GDT: Finland Vs Canada | 7:30PM ET | Group A - Canadian Tire Centre

Deep Blue Metallic

Bo knows hockey.
Mar 5, 2021
5,269
6,617
After watching the first day of tournament, I’m confident usa gunna big brother Canada
Don't know where you got that from.

Canada mostly dominated a subpar Finnish team. Likewise with USA and Germany, a relegation candidate; the score flattered Germany because of Augustine's off night. Not much to conclude from those games when considering the USA-Canada matchup.

Bring on New Year's Eve!
 
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ORRFForever

Registered User
Oct 29, 2018
20,214
11,352
I'm not watching as much as I have in years past. I've watched hundreds of these games on TV and seen dozens of them live. This tournament is less fun with fewer good teams in it.

I don't see how a fan explaining why they don't enjoy something as much as they used to is ugly or nasty. Either way, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.
The "ugly / nasty" was not directed at you. Unfortunately, HF combined the 2 posts. I separated them with **** but I can see why you thought I meant you. I didn't.

I'm talking about the political nastiness.

Merry Christmas to you, too.
 
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JackSlater

Registered User
Apr 27, 2010
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I’ve always interpreted it as the scheduling and format of the tournament allows for all eligible players to attend within a given age group or class.

The most stringent best on best interpretation would be violated if McDavid were injured or something, which is taking it too far IMO.

Non best on best tournaments are those where the format or schedule prevents eligible players from playing, regardless of any individual decisions, health status or club team obligations.

I guess you could argue that holding the WJCs during the NHL season inherently means that it isn’t best on best.

But those tend to be a small complement of individuals as opposed to 16 NHL teams worth of players a la WCs.
If you always interpreted it that way then you were in the vast majority for a very long time. TSN, mainly Button because he is rather stupid but not just him, has been pushing it but it makes no sense. No one ever talked about best on best tournament and threw out the 1998 Olympics, 1987 Canada Cup, oh and the 1995 WJC. Everyone, or very close to everyone, is aware that they are different things. Then again in the last ten years there is a big push to leave words meaning whatever the speaker desires as opposed to a reasonable standard. Unless all of the best players are somehow under 20 it cannot be a best on best because the best aren't there.

For what it's worth, there has never been a WJC without players missing due to the NHL and other professional leagues. Even the famous 2005 tournament Canada didn't have Burns and Horton because their NHL teams didn't want to release them.

All international tournaments are age-centric best-on-best. These are the best under-20 players in the world? What is not best-on-best about that?
Because they aren't the best players. Whatever age limit exists at the 2026 Olympics for example, I think it will be that players have to be 16 and up, won't matter because all of the best players are 16 and older. It's most of the best junior aged players... but they are junior aged players, not the best players except in very rare instances.
 

McJedi

Registered User
Apr 21, 2020
10,775
7,686
Florida
Snoozefest , wish there was more than 2 countries that can compete with us out there
Not that I or any of us want Russia at this event given the state of things in Ukraine... but their absence hurts the competitive balance and nature of this event. Same with 4 nations and later.. the Olympics.

Again... not saying I want them there. I don't. But the event is missing a key team that would make it more interesting and compelling as a sporting event. It does diminish the WJC to some extent.
 
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TB12

Registered User
Apr 5, 2015
4,549
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If you always interpreted it that way then you were in the vast majority for a very long time. TSN, mainly Button because he is rather stupid but not just him, has been pushing it but it makes no sense. No one ever talked about best on best tournament and threw out the 1998 Olympics, 1987 Canada Cup, oh and the 1995 WJC. Everyone, or very close to everyone, is aware that they are different things. Then again in the last ten years there is a big push to leave words meaning whatever the speaker desires as opposed to a reasonable standard. Unless all of the best players are somehow under 20 it cannot be a best on best because the best aren't there.

For what it's worth, there has never been a WJC without players missing due to the NHL and other professional leagues. Even the famous 2005 tournament Canada didn't have Burns and Horton because their NHL teams didn't want to release them.


Because they aren't the best players. Whatever age limit exists at the 2026 Olympics for example, I think it will be that players have to be 16 and up, won't matter because all of the best players are 16 and older. It's most of the best junior aged players... but they are junior aged players, not the best players except in very rare instances.
What are you droning on about? Very pedantic view of the world.
 

JackSlater

Registered User
Apr 27, 2010
19,555
14,990
What are you droning on about? Very pedantic view of the world.
If the best players in the world are all not there... it isn't a best on best tournament. This is something that fans all grasped until the last five years or so, when no one would call a junior aged tournament a best on best. Enjoy your second semester of university in January!
 

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