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4 Nations Face Off - Feb 12-20

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Relative to the NHL season it is objectively true that this tournament is meaningless. You get no points in the standings, stats do not count, it does not dictate home ice in the playoffs. There is nothing to be gained for an NHL team in its pursuit of the Cup via this tournament. Now you could argue about exposure bringing in more fans and more money to the league, but that will be evenly distributed and will not help any one team win the Cup.

Obviously to the individual players and the fans, the tournament is not meaningless. Clearly there is a lot of pride at stake and you can see it in the way they are playing. And that is fine. Admittedly it's been enjoyable to watch.

I think this tournament has to be viewed for what it is: Totally meaningless to the NHL season and very meaningful to the players and their pride. Whether you view the NHL season or pride as more important personally is what will drive how meaningful you think the tournament actually is. Or perhaps how important you think it is.
 
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Clam Jensen said:
Sure it means nothing as far as regular season implications (aside from injuries, of course), but if you’ve watched the games, heard the crowds, and watched the players interviews…it means a hell of a lot to many people.
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my overall point is that while yes, I would like it if the US team won (though some of them make it REALLY hard to root for them with the recent off-the-ice events if that makes sense), I really don't care either way. I only care about the New Jersey Devils. The only thing that mattered in this tournament was none of our guys getting injured. One more game to go.
 
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I am beyond thrilled with how this turned out. I was an optimist about it before it started, but did not expect it to reach near the peak it has. It's such lucky timing that this is actively battling a super controversial NBA all-star game. My non-hockey coworkers have been locked in for days.
 
DumbManHockey said:
I am beyond thrilled with how this turned out. I was an optimist about it before it started, but did not expect it to reach near the peak it has. It's such lucky timing that this is actively battling a super controversial NBA all-star game. My non-hockey coworkers have been locked in for days.
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What was the controversy?

I do think all star games have been in decline for forever because the players just don't care. So sure it's the best guys but they aren't actually competing. I'm not even sure the other leagues if they implemented an int'l flavor could pull it off. It's a huge part of hockey's developmental system, not so for the other sports.
 
devilsblood said:
What was the controversy?

I do think all star games have been in decline for forever because the players just don't care. So sure it's the best guys but they aren't actually competing. I'm not even sure the other leagues if they implemented an int'l flavor could pull it off. It's a huge part of hockey's developmental system, not so for the other sports.
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Players aren't showing up and the ones that are have been accused of not putting in effort. Someone on TwiXter got upset about that and other things bothering him about the NBA which caused Kevin Durant to tell him "stop watching it for your own well-being, go watch hockey instead because they have the aggressiveness that you want."

Thank God we have a league that's great at marketing itself and can take advantage of this surge in NBA fan apathy. ;)
 
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TheBeerNerd said:
Players aren't showing up and the ones that are have been accused of not putting in effort. Someone on TwiXter got upset about that and other things bothering him about the NBA which caused Kevin Durant to tell him "stop watching it for your own well-being, go watch hockey instead because they have the aggressiveness that you want."

Thank God we have a league that's great at marketing itself and can take advantage of this surge in NBA fan apathy. ;)
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Mike Francesca has been talking recently about the dwindling interest in the NBA.

I'm not sure how much of a concern it is in the big picture, but there does seem to be an opportunity for the NHL to take advantage of a some near term weakness, and this tourney has done that. If the NHL was just having it's own regular All Star game I doubt Durant would have mentioned it, cause those suffer from the same lack of effort.
 
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devilsblood said:
Mike Francesca has been talking recently about the dwindling interest in the NBA.

I'm not sure how much of a concern it is in the big picture, but there does seem to be an opportunity for the NHL to take advantage of a some near term weakness, and this tourney has done that. If the NHL was just having it's own regular All Star game I doubt Durant would have mentioned it, cause those suffer from the same lack of effort.
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Credit to ESPN's marketing, they've been promoting the hell out of 4 Nations by putting in segments about it on their other shows. PK Subban was on First Take talking about the NBA's effort issues and admitted he hasn't really watched it since Kobe retired.
 
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Would I like our guys not to get hurt? Of course. Would I look at it any different if they got hurt in the season or in this tournament? Not even a little.

But I'm a weirdo who doesn't feel ownership over grown men and not wanting them to get hurt doing something I don't approve of.

Saying "it means nothing" actually means nothing when the something you are comparing meaning to is literally...another game.

I can't imagine there is a single guy on either team playing tomorrow that feels like that game doesn't matter.
 
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devilsblood said:
What was the controversy?

