Bring back the Canada Cup

[WaW]

The 96 and 04* World Cups were Canada Cups with different names. Hopefully the NHL will have a proper WC next year without gimmick teams.

*apart from the single game final in 04

No one tells Bettman what to do. You just watch. Next time he'll combine Sweden and Finland into "Team Scandinavia", Czechia and Russia into "Slavic Team", and add spaces for the "Spengler Cup All-stars" and the "Arizona Coyotes".

Mark my words, we've only seen the beginning of Bettman's "World Cup" experiment.

 

[Tmu84]

No one tells Bettman what to do. You just watch. Next time he'll combine Sweden and Finland into "Team Scandinavia", Czechia and Russia into "Slavic Team", and add spaces for the "Spengler Cup All-stars" and the "Arizona Coyotes".

Mark my words, we've only seen the beginning of Bettman's "World Cup" experiment.

The sad part he might actually do this

Just get NHL to participate in the Olympics, problem solved. I still would argue olympics hold the higher prestige than Canada Cup (for your average TV viewer on this planet) and for Europeans. Nobody outside of Hockey Experts would even know what the Canada Cup is about...

If it was up to me, I'd change IIHF World championship to be held every two years. Really doesn't make sense to have it every year and then Olympics every 4 years...

 

[Tuoppi]

Best-on-best olympics, best-on-best world cup every four years and European championships every four years.

 

[Czechboy]

No one tells Bettman what to do. You just watch. Next time he'll combine Sweden and Finland into "Team Scandinavia", Czechia and Russia into "Slavic Team", and add spaces for the "Spengler Cup All-stars" and the "Arizona Coyotes".

Mark my words, we've only seen the beginning of Bettman's "World Cup" experiment.

Just wait till Drai is on the Czech team with Josi.lol

 

[Canuckistani]

No one tells Bettman what to do. You just watch. Next time he'll combine Sweden and Finland into "Team Scandinavia", Czechia and Russia into "Slavic Team", and add spaces for the "Spengler Cup All-stars" and the "Arizona Coyotes".

Mark my words, we've only seen the beginning of Bettman's "World Cup" experiment.

This is exactly why I want the NHL in the Olympics where some sense of sanity prevails (the IIHF's shootouts in elimination games, notwithstanding).

After 2016 only a fool would trust Bettman and his morons to stage any sort of legitimate event. The man is a complete clown and his "World Cup" will continue to be the ultimate clown show.

 

[alko]

European championships

Thats silly.

 

[Tuoppi]

Thats silly.

Why?

 

[BMann]

Why ? At the time the Soviet Union and Canada were head and shoulders above the rest with very honourable mentions to Czechoslovakia. Now the global scene is very different. To grow the sport we need to expose the up and coming nations to top level competition. Not keep it in a closed shop. The last World Cup was a farce as well.

There are the Winter Olympics and the World Championships already.

 

[BMann]

Oh boy you're gonna hate what the NHL is planning for 2024

I can see it now. Laden with adverts every thirty seconds, hyped to the rafters, enough hot air to accelerate global warming even further featuring the Bohemian Bears, Scandinavian Sharks (Finland included), Russian Rogues and North American All Stars. Not forgetting the EU Exiles as well.

 

[SotasicA]

No.
That cheapens the tournament

The most exciting team in the tournament cheapens it? Did you watch Team North America? It was hockey porn.

 

[BMann]

Nah. Olympics is BS. A good Canada Cup style tournament would be a better idea all around. And for the league. Stopping in the middle of a season doesn't make sense.

Most sports do it. Rugby Union for the World Cup, association football for this World Cup and so on. NHL has far too much interference in how world hockey is run. A league should not be wagging the tail of the dog. It simply does not exist in any other sport.

 

[BMann]

The most exciting team in the tournament cheapens it? Did you watch Team North America? It was hockey porn.

What do you want ? Actual sport or just entertainment a la WWE and that nonsense.

 

[Omotenashi]

If it was up to me, I'd change IIHF World championship to be held every two years. Really doesn't make sense to have it every year and then Olympics every 4 years...

For all it's faults, the IIHF is actually working on growing the game globally. Partly by funding lower level international tournaments and partly by funding other initiatives in less established hockey nations. To make this possible they need tournaments that make money every year (IIHF WC, U20 WC, maybe sometimes to a limited extent WCD1A). Without this international competition will more or less cease to exist for lower level teams. You cannot compare Ice Hockey with football (European) which is a sport that can fill stadiums and generate money in almost every country of the world. Also, just hosting the event every few years will not magically help making the sport more popular globally. It might make the hype slightly bigger in established hockey countries, but outside of that still no one would know that the tournament even exists.
But I also understand that the NHL has grown to what it is independently and expecting all players to play 82 regular games+play offs and an international tournament every year is not really feasible, even if I personally would love one or multiple best-on-best international tournaments every year. Anyway, given the above regarding the World Championships status quo is probably the best realistic way to continue. A lot of people will still enjoy the tournament for what it is. Others could just skip watching it and not be annoyed by it. Just appreciate that it serves a purpose for growing the game globally.
Any individual tournament will not give you any answers on which is the greatest hockey nation (any individual best-on-best tournament won't either and that is ok). But over time the aggregated results still give you a good idea of the depth and success of a nation's hockey program.

The Olympics are probably the single biggest opportunity to grow the game globally. Just because it is the Olympics games might be broadcast in places from Israel to Thailand. No other ice hockey competition can achieve that. This will happen regardless if NHL players are involved, but having the best available would certainly help increase the hype. Given that having a best-on-best Olympics should be the main priority.

