Does Canada causing less parity in international tournaments make international tournaments less fun?

[Vakarte]

With the news that the World Cup of Hockey is returning, opinions are split.

Some are optimistic while others are not. One of the reasons is the little parity in the tournament with Canada winning a lot.

Which got me thinking, he kinda has a point.

Like no matter the circumstances, Canada will always the favorites and wins like every time.

So why should we care about international hockey when the outcome is predictable.

Why should we care about other teams when we all know they're going to get blown out by Canada or lose to them in a close game?

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[ViD]

Given current state of affairs, I’m completely indifferent towards international competitions

 

[BMacLeafs]

Mostly, no. People should and often do only care about international tournaments if they are best on best. It's why the Worlds Cup of Hockey were massive successes, as were the 1998-2014 Olympics, but nobody cares about the Spengler Cup, non-NHL Olympics, or IIHF "world championships."

 

[Prairie Habs]

Given current state of affairs, I’m completely indifferent towards international competitions

Not being allowed to compete in international sporting events is truly the worst hardship a country can endure.

 

[Guardian17]

With the news that the World Cup of Hockey is returning, opinions are split.

Some are optimistic while others are not. One of the reasons is the little parity in the tournament with Canada winning a lot.

Which got me thinking, he kinda has a point.

Like no matter the circumstances, Canada will always the favorites and wins like every time.

So why should we care about international hockey when the outcome is predictable.

Why should we care about other teams when we all know they're going to get blown out by Canada or lose to them in a close game?

My opinion as a fan of the Winnipeg Jets.

My team is on every player's no-trade list.

On the first day of Free Agency I know my team will not land any big free agents.

Even players from Winnipeg like Mark Stone chose not to come here when they're UFAs.

The ONLY time where I can cheer for a team that has a realistic chance to win and top end players want to play for, is when Team Canada plays in the Olympics or World Cups.

 

[Vancouver Canucks]

Canada doesn't win all the time. USA, Sweden, and Finland have all experienced championship victories.

 

[Cowumbus]

ItS OuR GaME -Canada fans

Give me a break. There are teams that would give Canada a run for its money. Games aren’t won on paper.

Remember when Canada lost in the WC last year to Finland? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

 

[Bounces R Way]

git gud rest of the world

 

[Maplebeasts]

It's not like Canada is that much better than the US or Finland. There are a few teams out there who can beat Canada on a good day. I'm also betting you must hate the NBA.

 

[Vakarte]

It's not like Canada is that much better than the US or Finland. There are a few teams out there who can beat Canada on a good day. I'm also betting you must hate the NBA.

Ok show me the last time in recent memory when Canada didn't win an international tournament at the NHL level.

Also you are crazy to think USA or Finland can beat Canada.

 

[Mr Kot]

Worlds gonna end next year anyway, so who gives a shit.

 

[um]

I feel like they usually have a 50% chance of winning any best on best... and that number has been getting smaller every year.

Of course since best on best tournaments are so rare who the hell knows.

 

[Maplebeasts]

Ok show me the last time in recent memory when Canada didn't win an international tournament at the NHL level.

Also you are crazy to think USA or Finland can beat Canada.

The last time was 2006 when Sweden won gold at the Olympics. In 2010 they won gold in overtime and almost lost to the Slovaks in the semis. The 2016 world cup was fun but had some dumb shit like team North America. I wouldn't worry too much about the results of that tournament.

 

[WarriorofTime]

It'll never be Soccer, but it's not like Basketball levels of single nation dominance. If more "best on best" as they say international hockey occurred, I don't think it would look quite so Canada 2010, 2014 and 2016-ish (granted sample sizes of three are small). The WJC is a good proxy, Canada is a favorite every year and wins maybe like half the time now a days (past 12 years or so) but they don't win every year like they did previously (and when a lot of that previous gen of men's senior dominance would have come up). Compare it to Basketball where the USA has lost one time (thanks to RJ Barrett going absolutely berzerk) at the Americas/World Cup at the U16, U17, U18 and U19 in the last decade+ and has won the last four Olympic Gold Medals and 7 out of 8 since NBA players started going to the Olympics.

United States men's national under-17 basketball team - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

United States men's national under-19 basketball team - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

United States men's national basketball team - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jigglysquishy]

Ok show me the last time in recent memory when Canada didn't win an international tournament at the NHL level.

