger ice surfaces than North American arenas. Therefore, Canada will have to adapt to an open-ice game in Russia.
The first match between the two rivals takes place on Dec. 31.
