GDT: Four Nations Face-Off III - NO Politics!

[Guelph Bruin]

Idiot brothers ? I wish we had players like that, guys that want to win regardless of who cares what people think of them.

By the way neither of the idiot brothers can fight, Hagel wasn't fighting Lucic

Yup, Idiot Brothers. They can play though, mark my words, one or both will not make it to the end of the game.

 

[Aeroforce]

Ty Anderson on the Sports underground podcast says that the injury to Mac is not a previous injury or from the McDavid hits. He says it may be related to the Armia hit he took to his throat.

Dafoomie just posted this. In all likelihood, this is it:

 

[sarge88]

Dafoomie just posted this. In all likelihood, this is it:

Very dirty.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I’ve got an idea for expanding this tournament in 2026/2027. The season after the Olympics.

Start an 8 team Tourney in September, set up in a way that 4 teams get eliminated and 4 move on.

Then use February for the semi-finals and championship game.

In the past, IIRC they did some Canada Cups in September, and obviously they’re using February for this tourney now.

This set up allows the top 8 countries to be included, but doesn’t require 3 weeks in the middle of the season.

Would love to see tournaments involving more countries, but I can see three significant problems with playing games in September:

- players are just coming off their summer break. Asking them to play meaningful hockey right out the gate is likely to produce some pretty sloppy, low quality play and it's just asking for major injuries to occur.

- it's camp/preseason time for the NHL clubs. Missing their key players for stretches when they're trying to get new rosters and tactics to gel seems like something they'd never agree to.

- imagine a situation, which is unlikely but not implausible, where one of the US or Canada is knocked out in the first stage. Suddenly the NHL has a showpiece event in Feb where one of its two major markets is largely disinterested. That would be a disaster.

Maybe what the league could consider is keeping the tournament as a short February thing every 2 or 4 years or whatever, but changing the European teams that are involved. So US and Canada are default entries, but you can switch around the participation of Sweden, Finland, Russia (politics pending), Czechia, Slovakia and so on. Not exactly fair, perhaps, but it at least gives different guys an opportunity, and the likes of Pasta would get to take part a couple of times over the course of a career, which is better than nothing.

Keep the bigger, longer events for the Olympics and World Cups.

 

[Boston Bandit]

Dafoomie just posted this. In all likelihood, this is it:

My dislike for the Tkachuk bros has drastically changed after seeing this

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

Yup, Idiot Brothers. They can play though, mark my words, one or both will not make it to the end of the game.

Enlighten me why will that be? Marchand going to do something stupid?

And before the usual hounds come to cry, Im a USA fan first on Thursday and a Bruin fan. second.

 

[sarge88]

Would love to see tournaments involving more countries, but I can see three significant problems with playing games in September:

- players are just coming off their summer break. Asking them to play meaningful hockey right out the gate is likely to produce some pretty sloppy, low quality play and it's just asking for major injuries to occur.

- it's camp/preseason time for the NHL clubs. Missing their key players for stretches when they're trying to get new rosters and tactics to gel seems like something they'd never agree to.

- imagine a situation, which is unlikely but not implausible, where one of the US or Canada is knocked out in the first stage. Suddenly the NHL has a showpiece event in Feb where one of its two major markets is largely disinterested. That would be a disaster.

Maybe what the league could consider is keeping the tournament as a short February thing every 2 or 4 years or whatever, but changing the European teams that are involved. So US and Canada are default entries, but you can switch around the participation of Sweden, Finland, Russia (politics pending), Czechia, Slovakia and so on. Not exactly fair, perhaps, but it at least gives different guys an opportunity, and the likes of Pasta would get to take part a couple of times over the course of a career, which is better than nothing.

Keep the bigger, longer events for the Olympics and World Cups.

I can’t remember when they stopped the September Canada Cup, but I think I definitely remember it.

I don’t think there’s a perfect way to include all relevant teams in one sitting so to speak, though.

I get the issue around doing it pre-season, but these guys are workout fanatics and are always in shape.

If they did a 10 day tourney from say, September 4-14, they could take 3 days off and still have a solid 3 weeks of camp before the regular season starts.

Doubt it happens, but this tourney has been great, and if Czech and Russia were a part of it, it could only get better and be more definitive, so to speak.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

My dislike for the Tkachuk bros has drastically changed after seeing this

Bruins fans would rather have players like Armia than the Tkachuk boys. Charlie's Bruins teammates would just skate away like nothing happened.

 

[GoBs]

Bruins fans would rather have players like Armia than the Tkachuk boys. Charlie's Bruins teammates would just skate away like nothing happened.

Speak for yourself

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Enlighten me why will that be? Marchand going to do something stupid?

And before the usual hounds come to cry, Im a USA fan first on Thursday and a Bruin fan. second.

