GDT: Four Nations Face-Off

[CBJx614]

 

[stevo61]

@koteka said this game doesn't matter, you guys better remember that

 

[koteka]

@koteka said this game doesn't matter, you guys better remember that

If Canada comes back and beats us in the finals, it doesn’t matter.

If Canada loses to the Finns, it will be known as the game that broke Canada and we will write epic poems about it.

Go Finns!

ETA - I was at a game at NWA where a USA team coached by Torts beat Canada in 2016. It was fun. I think Dubinsky and JMFJ were on the team. That was the year they had a Team North American with young hockey stars. But Canada won the World Cup of Hockey so who really cares that the USA won a tune up game.

 

[Long Live Lyle]

Would be nice if they would add Russia and then maybe a world team to give other top stars like Draisaitl/Kopitar/etc a chance to play

Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t a fan of “Team Europe” and I wasn’t a fan of the U-23 NA team. That’s not international “best-on-best” in my eyes.

Just expand it to 8 teams when you do the World Cup in 2028 (these 4 plus Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and one more [probably Switzerland]) and allow some non-NHLers in as needed.

Sucks for guys like Draisaitl and Kopitar, but they can compete at the Olympics.

If you want to do a “North America vs the World” (which is basically Europe, of course) for a 7-game series or something, then okay. But it’s weird to me to have most teams representing nations then 1 or 2 extra teams that are basically just an island of misfit toys.

 

[stevo61]

If Canada comes back and beats us in the finals, it doesn’t matter.

If Canada loses to the Finns, it will be known as the game that broke Canada and we will write epic poems about it.

Go Finns!

ETA - I was at a game at NWA where a USA team coached by Torts beat Canada in 2016. It was fun. I think Dubinsky and JMFJ were on the team. That was the year they had a Team North American with young hockey stars. But Canada won the World Cup of Hockey so who really cares that the USA won a tune up game.

That was kind of an exception in the sense we all remember the NA team

 

[stevo61]

Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t a fan of “Team Europe” and I wasn’t a fan of the U-23 NA team. That’s not international “best-on-best” in my eyes.

Just expand it to 8 teams when you do the World Cup in 2028 (these 4 plus Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and one more [probably Switzerland]) and allow some non-NHLers in as needed.

Sucks for guys like Draisaitl and Kopitar, but they can compete at the Olympics.

Strongly disagree. I know some guys would love to represent their country but Czechia and Slovakia aren't what they once were (small nation come in waves like Finland). so I'd rather have a team that includes some of the best players the game has to offer even if they aren't from a traditional country

 

[majormajor]

Maybe it’s just me, but I wasn’t a fan of “Team Europe” and I wasn’t a fan of the U-23 NA team. That’s not international “best-on-best” in my eyes.

Just expand it to 8 teams when you do the World Cup in 2028 (these 4 plus Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and one more [probably Switzerland]) and allow some non-NHLers in as needed.

Sucks for guys like Draisaitl and Kopitar, but they can compete at the Olympics.

If you want to do a “North America vs the World” (which is basically Europe, of course) for a 7-game series or something, then okay. But it’s weird to me to have most teams representing nations then 1 or 2 extra teams that are basically just an island of misfit toys.

The U-23 team detracted from best on best - by taking away many of the best.

Team Europe ended up being a great story. I would like to see them included so that all top NHLers can be represented. It adds to the best on best! I do agree that it is an odd set up having a non-national team vs national teams, I'm not in love with the fit. But the drama that year was amazing nonetheless.

Unfortunately there's no IIHF involvement in NHL tournaments like this so there's only 5 countries in total that can conceivably play.

 

[Long Live Lyle]

Strongly disagree. I know some guys would love to represent their country but Czechia and Slovakia aren't what they once were (small nation come in waves like Finland). so I'd rather have a team that includes some of the best players the game has to offer even if they aren't from a traditional country

I just don’t consider that a legitimate international competition. I didn’t really pay attention to the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 due to that.

