Better format for next World Cup

[albator71]

This is my World Cup

16 countries
4 groups of 4 clubs
top 2 in each group advance to QF

very simple

 

[xxxx]

I would honestly be ok with this format again, if they gave Canada and US the right to select first and could pick all the players they want. I don't think, then, the U24 team is a bad idea. Quite the contrary, it proved to be a great idea, praised by McLellan, or even Babcock, who says that whoever came up with this is a genius.

But going with countries only is a "can't go wrong" type of an option.

 

[OilerPensfan97]

Having two Canadas does not work. Everyone in the country is supposed to unite to cheer for ONE team.

Team North America feels a little bit different, especially with Americans on the team, but only one team can brand themselves as Team Canada. Period.

 

[MaxV]

To me only one format works. 8 teams, nations only, no gimmicks. Preferably with pre-tournament qualification, but not vital.

I think hockey has grown beyond the point where you can only have 6 teams.

And gimmicks are clearly a failure.

 

[Chez Weber]

This! Have these 6 teams play against each other once (that's 5 games per team) and then the top two teams will face each other in the Finals. That would be simple and perfect.

So no Kopitar in the tournament?

 

[DeadGhost]

I'd love for this to turn into an 8 real nation tournament.

Spitballing here but grandfather in the nations from 2016 (Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, US). That's 6. Then have two stages of qualifiers for the remaining top 26 IIHF ranked teams to fill the field. Teams like Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, and Belarus would get byes from the first stage.

Broadcasting those early qualifiers on youtube or the depths of the internet would be awesome.

 

[DeadGhost]

So no Kopitar in the tournament?

Why is that a problem?

 

[JA]

I'd love for this to turn into an 8 real nation tournament.

Spitballing here but grandfather in the nations from 2016 (Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, US). That's 6. Then have two stages of qualifiers for the remaining top 26 IIHF ranked teams to fill the field. Teams like Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, and Belarus would get byes from the first stage.

Broadcasting those early qualifiers on youtube or the depths of the internet would be awesome.

Doing that would mean the return of famous play-by-play announcer Mark from Saskatchewan:

 

[Mythras]

Probably should have actually explained at the first post

I think the whole World Cup notion bad, I'd much prefer all NHLers remained at the olympics

However, if they want a balanced tournament with most nhlers given then opportunity to play, they need a Team Europe for the leftovers. Team NA doesnt work because USA isnt strong enough to lose their best, youngest players. Only "balanced" option at that point would be to split Canada. I wouldn't like it, but it would be the most even tournament you could come up with.

 

[PG Canuck]

Make it all countries only. Problem solved.

 

[Phrazer]

If the All Blacks never divide into a north and south island teams Team Canada shouldn't divide themselves either. The young stars team is a already a farce.

 

[Rob]

To me only one format works. 8 teams, nations only, no gimmicks. Preferably with pre-tournament qualification, but not vital.

I think hockey has grown beyond the point where you can only have 6 teams.

.

The top seven teams are obvious. Canada, Sweden, Russia, USA, Finland, Czech, Slovakia. The eighth team is harder to decide. It would come down to either Germany, Switzerland, Denmark or Norway. The best way to decide would probably be World Cup qualifying the year before. Not sure if the NHL wants to go down that road though.

 

[snipes]

With the Yanks being completely humiliated and dominated, they would fight a future Team NA vigorously.

USA getting embarrassed was likely the best thing that could have happened to ensure nations only going forward. I doubt we see this format again.

 

[Xokkeu]

With the Yanks being completely humiliated and dominated, they would fight a future Team NA vigorously.

USA getting embarrassed was likely the best thing that could have happened to ensure nations only going forward. I doubt we see this format again.

I thought so as well.

 

[coolboarder]

My preference for next WCH format and future tournaments would be:

Winner of 2016 WCH gets to host next WC. Winner of 2020 gets to host 2024 WC and so on. NHL/NHLPA still make money out of this tournament since its their creation.
Top 3 teams in 2018 Olympics if NHL participates.
If NHL does not patriciate then top 4 of this WCH, so in this case, Canada, Russia, and Sweden qualify. Even though Team Europe made it to the semis they will always be Team Europe for the duration of the future history of WCH regardless.
Top 3 or 4 teams in WCH qualification tournament that did not meet above criteria.

All WC must have 8 teams so this format could give other country a chance to qualify via the Olympic Tournament and WCH tournament. We need a qualification format in order for WCH to be a legitimate tournament rather than favoritism toward certain countries.

Team Europe for those who failed to qualify. Gives a country a fair chance to qualify with their own country since Switzerland has their case of not having their own team in WCH. This gimmick gives the elite players a chance to experience star-studded team in an international play that wouldn't be given otherwise in a small hockey nation. So this gimmick is here to stay for future WCH.

What must be thrown out is U23 NA team gimmick despite their worth in this tournament.

WCH qualification tournament could be held in 2020 during NHL regular season on an all-star break, All-Star game could be substituted for the WCH qualification tournament, a group of 8 to be split in two pools in a weekend or hold a WCH qualification tournament in September of 2019 to determine which country is worthy to qualify. It consists of top 8 teams from the 2018 Olympics yet to qualify for WCH or the IIHF ranking by end of 2019 World Championships.

