4 Nations or 2026 Olympics?

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

All the 4NFO showed was that people want international hockey.

I want to see a true best on best, and that includes Russia, Czechia, Slovakia, etc.

 

[Voight]

That doesn't mean 1 off. That means the next best on best is not a 4 nations. That doesn't mean it's not back in 2032.

... yes it does. They are replacing it with the World Cup. Which will happen in even numbered, non Olympic years such as 2032.

 

[Auston Marlander]

... yes it does. They are replacing it with the World Cup. Which will happen in even numbered, non Olympic years such as 2032.

Again,where did the NHL say this? A link that shows the NHL stating the world cup is happening in 2032 would help.

 

[Voight]

Again,where did the NHL say this? A link that shows the NHL stating the world cup is happening in 2032 would help.
.

But the plan is to roll out a robust every-other-February calendar of gimmick-free competition, starting with the ’26 Games.

Gone will be the one-off teaser tourney that is this week’s 4 Nations and the slapdash Europe and North America teams that were included in the most recent World Cup (2016).

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhls-world-cup-announcement-signals-return-of-consistent-international-play/

As much as the Four Nations was a resounding success, the league stands to make a lot more money with a World Cup. There is no reason for them to do this tournament again.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Again,where did the NHL say this? A link that shows the NHL stating the world cup is happening in 2032 would help.

From NHL.com

So, the template is set – an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players every four years and a World Cup of Hockey event run by the NHLPA and NHL every four years, spaced evenly around the Olympic tournaments.

Put simply, every two years, fans and players get what they have been longing for – a regular schedule of best-on-best hockey. Any question about such longing was put to rest the moment players arrived in Montreal to start the 4 Nations Face-Off almost two weeks ago.

The NHL and NHLPA recently signed off on an agreement that will bring back the World Cup competition biennially midway through each Olympic cycle, hopefully ending a run of bastardized and incongruous World Cups in 2004 and 2016. The calendar will begin with the 2026 Olympics in Milan, then the 2028 World Cup, continuing with the 2030 Olympics in France, followed by World Cup again in 2032, and so on.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Wednesday that the World Cup of Hockey would return for 2028 and 2032 and is part of a broader strategy to alternate with the Winter Olympics starting in 2026, followed by the World Cup in 2028, and continuing this rotation every two years.

 

[njdevils1982]

neither

 

[MuckOG]

I really like the Four Nations set-up, but still prefer larger tournaments like the World Cup and Olympics.

 

[shakes the clown]

Before 4 Nations, I think most would overwhelming put Olympics as the more important to win over 4 Nations. But adding that any sort of best on best hasn’t been played since 2016 (2014 if your one of those), the political climate and a lot of today’s generation never representing their country in a BoB, was the 4 Nations are more important tourny to win then the Olympics?

jesus christ what the heck is this??? I loved the 4 Nations more than anybody and was all in from the second they announced it, but this is such a ludicrous question to ask I wonder if it's just a troll topic?

 

[Dallas Winston]

Only difference will be a bunch of teams with no chance getting decimated

 

[Grifter3511]

I'll always remember this for 220lb guys picking fights with 190lb guys and missing the rest of the season after prearranging it on a groupchat and bragging about it.lol

I get the argument.. the political climate around it was off the charts and it was certainly must see TV.

BUT

Nothing compares to a best on best Olympics when it comes to international hockey. Nothing.

Give me a best of 3 WC Final over Olympic Gold any day.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Olympics AINEC

 

[Czechboy]

Give me a best of 3 WC Final over Olympic Gold any day.

If it was an 8 team world cup then that would be great too.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[SirPaste]

lol 2 people actually voted for 4 Nations?

 

[dalewood12]

Depends.

If the Olympic gold medal game is Czechia vs. Finland, then the 4 Nations.

 

[BraveCanadian]

The Olympics are better, especially on the bigger ice where the best players have a little more time to make magic.

 

[Golden_Jet]

The Olympics are better, especially on the bigger ice where the best players have a little more time to make magic.

Bigger ice is a worse game.

 

[centipede2233]

jesus christ what the heck is this??? I loved the 4 Nations more than anybody and was all in from the second they announced it, but this is such a ludicrous question to ask I wonder if it's just a troll topic?

Lol

 

[Auston Marlander]

From NHL.com

So, the template is set – an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players every four years and a World Cup of Hockey event run by the NHLPA and NHL every four years, spaced evenly around the Olympic tournaments.

Put simply, every two years, fans and players get what they have been longing for – a regular schedule of best-on-best hockey. Any question about such longing was put to rest the moment players arrived in Montreal to start the 4 Nations Face-Off almost two weeks ago.

The NHL and NHLPA recently signed off on an agreement that will bring back the World Cup competition biennially midway through each Olympic cycle, hopefully ending a run of bastardized and incongruous World Cups in 2004 and 2016. The calendar will begin with the 2026 Olympics in Milan, then the 2028 World Cup, continuing with the 2030 Olympics in France, followed by World Cup again in 2032, and so on.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced Wednesday that the World Cup of Hockey would return for 2028 and 2032 and is part of a broader strategy to alternate with the Winter Olympics starting in 2026, followed by the World Cup in 2028, and continuing this rotation every two years.

Thank you!

 

[Riggins]

Four Nations will live longer in the memory. The puck drop times in Italy will lead to very low viewership

Agreed on this. Sochi was a dud.

Olympics are more meaningful but having the tournament in Canada or the USA is necessary to drive interest and viewership in North America (Salt Lake 2002, Vancouver 2010 and the recent 4 Nations).

 

[frisco]

I know I'm in the minority but Olympics blow.
--Shutdown the league for three weeks.
--One week of meaningless games to see which of Japan or the Sudan gets relegated. Then three coin flips to determine winner in medal round.
--Games are 2-6 AM. Great for shift workers and insomniacs but that's about it.
--Canada will allow 11 shots and win the Gold 4-0.
--Canada/World Cups in September is the only real viable format.

My Best-Carey

 

[Summer Rose]

Only difference will be a bunch of teams with no chance getting decimated

They may have no realistic shot at a gold medal, but based on my recollection, they hardly get decimated, except for sometimes the host nation that would not have otherwise qualified if not for being the hosts. Upsets by non-contenders are also fun stories for me, which adds to the charm of tournaments with 12 (Olympics) or 16 (World Championships) teams.

That’s just my opinion though. Yours is also perfectly valid. An 8 team World Cup increases the stakes of every single game (with the occasional dead rubber such as USA vs. Sweden this year). That usually means higher quality of play across the board.

 

[spiny norman]

Lopsided result.