I do think all star games have been in decline for forever because the players just don't care. So sure it's the best guys but they aren't actually competing. I'm not even sure the other leagues if they implemented an int'l flavor could pull it off. It's a huge part of hockey's developmental system, not so for the other sports.
Click to expand...

This tournament’s juice is coming from NHL players not being the Olympics since 2014.

These players were robbed of a decade of international play but there’s an upside. The emotions in this slapped together tune-up tournament have been through the roof.

I do feel vindicated a bit because I’ve been a big proponent of NHL players at the Olympics.

These best-on-best games raise the profile of NHL stars and the game among normies in way that even the playoffs can’t.

The novelty will eventually wear off a bit
with these tournaments, though the Olympics will always be special.
 
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Guttersniped said:
This tournament’s juice is coming from NHL players not being the Olympics since 2014.

These players were robbed of a decade of international play but there’s an upside. The emotions in this slapped together tune-up tournament have been through the roof.

I do feel vindicated a bit because I’ve been a big proponent of NHL players at the Olympics.

These best-on-best games raise the profile of NHL stars and the game among normies in way that even the playoffs can’t.

The novelty will eventually wear off a bit
with these tournaments, though the Olympics will always be special.
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Next step is 4 nations winter classic to revive that watered down event

 
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Better Call Sal said:
Same here. It let me unabashedly root for Mike Richter. Still really the only Ranger I could have any feeling other than hatred for. :laugh:
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I've mentioned a few times on here that I'm the biggest Devils fan of Mike Richter. I bet most wouldn't have guessed that if they didn't know, and thought maybe he was my most hated Ranger.

I don't hate or dislike Lundqvist either.
 
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Bleedred said:
I've mentioned a few times on here that I'm the biggest Devils fan of Mike Richter. I bet most wouldn't have guessed that if they didn't know, and thought maybe he was my most hated Ranger.

I don't hate or dislike Lundqvist either.
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I like Lundqvist, or at least I could never bring myself to hate him. He was less of a hated foe than a respectable rival in my eyes.
 
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TheBeerNerd said:
I like Lundqvist, or at least I could never bring myself to hate him. He was less of a hated foe than a respectable rival in my eyes.
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There was a brief period of time I hated Callahan because there were claims at one time that he was as good as Parise.

But that was unfair to him, it wasn't his fault people said that.

Just like it wasn't Shane Doan's fault that some idiots claimed he was better than Patrik Elias.
 
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glenwo2 said:
Getting injured in the regular season sucks and it happens unfortunately. It's how it goes when you're battling to make the playoffs every year.

But getting injured in a non-regular season Tournament is even worse (like..what was the point? It's not like you were battling to get 2 points in a game that counted toward the standings and the playoff race).

You think the fans of those other players who are out injured are thrilled at this point? I doubt it.


It's apparent I'm in the minority here in thinking that this Tourney (as fun as it has been) is not as BIG as some claim.


My only hope is no injuries to our players (aka Jack Hughes). That's all.
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I wasn’t a fan of this but watching the games I’m a fan now. I much rather them play this here then go to the Olympics and play games on the otherside of the world. Olympics aren’t any better imo then a world cup of hockey
 
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TheUnseenHand said:
Relative to the NHL season it is objectively true that this tournament is meaningless. You get no points in the standings, stats do not count, it does not dictate home ice in the playoffs. There is nothing to be gained for an NHL team in its pursuit of the Cup via this tournament. Now you could argue about exposure bringing in more fans and more money to the league, but that will be evenly distributed and will not help any one team win the Cup.

Obviously to the individual players and the fans, the tournament is not meaningless. Clearly there is a lot of pride at stake and you can see it in the way they are playing. And that is fine. Admittedly it's been enjoyable to watch.

I think this tournament has to be viewed for what it is: Totally meaningless to the NHL season and very meaningful to the players and their pride. Whether you view the NHL season or pride as more important personally is what will drive how meaningful you think the tournament actually is. Or perhaps how important you think it is.
Click to expand...
It’s meaningless on the ice. Off it? It’s going to help the nhl get a bigger tv contract eventually. This series has brought more attention then the Vancouver Olympics

DumbManHockey said:
Unfortunately, that would be awesome. Next cycle, an outdoor Canada USA game in lake placid would hit so hard.
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lol i was already shot down last week saying this. Eventually it will def happen. Next go around no because the expanded field will keep it fresh. After that? Possibly. Just wait til they slap a sponsored by to it $$$$$$$$
 
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JrFischer54 said:
No one posting about guerin publicly inviting Trump to the game? Which he def wouldn’t go to with it not being a guaranteed win
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I am more worried about yesterday’s EO instead of the obvious stunts at these sporting events
 
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