Better concept for the World Cup

[Eple]

Team Europe is an embarrasament, and it's not the players' fault. This is what you get by picking mostly aging veterans to play under a crest that means nothing to them.

 

[albator71]

Yeah, the same Gary Bettman who wants Team Kopitar and Team U-24 will suddenly do a complete 180 and pay for a qualifying tournament in Europe so that Germany, Belarus, Slovakia and Switzerland can bring tons of non-NHLers to the next NHL Cash Grab Cup.

Who in their right mind would believe this?

If anything we can expect the NHL to replace the Czechs with another gimmick team if there are enough "fans" willing to pay to see the two they already have.

What is Bettman afraid of? Switzerland almost beat Team Canada in Vancouver, and if I remember correctly didn't Switzerland beat Canada 2-0 and the Czech in 2006 in Torino? Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia can beat any of the top 6 nations in a one game situation. I think that real hockey fans wants to see real countries compete in the "World" cup of hockey.

 

[JackSlater]

What is Bettman afraid of? Switzerland almost beat Team Canada in Vancouver, and if I remember correctly didn't Switzerland beat Canada 2-0 and the Czech in 2006 in Torino? Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia can beat any of the top 6 nations in a one game situation. I think that real hockey fans wants to see real countries compete in the "World" cup of hockey.

When you point out that Switzerland and Slovakia have done pretty well in recent best on best play, the goal posts get moved to their games being too boring to watch because of their conservative play. Some just want an all star exhibition with their favourite players as opposed to an actual international tournament.

 

[albator71]

When you point out that Switzerland and Slovakia have done pretty well in recent best on best play, the goal posts get moved to their games being too boring to watch because of their conservative play. Some just want an all star exhibition with their favourite players as opposed to an actual international tournament.

Who cares if their game is too boring Slater, me I'm with you I wanna see a true best on best international tournament with actual countries. I Love to watch Germany ans the Swiss and Slovakia play. Last winter Olympic I really enjoyed watching Slovenia play to me that was amazing.

 

[Tuoppi]

All of those real teams I mentioned have played in world championships in recent years. I think we would see tight battles. Maybe not Russia-Kazakhstan but most of them.

 

[jason2020]

What is Bettman afraid of? Switzerland almost beat Team Canada in Vancouver, and if I remember correctly didn't Switzerland beat Canada 2-0 and the Czech in 2006 in Torino? Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia can beat any of the top 6 nations in a one game situation. I think that real hockey fans wants to see real countries compete in the "World" cup of hockey.

If they did do that there would be no world championship this year.

 

[me2]

When you point out that Switzerland and Slovakia have done pretty well in recent best on best play, the goal posts get moved to their games being too boring to watch because of their conservative play. Some just want an all star exhibition with their favourite players as opposed to an actual international tournament.

My biggest issue is not playing real Team Canada and Team USA teams (with U23s). Team NA get kicked out and the players go back to their real teams as trying to weaken 2 teams seems lame in a major tournament. Meanwhile I'd do the opposite and merge the Czechs in to Team Europe, so it might actually be half decent. 5 national teams and 1 other team and that's better than 4 national teams and 4 others. I'm sure the Czechs won't like it but Europe would get used it, especially if they won.

6 team round robin

2 and 3 play off

1 play winner of 2 and 3 for championship

 

[Analyst365]

I just thank god that every team is called "Team" somebody, without that how would I know that Team Canada is a team, and not just all 35 million Canadians on the ice at once.

Team team team team

 

[me2]

I just thank god that every team is called "Team" somebody, without that how would I know that Team Canada is a team, and not just all 35 million Canadians on the ice at once.

Team team team team

Errr It's not all 35 million, some of them are playing for team NA. Besides Team Canada sounds better than Canada over 24s.

 

[MNRube]

My Idea:

Team Canada
Team USA
Team Sweden
Team Finland
Team Russia
Team Europe*
Team 2003 Draft**
Team North America (same as current)

*Current Europe team plus Czechs
Palat-Kopitar-Gaborik
Zuccarello-Krejci-Voracek
Draisatl-Plekanec-Hossa
Nielsen-Hanzal-Hertl

Josi-Sekera
Chara-Sustr
Streit-Gudas

Mrazek
Andersen

**All 2003 drafted players are eligible
Parise-Getzlaf-Perry
L.Eriksson-Bergeron-Pavelski
E.Staal-Backes-J.Carter
Vanek-Kesler-D.Brown

Suter-Weber
Byfuglien-Burns (!!!)
Phaneuf-Seabrook

Crawford
Fleury

-Finns become clear weakest team on paper, but they are used to that already and always medal anyway. This tournament, though absurdly gimmicky would bring 8 supremely talented teams. Anyone could win. Team USA and Canada would both look a lot different without 2003 players/

 

[Xokkeu]

My biggest issue is not playing real Team Canada and Team USA teams (with U23s). Team NA get kicked out and the players go back to their real teams as trying to weaken 2 teams seems lame in a major tournament. Meanwhile I'd do the opposite and merge the Czechs in to Team Europe, so it might actually be half decent. 5 national teams and 1 other team and that's better than 4 national teams and 4 others. I'm sure the Czechs won't like it but Europe would get used it, especially if they won.

6 team round robin

2 and 3 play off

1 play winner of 2 and 3 for championship

I could have stomached the Team Europe thing. I could even have maybe handled Team North American U24 if Canada and the US got first pick. If this was all a one time deal.