Also you are crazy to think USA or Finland can beat Canada.

We lost 2006 pretty badly.

Since then, there's only been 2 best on best.

 

[Vakarte]

We lost 2006 pretty badly.

Since then, there's only been 2 best on best.

And that was 16 years ago. Since then, the game has changed and Canada has adapted to being a powerhouse while the other countries are still a long away from being true contenders.

 

[jigglysquishy]

And that was 16 years ago. Since then, the game has changed and Canada has adapted to being a powerhouse while the other countries are still a long away from being true contenders.

We've only had 2 real tournaments to go on since then so it's not really demonstrative.

 

[jetsforever]

It's one of the few sports where Canada is competitive so I'm not complaining
I think the "less fun" thing is that NHLers rarely go to international events so it's just random lesser players

 

[Vakarte]

It'll never be Soccer, but it's not like Basketball levels of single nation dominance. If more "best on best" as they say international hockey occurred, I don't think it would look quite so Canada 2010, 2014 and 2016-ish (granted sample sizes of three are small). The WJC is a good proxy, Canada is a favorite every year and wins maybe like half the time now a days (past 12 years or so) but they don't win every year like they did previously (and when a lot of that previous gen of men's senior dominance would have come up). Compare it to Basketball where the USA has lost one time (thanks to RJ Barrett going absolutely berzerk) at the Americas/World Cup at the U16, U17, U18 and U19 in the last decade+ and has won the last four Olympic Gold Medals and 7 out of 8 since NBA players started going to the Olympics.

Saying " it's not like Basketball levels of single nation dominance" isn't a good thing if the standards are that low in terms of parity. For a game that is considered global for over 100+ years, that's embarrassing.

 

[Maplebeasts]

We've only had 2 real tournaments to go on since then so it's not really demonstrative.

3 if you include the 2016 world cup that had 2 gimmick teams. Still though that 2010 Canada team was a bounce away from being knocked out by the Slovaks and playing for Bronze. Forget that they won in OT against the States. That was hardly a dominant showing.

 

[jigglysquishy]

3 if you include the 2016 world cup that had 2 gimmick teams. Still though that 2010 Canada team was a bounce away from being knocked out by the Slovaks and playing for Bronze. Forget that they won in OT against the States. That was hardly a dominant showing.

No one seriously includes 2016 as the tournament was an embarrassment to the sport. In no way was it best on best and is a low point of international hockey.

McDavid was prevented from wearing the maple leaf. Disgusting act by the suits.

 

[Jumptheshark]

What I love is when Canada does not win, certain people bitch about that fact and question why we even sent a team. If you were here 10 years ago you know the thread I am talking about.

Both Germany and the Swiss for years were treated like road kill. But they got better.

When was last time Canadian men won Olympic gold? Oh but we did not send our best... neither did the other countries.


When we win we act like we are the cocks walk and we lose? We make excuses and complain.

I do not think some Canadians understand hockey at the International level.

In the 20+ years of living in Europe my view has changed

 

[Vakarte]

We've only had 2 real tournaments to go on since then so it's not really demonstrative.

Thinking wither the USA, Sweden, Finland, etc. can even beat Canada on paper is pure blindness to reality. Those countries for years said they can beat Canada time and time again and look how that turned out.

I feel like they usually have a 50% chance of winning any best on best... and that number has been getting smaller every year.

Of course since best on best tournaments are so rare who the hell knows.

I'm so sure the number is getting smaller while Canada keeps on getting better.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Ok show me the last time in recent memory when Canada didn't win an international tournament at the NHL level.

Also you are crazy to think USA or Finland can beat Canada.

2006, but there hasn't been any one in 6 years (8 years by the time of the next one) and a real one that people cared about in 8 years (10 years by the time of the next one) because of the gimmick teams, and there's also only been 3 in total since that time.

 

[Vakarte]

2006, but there hasn't been any one in 6 years (8 years by the time of the next one) and a real one that people cared about in 8 years (10 years by the time of the next one) because of the gimmick teams, and there's also only been 3 in total since that time.

Ahh 2006, the go to answer for these rebuttals. Yeah one time out of countless numbers of tournaments. That surely will increase the parity score and give other countries hope that they can beat Canada.

It's not like since then, Canada has reformed their developmental program and since then produce elite talent like a machine.