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

[Drytoast]

International tournamanets died when the olympics died.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Since 1987 Canada Cup, we've had 1996 World Cup, 1998 Olympics, 2002 Olympics, 2004 World Cup, 2006 Olympics, 2010 Olympics, and 2014 Olympics.

7 best on best tournaments in the last 35 years.

 

[Vakarte]

Since 1987 Canada Cup, we've had 1996 World Cup, 1998 Olympics, 2002 Olympics, 2004 World Cup, 2006 Olympics, 2010 Olympics, and 2014 Olympics.

7 best on best tournaments in the last 35 years.

With Canada winning 4 of the last 5 without breaking a sweat

 

[jigglysquishy]

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.

The popularity of hockey has been plummeting in Canada and our population of Canadian born males is the lowest in over 50 years. Youth participation is decreasing in a decreasing potential player population.

Hockey in Canada is in bad shape and we are doing nothing to stop the bleeding.

Canada absolutely can lose a best on best tournament.

 

[WarriorofTime]

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

not sure what you mean, the proportionate number of Canadian NHL Players has dropped since then

By man game played %

2009-10: 54.1 %

2013-14: 52.6 %

2015-16: 48.6 %

2021-22 (most recent): 42.7 %

I'm not sure if this thread is just meant to be bait or what. They haven't repeated at the World Juniors (best junior players from each country, direct feeder before the NHL) since 2008 and 2009, and win that about half the time these days, whereas they won like 6 in a row prior to that

 

[Sens Vader]

its lonely at the top

 

[Cowumbus]

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.

You SPLIT the series in the Olympics with Team USA in 2010.

Sweden won in 06. Canada didn’t even medal at the u18’s this year…

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

We need best on best back again.

Hopefully the NHL does the '24 World Cup justice.

 

[violaswallet]

I’m American but I’m pretty sure Finland has performed equivalent to Canada last few years.

in the best tournament quality wise—2021 WJC with the most first round picks in a long term—Canada was shut down by the US.

there’s certainly a top three in performance the past few years though but I never know who is going to win the champion game

 

[jigglysquishy]

Realistically, any of Canada USA Sweden Finland could win in 2024. We might be favourites, but if so only marginally.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

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

In the 2019 WHC a team including players like Couturier, Stone, Dubois, Reinhart, Stone, Nurse, Theodore, Chabot among other NHL players lost the gold medal game to a Finnish team full of players from European leagues. Anything can happen.

I thought Usman defending his UFC belt was a given aswell but here we are.

 

[pbgoalie]

I always feel like trying to beat a dominant team makes it more interesting.

Teams are getting better

But beating the best means something (if you can)

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

With Canada winning 4 of the last 5 without breaking a sweat

How dumb is it to say “without breaking a sweat” when people are providing you proof that the games were ridiculously competitive?

This isn’t USA NBA dominance we are talking about here. USA and Finland are making strides to be just as good as Canada at hockey.

Not there yet but to say that teams “don’t care” about international tournaments is insane.

 

[banks]

I think team Canada being a juggernaut absolutely makes these tournaments less fun.

I've always said that the Olympics are more fun without NHL participation, for that very reason. The field is way more even. I like when more teams have a shot, not just CAN/USA/RUS.

 

[Craigo85]

1 game ... Anything can happen. Makes it interesting

 

[um]

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

I mean it really depends on the year you choose. I don't feel Canada is as strong as when they had the 2010 or 2014 teams.

We don't really have a superstar goalie and our blue line isn't 5-6 Hall of Famers right now.

By the time 2024 rolls around I may feel differently.

 

[JianYang]

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?

Hockey is pretty unpredictable relative to other sports, especially one game "winner take all" situations.

They don't "win every time", and it will probably continue to get tougher for them as time goes on.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

With Canada winning 4 of the last 5 without breaking a sweat

Without breaking a sweat? In 2010 the US beat them 5-3 in the round robin, then they almost lost to Slovakia, and need OT to beat the US in overtime in 2010.

There have been 3 actual best on best tournaments since the 2005 lockout. Canada has won two, and lost miserably in one. Both 2010 and 2014 Canada was far from dominant.

Canada should be the favorite, but in single elimination tournaments, anything can happen.

 

[TheRumble]

Unpopular take here:

I much prefer NHL hockey to Olympic Best on Best. The international ice surface makes for a more boring, defensive game. I'd much rather the NHL season continue as normal in Olympic years than go through two weeks of meaningless hockey.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

As a Canadian I agree with OP. I find myself cheering for other nations internationally because we are just so stacked it's ridiculous, other nations are getting better fast tho hopefully we end up with a bit more parity in best on best tournaments in a few years.

I equate it to watching USA basketball at the Olympics honnestly

 

[GeeoffBrown]

Canada does have a theoretically stacked squad with McDavid AND Makar. Goaltending a little sus though

 

[MardyBum]

I think a true best on best tournament(if they actually do it) will be very competitive and Canada being the favourite in no way guarantees their success. In goal alone Russia and the US blow em outa the water.

 

[LBS I Digress]

Canada does have a theoretically stacked squad with McDavid AND Makar. Goaltending a little sus though

Team USA would have Matthews and Fox. I honestly think the rosters are about as close talent wise as they’ve ever been. We just haven’t got to see it in a real tournament yet.

 

[Voight]

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

The only event that applies to is the World Championships, which runs during the playoffs so every year you are bound to be missing guys due to their teams still playing or fatigue.

Players do everything in their power to make the Olympic, and to a lesser extent, World Cup teams. I remember in 2014 Stamkos was trying so hard to be ready for Sochi; he almost made it back quicker than expected.

Tho it is funny to see these threads when theres ones saying that the Americans or whoever are taking over and Canadas time has passed.

Since 1987 Canada Cup, we've had 1996 World Cup, 1998 Olympics, 2002 Olympics, 2004 World Cup, 2006 Olympics, 2010 Olympics, and 2014 Olympics.

7 best on best tournaments in the last 35 years.

You forgot the 91 Canada Cup.

 

[kcunac]

Didn’t read the whole thread but seems silly. What’s the point if it’s not best on best? Also, pretty we’ve seen a general trend of other teams getting better and better with the draft each year becoming increasingly international. Pretty soon the US is going to surpass Canada based on their size and growing interest in the sport. It’s not like Canada wins every time, and when they don’t it makes it that much sweeter for the other team.