GDT: Championship Game: USA vs Canada, 2/20 - 8pm ET (ESPN, ESPN+) There will be no political discussion, will result in warnings and thread bans.

[S E P H]

I would be shocked if there will be any fights today. I think all the aggression got out last game, all the boys will be dialled in today.

 

[SI90]

The NHL couldn’t in their wildest dreams have foreseen how much exposure this tournament was going to bring them. Absolutely unreal.

 

[Coffey]

I don't know if it's good for the sport when the hardcore fans can never attend a game. It's good for the greedy people at the top

It's a special event, the fact that people are willing to pay this means that the game has popularity.

 

[Quinning]

I would be shocked if there will be any fights today. I think all the aggression got out last game, all the boys will be dialled in today.

Agreed, this will be like Game 7 of a playoff series. You won't see any fights, just pure focus and grit.

Some of these guys, this is it for them. They may never win a Stanley Cup or have a chance to win Olympic Gold. But this matters a lot. The political climate makes the stakes so much higher, nevermind the international rivalry.

I'd just host a best of 5 Canada vs USA tournament every year or two. It's must see hockey. Nothing against the other two nations, but the drama isn't even close.

 

[BringTheReign]

Im glad people were thinking this was just gonna be an all star game cause it would have been impossible to get tickets knowing how good the hockey would be. Outside of going to italy next year, how many people can say they've seen crosby, mack, mcdavid, makar on the same team live?

100% agreed. We got resale tickets to the final three games in Montreal for peanuts compared to the atmosphere and quality of hockey we were privileged to see play out.

 

[Quinning]

100% agreed. We got resale tickets to the final three games in Montreal for peanuts compared to the atmosphere and quality of hockey we were privileged to see play out.

It'll cost 50-100% more for tickets next year. NHL will cash the f*** in on the hype.

 

[93gilmour93]

It's a special event, the fact that people are willing to pay this means that the game has popularity.

Nah it means the rich and big business can buy tickets. It's becoming the same in the NHL. It's nothing more than a big tea bag to the average fan and squeezes them out more each year. Without a connection to a free ticket, most fans just can't attend anymore. It's sad really....

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Wasn't the # of Canadians that watched the Gold Medal game in 2010 like 28M or something? It'll be hard to top that in Canada, but yeah in the US it'll be high.

Real test for the historically non-hockey fans in the US will be if they can feign interest once this is over or if there they are just interested because of the USA USA USA nonsense.

Live in Metro Detroit and there is next to no talk about this game or tourney.
I think Saturday's game will be be best TV viewership game.

 

[BringTheReign]

It'll cost 50-100% more for tickets next year. NHL will cash the f*** in on the hype.

Agreed, but I don't think it'll be them cashing in. Doesn't the IOC get all that revenue at the Olympics? I think the NHL-IOC agreement just states that the IOC pays for the players' insurance now. They'll have to wait until the 2028 World Cup.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I dunno man. Winning in Montreal is the peak. Not even sure if I care if Canada wins tonight.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

I dont know what you guys talking about, ticket price in montreal was completely out of control, It cost me significantly less to watch lebron playoff bball than I paid for the premilinary can-usa game.

 

[Quinning]

Agreed, but I don't think it'll be them cashing in. Doesn't the IOC get all that revenue at the Olympics? I think the NHL-IOC agreement just states that the IOC pays for the players' insurance now. They'll have to wait until the 2028 World Cup.

I read somewhere each NHL team was pulling in around $3-4 million from this tournament, they would have to be in order for them to agree to risking player injuries. Who the f*** would let their players go if they weren't making any money off it?

Hell, look what's happened to some of the big stars, especially MacAvoy.

 

[93gilmour93]

I dont know what you guys talking about, ticket price in montreal was completely out of control, It cost me significantly less to watch lebron playoff bball than I paid for the premilinary can-usa game.

You mean a family of 4 paying 10,000 for tickets to a game isn't a good deal lol

 

[BringTheReign]

I read somewhere each NHL team was pulling in around $3-4 million from this tournament, they would have to be in order for them to agree to risking player injuries. Who the f*** would let their players go if they weren't making any money off it?

Hell, look what's happened to some of the big stars, especially MacAvoy.

I mean, the bolded is basically why they didn't go in 2018 and 2022. The NHLPA has always wanted to go, and they have a strong say in it as well as a bargaining chip come CBA negotiations. The long-term case is that even if they're not making direct profits off the Olympics that the increased exposure grows fan interest in the NHL, but if they build a robust, NHL-driven World Cup moving forward they may not "need" the Olympics in the future. Who knows.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Those ticket prices are just absolutely bonkers. I'd expect that for Olympics where actual medals and stakes are on the line, not for a gimmick tournament. Yes, it's been a huge success for the NHL and the players are trying, great hockey, lot of fun. But it's still a flawed one-off gimmick and will be a complete footnote in hockey history compared to World Cups and especially Olympics. I am of course looking forward to tonight and rooting for the US but I honestly don't think the outcome matters much here. Olympics in a year is what will matter.

 

[Ladyfan]

I hope for a great game with no injuries.

I would love for this guy to get more ice time.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

The NHL couldn’t in their wildest dreams have foreseen how much exposure this tournament was going to bring them. Absolutely unreal.

He's coming back for this hockey match up “it was the best one he had ever had,”

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

Can't for for the LTIR 4 Nations Pre Trade Deadline Tourney to get under way, they're gonna cut away to TSN's trade deadline already in progress mid Trophy raise...

 

[Summer Rose]

Win or lose, this has to be my most anticipated hockey game in many years. Hoping the boys can bring home a trophy tonight.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Longest day of work in a long long time...

 

[PavelBure10]

Best of luck to team USA and their fans.

This game should be a good one.

Go Canada

 

[Johnny HFBOARDS]

Alright Canadians. Change those Avatars to a patriotic one tonight to support our boys! Big game tonight!

My Avatar is Sid the Man trying to trade a Trouba hockey card to Mac D.
How can that not be super patroniz... Pattenin... patriotic

 

[End on a Hinote]

As a Canadian, part of me wants the US to win, because of the crappy selections Canada made going with miniature forwards and questionable goaltending. Also because dubas is s9mehow affiliated and is a horrendous hockey mind.

 

[SI90]