 

[snipes]

I thought so as well.

Matthews, Eichel, and McDavid would all be on Team NA again. The USA being humiliated won't want this format, Canada will want McDavid. McDavid himself said he doesn't want to play for Team NA again. All things considered, I doubt the gimmick teams are back.

Looking like this was likely a one-off. I'm glad I enjoyed it, people boycotting out of fear that best-on-best nation vs. nation would go extinct missed phenomenal hockey out of fear for something outside of their control.

I think we'll look back years from now at Team NA and think about what hockey could be, the way they played was a pure joy. We might never see it again.

 

[Tuoppi]

Group Canada
Ontario
Quebec
Canada west
Canada atlantic

Group USA
USA north
USA east
USA west
USA south

Group Western Europe
Switzerland
Germany
France
Austria

Group Northern Europe
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Denmark

Group Southern Europe
Slovenia
Italy
World u24
Europe

Group Eastern Europe
Czech rep.
Slovakia
Latvia
Belarus

Group Russia
Siberia
Russia North
Russia south
Russia u24

Group Asia
Kazakhstan
Korea
Japan
World team (the all snubs team)

Two best teams from groups to playoffs=16 teams

 

[EP40 AKA Lil Wayne]

Four teams one game

Team Kalmar union + Finland, Team Soviet, Team NA(USA + snubs from Canada), Team Canada.

First period

Team Kalmar union v. Canada

Second period

Team Soviet v. Canada

Third period

Team NA v. Canada

Time to de-throne those maple syrup donut eating gods of hockey.

 

[PTmbp13]

Better format:

Canada
USA
Sweden
Russia
Finland
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Switzerland

Alternate format:

Canada
USA
Sweden
Russia
Finland
Czech Republic

yes, excactley, hockey aint bigger of a sport than this. good alternative. They should have an qualifying tourney in septmber than the semis and finals in october and skip october NHL wich is way to boring and long anyway.

 

[PTmbp13]

Four teams one game

Team Kalmar union + Finland, Team Soviet, Team NA(USA + snubs from Canada), Team Canada.

First period

Team Kalmar union v. Canada

Second period

Team Soviet v. Canada

Third period

Team NA v. Canada

Time to de-throne those maple syrup donut eating gods of hockey.

hahaha very good, or...
team Quebeq/Montreal vs Team Audi & Volvo
team West NY/Florida vs team Africa/ Turky and so on

 

[Corax]

me, me, me...what about an NHL all star game? anyone would like that?

 

[Staccato]

I would honestly be ok with this format again, if they gave Canada and US the right to select first and could pick all the players they want. I don't think, then, the U24 team is a bad idea. Quite the contrary, it proved to be a great idea, praised by McLellan, or even Babcock, who says that whoever came up with this is a genius.

But going with countries only is a "can't go wrong" type of an option.

Well said. For me personally the decision also has a lot to do with if NHLers will participate in upcoming Olympics or not. If they do, I'm OK with the gimmick teams if team USA and Canada can select players first. If not I think the WCOH should be nations only.

 

[damicius]

I loved the current format, but would like to see 2 more teams added so there are more round robin games. Here's what I would like to see for the next tournament...

Canada A
Canada B (they are good enough to be in the tournament so why not?)
USA
NA youngsters
Sweden
Russia
Finland
Europe combined (adds Czech)


Also would add a rule whereby you can play for Canada or USA if you 23 or under if you already played on team NA in this tournament.

Why to cancel czech team and not USA? Czechs did not lose all games in tournament.... it is a US team who needs to be includede in canada B

 

[Gary Nylund]

Let's say the modern NHL doesn't. And they don't. This is how bad this format in 2016 was and I can't believe I am saying this but I will.................this would NEVER have happened with Alan Eagleson. Alright, there, even a crook who was all about himself knew how to make the proper format. That is what this format reduced me to say. That and the fact I cheered for the Russians to beat North America just so we can have a great game with some meaning and a historic rival.

So there you go, I long for Alan Eagleson's organization in this tournament and I cheered for the Russians against the gimmick team. Yeah, the NHL didn't get it right this time. Fortunately we can still have some meaningful hockey the next few days.

Agreed, they didn't get it right this time.

It will be interesting to see what happens going forward. On the one hand, nations only is the "proper" format. On the other hand, Canada is so dominant right now that such a format might not result in a product that's interesting to watch so it's understandable that people may have other ideas.

I don't think I've ever looked forward to a best on best Canada/Russia match less than I have tonight. Historic rival, sure. But great game? I don't know about that, we'll see I guess. I'll watch of course but the suspense is nothing like it used to be. The glory days of international hockey may well be over.

 

[Holkoun]

Pool A: Canada East, USA, Czechs, Europe
Pool B: Canada West, Russia, Sweden, Finland

better format for world cup are winter olympics... world cup is basically nhl cup and outside NA is mostly perceived as useless... pre-season tournament, does this make any sense?