Now, I think there my biggest issue was with Team NA (it was ridiculous McDavid couldn’t play for Canada, Gaudreau couldn’t play for the U.S., etc.) rather than Team Europe, so if they scratched the Team NA concept and kept Team Europe it’d be a little better, but I still wouldn’t like a team that’s not representing a nation when all the others are.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

LeBron literally played in Cleveland

Did he happen to play anywhere else? You realize you’re making my point for me?

 

[majormajor]

I did come into this tournament thinking that we need to see the Donair Line together (that's the three Halifax natives Crosby, Mackinnon, and Marchand, who train and skate together every offseason). And Gazdic on Sportsnet just suggested it as well - given that Canada's chemistry doesn't seem to be there we don't have a great reason not to do the Donair Line.

 

[Long Live Lyle]

The U-23 team detracted from best on best - by taking away many of the best.

Team Europe ended up being a great story. I would like to see them included so that all top NHLers can be represented. It adds to the best on best! I do agree that it is an odd set up having a non-national team vs national teams, I'm not in love with the fit. But the drama that year was amazing nonetheless.

Unfortunately there's no IIHF involvement in NHL tournaments like this so there's only 5 countries in total that can conceivably play.

If there’s something where due to transfer arrangements or whatnot there CAN’T be non-NHLers (rather than the NHL’s choice, it’s an IIHF thing) then sure, I guess there’d be no other option if you want to expand. Make it only 6 teams (these 4 plus Russia plus Team Leftovers) and maybe expand by a week with 5 round robin games rather than 3, with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 semifinals.

If it’s just the NHL’s choice, I’d maintain keeping it at the nation level and the NHL allowing non-NHLers as necessary, and bumping it up to 8 countries, but no multi-nation teams. That’s just my opinion.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Did he happen to play anywhere else? You realize you’re making my point for me?

The NBA peaked in popularity when LeBron was in Cleveland.

 

[Cowumbus]

Werenski with an assist in a 3-1 W, but ends as a -1 because he got off the ice before Guentzel scored haha.

The NBA peaked in popularity when LeBron was in Cleveland.

I think he’s trying to say that NBA marketing did a good job while he was there - as you say, it peaked.

 

[majormajor]

If there’s something where due to transfer arrangements or whatnot there CAN’T be non-NHLers (rather than the NHL’s choice, it’s an IIHF thing) then sure, I guess there’d be no other option if you want to expand. Make it only 6 teams (these 4 plus Russia plus Team Leftovers) and maybe expand by a week with 5 round robin games rather than 3, with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 semifinals.

If it’s just the NHL’s choice, I’d maintain keeping it at the nation level and the NHL allowing non-NHLers as necessary, and bumping it up to 8 countries, but no multi-nation teams. That’s just my opinion.

I don't mind that.

Though I must admit I'm not more excited by an 8 team tourney. The parity of the 6 teams - if Russia and Europe are included - is what makes every game so sizzling. I'm not interested in watching Team USA take on Team Germany or Team Switzerland. The number of unwatchable blowouts international tournament have is a significant problem.

 

[Cowumbus]

I don't mind that.

Though I must admit I'm not more excited by an 8 team tourney. The parity of the 6 teams - if Russia and Europe are included - is what makes every game so sizzling. I'm not interested in watching Team USA take on Team Germany or Team Switzerland. The number of unwatchable blowouts international tournament have is a significant problem.

 

[VT]

If I'm counting correctly, the Canada - Finland game will be important. If the Finns win in regulation time, they would be in the final. If in OT, they have to pray that OT is also played in the USA - Sweden game.

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

I'd like to keep it to national teams too but if we need to accommodate players, I think just one misfits/underdogs team would be the ticket.

