After last week’s unsuccessful negotiations between the National Hockey League owners and players, it seems highly unlikely that the two sides will hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement prior to the expiration of the current one on September 15. This is an unfortunate reality that neither the NHL nor the NHLPA can really afford, especially given the dramatic drop in the NHL’s television audience in recent years.

It is under this cloud of uncertainty that the World Cup of Hockey 2004 begins. The tournament, which will be played in seven countries and feature the world’s eight preeminent hockey nations, should present the sport at its absolute best. Here is a look at what to expect.(the winners of each division will meet in the final on September 14) :

NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION

1. CANADA The prohibitive favorites, the Canadians’ roster depth is the envy of the hockey world. Their dominance starts between the pipes: Martin Brodeur of the Devils backstopped our Northern neighbors to the 2002 Olympic gold medal and is widely considered the world’s best goaltender.

The forward corps is also the deepest in the tournament, featuring youthful playoff heroes Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier, and Jarome Iginla alongside veteran superstars like Mario Lemieux and Joe Sakic.

If Canada has a weakness, it’s on the blue line, with both Chris Pronger and Rob Blake out with injuries. Talented youngsters Eric Brewer and Jay Bouwmeester have been tapped to step in, but the Islanders’ Adrian Aucoin and the Leafs’ Bryan McCabe would have been much safer options.

2. UNITED STATES The last World Cup took place in 1996, and it was there that the Americans joined the ranks of the hockey powers with a decisive victory over the heavily favored Canadians. Eleven members of that team will be returning, including Brett Hull, Mike Modano, and Doug Weight up front, and Chris Chelios and Brian Leetch on the blue line.

But the man Team USA depended on most – 1996 tournament MVP Mike Richter – won’t be joining them this time after retiring last year. Richter’s presence will be sorely missed, as no American-born goaltender has taken the reins. Flyers goalie Robert Esche’s solid 22-save performance against Russia in an exhibition on Friday night cemented his role as the starter for the long-in-the-tooth American team, but if he falters, Isles goalie Rick DiPietro is ready to step in.

3. SLOVAKIA While they probably won’t be very successful, the Slovaks should be incredibly exciting to watch. They have some of the NHL’s most creative, explosive forwards on their roster: Marian Hossa, Peter Bondra, Marian Gaborik, Pavol Demitra, and Miro Satan, among others. If they play to their strengths, the Slovak team will remind us of Wayne Gretzky’s freewheeling Oilers.

With inexperienced netminders, the responsibility for keeping the puck out of the Slovakian net will fall upon the immense shoulders of 6 foot, 9 inch defenseman Zdeno Chara. “The Big Z” has emerged as one of the NHL’s best two-way defenders in recent years, and he will need to have a tournament befitting his size if the Slovakians are to pull off an upset.

4. RUSSIA When looking at the Russian team, one is left to wonder just how much farther the mighty can fall. Once the world’s preeminent hockey superpower – the Russians were feared even by Canada – Russia’s roster is in shambles. Missing will be superstar center Sergei Fedorov and star goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, along with a handful of other top players. As a result, the Russians are not expected to get very far.

Making his debut on the international stage will be highly touted forward Alexander Ovechkin, the first overall draft pick for the Washington Capitals in the 2004 NHL entry draft. If the talented Russian makes an impact here, it would be reminiscent of a then 18-year old Eric Lindros’s “arrival” at the 1991 Canada Cup.

EUROPEAN DIVISION

1. SWEDEN This is one of Sweden’s best-ever international rosters, and they seem likely to meet Canada in the final. This could be Peter Forsberg’s final North American performance before he returns to the Swedish Elite League, and the best all-around player in the world will want to leave a lasting impression. He’ll be joined up front by top-notch talents Markus Naslund, Mats Sundin, and Daniel Alfredsson. The defense is anchored by Niklas Lidstrom, Mattias Norstrom, and Mattias Ohlund, each of whom can rush up-ice and handle any power forward.

Sweden’s weakness is in goal – incumbent starter Tommy Salo gave up a crushing goal to Belarus in the 2002 Olympics and has not been the same since. Could talented Rangers prospect Henrik Lundqvist take over the starting job and lead Sweden to victory?

2. FINLAND The favorites in this tournament had best not underestimate the Finns. Backstopped by Stanley Cup playoff hero Miikka Kiprusoff, they will be icing a very savvy, defensively responsible lineup. The question mark for the Finns is whether they have the offensive firepower to compete with the other top teams. The answer will likely come from Blackhawks forward Tuomo Ruutu, widely considered “the best player outside the NHL” prior to joining the NHL last season. Saku Koivu, Olli Jokinen, and Jere Lehtinen could also provide an offensive boost.

3. CZECH REPUBLIC When the Czechs won a gold medal at the 1998 Olympics, most of the attention was deservedly devoted to goalie Dominik Hasek. Today, the Czech team enjoys much greater firepower – topnotch scoring punch will be present on all four forward lines – but Hasek has been replaced by Roman Cechmanek, the former Flyer anti-hero who endured a miserable, injury-riddled 2003-04 season with the Kings. Cechmanek has been much maligned for his inability to win big games, and so a strong performance for the Czechs would go a long way towards repairing his damaged reputation.

Look for the Czechs to reunite former Devils linemates Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora. If they can rekindle their once-spectacular chemistry and if the Rangers’ Jaromir Jagr plays to his potential, the Czechs will actually have a chance to win this tournament.

4. GERMANY The German team appears completely undermanned. Only five NHLers are on the roster, though strong performances here could change that. No NHL team holds the rights to talented forward Daniel Kreutzer, but his upward trajectory in the German Elite League indicates that the 25 year-old might have what it takes to make it on this side of the Atlantic. Backstopping the Germans will be Olaf Kolzig, yet another netminder with something to prove in this tournament.