The quarterfinal matchups are set, with Canada facing the Czech Republic, the USA taking on Sweden, and Slovakia and Switzerland preparing to face Germany and Finland respectively. Had Russia competed, they would have fielded a powerhouse lineup.
The hypothetical roster featured elite talent across all positions, including NHL stars like Kirill Kaprizov, Artemi Panarin, and Andrei Svechnikov on offense, alongside defensemen like Mikhail Sergachev and Ivan Provorov. Led by captains Ovechkin and Kucherov, this team would have been a top contender for the gold medal.