It's hockey, they know the idiot brothers have injuries....they'll be targeted. For instance B.T. will get lots of small cross checks to his ribs during scrums and board battles. U.S.A would do the same knowing a Canadian injury .. as would Finland, as would Sweeden....it's part of the game. Not sure where M.Ts injury is ....but I expect team Canada does.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I can’t remember when they stopped the September Canada Cup, but I think I definitely remember it.

I don’t think there’s a perfect way to include all relevant teams in one sitting so to speak, though.

I get the issue around doing it pre-season, but these guys are workout fanatics and are always in shape.

If they did a 10 day tourney from say, September 4-14, they could take 3 days off and still have a solid 3 weeks of camp before the regular season starts.

Doubt it happens, but this tourney has been great, and if Czech and Russia were a part of it, it could only get better and be more definitive, so to speak.

I don't think you want or need to overdo it. Not often I agree with Bettman, but what he said about the intention to bring back the 8-team World Cups and to run an Olympics-World Cup-Olympics-World Cup schedule is right to me. Means you have a major international hockey tourney every 2 years, alternating between NHL and IIHF rules, plus you'll have the world champs and the juniors thrown in there too. That's enough IMO, as long as they actually stick with it.

Obviously the last 2 world cups were in September, and so of course you're right, it CAN be done. But 2028 will be in February. Pros and cons each way. September means less impact on the rest of the season schedule and if guys do get injured, they have more time to heal before the serious end of the season arrives, but it does disrupt and shorten the off and pre-seasons, and fans and other potential viewers are less keyed into hockey at that time. Conversely February probably means a bigger audience and players that are already hot and in-form, but it puts a bigger workload and potential for injury on the stars only a couple of months out from playoffs.

Either way, just nice to see international hockey being given the importance and primacy it deserves. Hopefully they keep it up this time.

 

[Olden McGroin]

 

[caz16]

That is terrifying! Thank goodness he is going to be okay.

 

[Alicat]

April 3rd in Montreal. Hopefully he’s back by then. Been awhile since we’ve had a revenge game

 

[Aeroforce]

Actually, it will probably be Houston, which makes more sense as the WHA Areos enjoyed genuine fan support, cheering on Gordie, Mark and Marty from 1973-1977,

Houston Aeros (WHA) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I hope you're right; the Aeros had tremendous support in the 70's, as did a later incarnation in the 90's playing in the IHL.

One of the selling points for Houston is we have an NHL-ready arena, Toyota Center. I've seen lots of hockey games there; it's nice, though last go round the benches weren't big enough for the backup goalies. That apparently isn't part of the criteria to be "NHL ready."

But I've wondered - Philadelphia already has plans in place for a new arena, and to have Wells Fargo Center demolished. That building is only five years older than Toyota Center.

So if a team isn't awarded soon, at what point does the arena become an issue?

 

[HumBucker]

Bruins fans would rather have players like Armia than the Tkachuk boys. Charlie's Bruins teammates would just skate away like nothing happened.

I don't recall anyone saying any such thing. In fact, quite a few people here have said the opposite.

 

[HumBucker]

My understanding is that MT of FLA doesn't care for Hagel of TB. Hence, he "wanted a piece of him."

He probably doesn't care for Hedman either. I wonder why he never wants a piece of him?

 

[GordonHowe]

He probably doesn't care for Hedman either. I wonder why he never wants a piece of him?

Fair.

I would take either or both of KT's sons in the beat of a heart.

Don Sweeney's teams lack the latter.

 

[Mione134]

So they won’t have to have an in

nothing he said wasn’t true

I think insinuating that the fights on the American side were for "the cameras" and the Canadians were for "the flag" is bullsht.

He's just trying to rile up the other side.

 

[22Brad Park]

Its part of the game and when its not good bye NHL, it will be as popular in the U.S. as Woman's pro hockey, and no disrespect to Woman's hockey

5 million viewers are talking about two things the fights and the disrespect of the anthems

Hockey is best when its nasty and dangerous, maybe that's the city kid in me.

You make a good point here. I remember years ago when Devils & Leafs were going at it & Domi got Niedermaier between faceoffs with a chickenwing. I could not wait to watch each game in that series

 

[22Brad Park]

I don't recall anyone saying any such thing. In fact, quite a few people here have said the opposite.

I would take Brady on Bruins in a heartbeat

 

[Fenway]

I have NO idea what to expect on Thursday night

 

[bbfan419]

It was not at all the same for Canada after they cleared Harley to play regardless of Makar's availability.

Well the other day on Sportsnet they showed Canada practice and they said Harley had to wait for Makar to be off the ice, before he could step onto the ice. Now that he has been cleared since he did play in a game, maybe he becomes an official part of the team as the 7th D.

 

[caz16]

I have NO idea what to expect on Thursday night

I just hope for a good game with no injuries to either side and a nice win for Canada, obviously. Hopefully they focus more on winning than any type of retribution.

 

[Morris Wanchuk]

Yikes, When they said MGH my ears perked up. Doesn't seem like somewhere you go for an orthopedic problem.