But weakening the USA just did me in for this. I don't understand why hockey is the only sport that feels insecure about it's international presence. Considering the sport's inherent geographic limitations, one could argue it's the second or third most popular sport in the world based on geographic distribution.

 

[Ben White]

Who cares if their game is too boring Slater, me I'm with you I wanna see a true best on best international tournament with actual countries. I Love to watch Germany ans the Swiss and Slovakia play. Last winter Olympic I really enjoyed watching Slovenia play to me that was amazing.

Exactly. That's a part of it in all sports. Weaker teams use tactics to handle stronger teams. Boring? How's a real battle between two actual, "real" teams where the players love representing their countries become boring? The cap hit in the NHL seems to have destroyed peoples minds, thinking parity to artificially create even matchups is the natural thing... It may be entertaining but it's completely artificial.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Exactly. That's a part of it in all sports. Weaker teams use tactics to handle stronger teams. Boring? How's a real battle between two actual, "real" teams where the players love representing their countries become boring? The cap hit in the NHL seems to have destroyed peoples minds, thinking parity to artificially create even matchups is the natural thing... It may be entertaining but it's completely artificial.

This is another thing where opinions will vary greatly. I understand what you're saying and it's completely valid but I can also understand why some people wouldn't want to watch a mismatch.

 

[McCullogh]

NA vs EU = All-star-crap.

Some teams should be guaranteed a spot (Sweden, Finland, Canada, USA, Czech Rep, Russia) and for the last two spots there could be a play-in based on the World Championship from the previous year or something.

This Under-23, Europe stuff is ridoncolous

 

[Elvs]

And now people want to add the Czechs to Team Europe. The same Czechs who just beat Russia. Wow, I guess hockey is dying.

 

[Canuckistani]

And now people want to add the Czechs to Team Europe. The same Czechs who just beat Russia. Wow, I guess hockey is dying.

Not sure if international hockey is dying, but the NHL is doing its best to round up a mob willing to play executioner.

Just look at the mindset it has instilled into various fans with this gimmick idiocy. Now eliminating the Czechs is up for discussion. Who's next?

No one would ever have been thinking in these terms were it not for this travesty of an event that has made the insane into something normal.

 

[ClydeLee]

Should have made a Czechoslovakian team

 

[Ben White]

Not sure if international hockey is dying, but the NHL is doing its best to round up a mob willing to play executioner.

Just look at the mindset it has instilled into various fans with this gimmick idiocy. Now eliminating the Czechs is up for discussion. Who's next?

No one would ever have been thinking in these terms were it not for this travesty of an event that has made the insane into something normal.

This.

 

[Ben White]

NA vs EU = All-star-crap.

Some teams should be guaranteed a spot (Sweden, Finland, Canada, USA, Czech Rep, Russia) and for the last two spots there could be a play-in based on the World Championship from the previous year or something.

This Under-23, Europe stuff is ridoncolous

Why would any team be guaranteed a spot? That's unfair and unsportsmanlike. Wouldn't happen in any other sport. Is suddenly "equal rules for everyone" out of fashion? Why not let the NHL decide the results and direct every play of the games for "maximum entertainment"... That's where we're going and some people just don't realize the danger.

 

[Ben White]

This is another thing where opinions will vary greatly. I understand what you're saying and it's completely valid but I can also understand why some people wouldn't want to watch a mismatch.

The thing is that it doesn't matter if it's a mismatch or not! Sports used to be more than just entertainment. The salary cap has transformed peoples minds. It's one thing to change the rules to make it more attractive for people if really needed, but to transforme the teams from above to actually control the games and the results is not far from rigged games.

 

[belair]

An international tournament of the best amateur and out of work pro players.

GMs and coaches are also out of work.

 

[JackSlater]

And now people want to add the Czechs to Team Europe. The same Czechs who just beat Russia. Wow, I guess hockey is dying.

Discussions surrounding this topic basically expose who is interested in international hockey, and who just wants to see an all star exhibition with their favourite players. The logical conclusion of the arguments put forth by those in favour of the tournament is that they would prefer a tournament with no national restrictions at all so players like Subban and Hall could also participate. Alphabet Cup contested between Teams A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H with ~180 of the world's best players all participating. Such an exhibition is fine in its own right, but there it is not necessary to pretend this is some international tournament if those people are the ones being catered to.

The thing is that it doesn't matter if it's a mismatch or not! Sports used to be more than just entertainment. The salary cap has transformed peoples minds. It's one thing to change the rules to make it more attractive for people if really needed, but to transforme the teams from above to actually control the games and the results is not far from rigged games.

Even for entertainment value, think back to the 2014 Olympics. I would guess that many, if not most, would pick Canada's most memorable/entertaining game as the game against Latvia. Then there is also the consideration of simply not including a seventh or eighth team but keeping the teams actual national teams.

 

[Jonas1235]

OP has a terrible idea. Hockey without chemistry or hatred is boring.

This tournament should be 12 teams. Keep the U23 team, but 11 countries seeded in a way where there will be rivalry games.

 

[Canuckistani]

This tournament should be 12 teams. Keep the U23 team....

Why?

 

[Doshell Propivo]

Ryder Cup style Europe vs NA tournament every 2 years. NHL continues to go to Olympics.

NHL gets its all-star "show case" tourney (which I think would be very competitive and entertaining) and Olympics continue to be true "best on best."