Apart from that I certainly won't mind if the NHL organized another best-on-best international tournament every 4 years. Maybe it helps growing the game or the NHL interest in some established hockey nations. Not sure it would get a lot of attention in Germany (or non-competing countries) outside people who already watch hockey. But having only real national teams would help with that.

 

[Tuoppi]

Having World championships every year in Europe without the best players is silly. In Finland many especially soccer and NHL fans call it the Skoda cup.

 

[Omotenashi]

Having World championships every year in Europe without the best players is silly. In Finland many especially soccer and NHL fans call it the Skoda cup.

As mentioned above: It does serve a purpose. Silly is not the right word. It is far from a given that you could make it a best-on-best just by organizing it every two or four years. If we get the NHL to commit to Olympics I would already be happy. So the appeal for pure NHL fans would still be limited and that is ok. There is still a lot of interest proven by the revenue it generates.
Yes, maybe more people in Finland, Sweden, Czechia would watch it if was held less often But that is probably not enough of a benefit if you do not have a setup that is compatible with working on growing the sport in lower level countries.

 

[Tuoppi]

In European championships the lower level countries would have a better chance for a medal.

 

[Albatros]

In European championships the lower level countries would have a better chance for a medal.

And non-European countries would not have a competition anymore.

 

[Lions67]

The most exciting team in the tournament cheapens it? Did you watch Team North America? It was hockey porn.

that isn’t the point.
The World Cup or Canada Cup is comprised of the best of the best hockey NATIONS, not gimmicky “teams” of all stars.
So yes… it most certainly cheapens the tournament when you allow these side shows to compete.

 

[SotasicA]

What do you want ? Actual sport or just entertainment a la WWE and that nonsense.

It was not any less of a sport because of Team North America. In fact, they probably added to the athleticism.

 

[SotasicA]

that isn’t the point.
The World Cup or Canada Cup is comprised of the best of the best hockey NATIONS

Maybe it doesn't need to be that way. There's too much nationalism in the world already.

I couldn't give two shits about which nation wins. But some teams are just awesome and fun to watch and have likeable players, while others naturally assume the role of the bad guys. Like the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

[Boonk]

Maybe it doesn't need to be that way. There's too much nationalism in the world already.

I couldn't give two shits about which nation wins. But some teams are just awesome and fun to watch and have likeable players, while others naturally assume the role of the bad guys. Like the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Then go watch the Allstar game then. No one wants these gimmick teams in an international competition. Fans of Germany and Switzerland don't want to see their guys like Draisaitl, Stutzle and Seider, or Hischier and Josi play for a leftovers Europe team. Im sure USA Hockey doesn't want their national team neutered of the young talent that they've developed like last time, having no Eichel and Matthews for Team USA was a complete joke.

 

[SotasicA]

Then go watch the Allstar game then. No one wants these gimmick teams in an international competition. Fans of Germany and Switzerland don't want to see their guys like Draisaitl, Stutzle and Seider, or Hischier and Josi play for a leftovers Europe team. Im sure USA Hockey doesn't want their national team neutered of the young talent that they've developed like last time, having no Eichel and Matthews for Team USA was a complete joke.

The allstar game is not competitive.

 

[NyQuil]

I would like any form of best-on-best hockey provided that there aren't any gimmick teams.

National teams from non-traditional hockey powerhouses have upset favourites in best-on-best tourneys before (e.g. Switzerland, Belarus) so mocking their participation is insulting.

I do think the Olympics is better for a few reasons:

1. There is larger exposure to fans who won't follow a World Cup/Canada Cup.

2. I think there really is Olympic team camaraderie where you saw the Mens' teams attend the Women's teams finals and vice versa, and the idea of them all living in the Village together (I know some teams don't). There's pressure to deliver a medal, not just for yourself, but for all of the other athletes on the larger Olympic team, and that's a good thing.

3. It takes place in the middle of the season so presumably the players are in peak condition. I know there are injuries due to the ongoing season, and injuries at the event can potentially hamper your chances in the NHL (e.g. Hasek in 2006, Tavares in 2016) but overall I think it's a net benefit if it only happens once every 4 years.

As has often been suggested, a two-year cycle of World Cups / Olympics would be preferable IMO - with the former taking place in the summer and the latter in the middle of the season.

1. I would alter the format of the World Cup (8 teams, 12 teams? to be debated) and try and retain the 3 game format of the final, which is unique and different from other tournaments.

2. I would go out of my way to host it entirely in Europe initially to build its credibility as a tournament and then rotate. Given that the World Championships are largely European, I would propose US/Can/Europe as the standard rotation.

3. Again, no gimmick teams. Pick the top teams based on IIHF ranking. I don't think you can have true competition with made up teams. With club teams, you build that desire over the weeks and months of the season. In the absence of that, you need nationalism or some other compelling factor.

 

[Tuoppi]

And non-European countries would not have a competition anymore.

There could be an 8 team Asian championship with the same group system as in womens' hockey. North Americans could have a best of 7 series for the North American championship. Could also be Latin American and African championships IIHF sponsored.

 

[Albatros]

There could be an 8 team Asian championship with the same group system as in womens' hockey. North Americans could have a best of 7 series for the North American championship. Could also be Latin American and African championships IIHF sponsored.

Best Asian teams are generally all in different divisions, that'd be just ruining what isn't broken.