I find it slightly annoying that the 4 Nations tournament standings are nowhere to be found. Apparently the standings use the 3 points system used in some places in Europe? So it's something like:

USA - 6p
CAN - 3p
FIN - 2p
SWE - 2p

I like the 3p system because it gives meaning to regulation wins better than the 2p system. But it's interesting the NHL chose it, given how weird it must feel to North Americans? Or is it used somewhere in the lower levels/juniors?

(I guess for such a short tourney, 3p system works better/faster at getting the teams separated... interesting if they go back to 2p for the 8 Nations version.)

 

[koteka]

Is it a Canadian thing to trash the goalie when your scorers don’t score? I mean you have a team with McDavid, Mackinnon, Marner, and Eichel (4 of the top 6 scorers in the NHL this season) plus Crosby and you score one goal? Did Binnington let in two stoppable goals? Yes? Did he also make plenty of good saves and only allow 2 goals against an all star line up? Yes again.

I don’t think Hellebuyck stole the game. I think the US was really committed to defense and it was a whole team effort. Guys like JT Miller were in passing lanes disrupting the Canadians offense and blocking shots. American defenders like Slavin and McAvoy were locked in. Hellebuyck is a great goalie and played well but the whole American defense played well except one breakaway by the most skilled hockey player in the world.

Here is the stat of the game in my opinion - the Canadians had only 26 shots on net.

McDavid getting the 3rd star was such Canadian homerism.

 

[stevo61]

Is it a Canadian thing to trash the goalie when your scorers don’t score? I mean you have a team with McDavid, Mackinnon, Marner, and Eichel (4 of the top 6 scorers in the NHL this season) plus Crosby and you score one goal? Did Binnington let in two stoppable goals? Yes? Did he also make plenty of good saves and only allow 2 goals against an all star line up? Yes again.

I don’t think Hellebuyck stole the game. I think the US was really committed to defense and it was a whole team effort. Guys like JT Miller were in passing lanes disrupting the Canadians offense and blocking shots. American defenders like Slavin and McAvoy were locked in. Hellebuyck is a great goalie and played well but the whole American defense played well except one breakaway by the most skilled hockey player in the world.

Here is the stat of the game in my opinion - the Canadians had only 26 shots on net.

McDavid getting the 3rd star was such Canadian homerism.

Almost like it was a 50/50 game and the team with the better goaltender won.

I also think Eichel must have put on the wrong jersey

 

[Cyclones Rock]

I don't hate the Tkachuks right now.

I'm sure hope that's a temporary condition.

 

[koteka]

Almost like it was a 50/50 game and the team with the better goaltender won

It was a game mostly played in the American end but the Canadians never seemed like they were on the verge of scoring. The one Canadian goal came from a break away. I think it was a team defensive effort. I thought the American power play looked more dangerous than the Canadian multiple power plays. The Americans didn’t attack much but they looked more dangerous when they attacked. It was like the Americans would let the Canadians enter the zone and stay in the zone, but there were always enough Americans back to defend and get the puck out of the zone forcing Canada to regroup. I’d say it was a 60/40 game but the 60 seemed mostly ineffective while the 40 knew how to counter strike. The goalie piece oversimplifies how well people like Slavin and Miller played. (PS: I would be willing to trade for US vs Canada JT Miller.)

 

[MAHJ71]

I don't hate the Tkachuks right now.

I'm sure hope that's a temporary condition.

The Tkachuk brothers are pretty easy to root for when they are playing on YOUR team

 

[stevo61]

It was a game mostly played in the American end but the Canadians never seemed like they were on the verge of scoring. The one Canadian goal came from a break away. I think it was a team defensive effort. I thought the American power play looked more dangerous than the Canadian multiple power plays. The Americans didn’t attack much but they looked more dangerous when they attacked. It was like the Americans would let the Canadians enter the zone and stay in the zone, but there were always enough Americans back to defend and get the puck out of the zone forcing Canada to regroup. I’d say it was a 60/40 game but the 60 seemed mostly ineffective while the 40 knew how to counter strike. The goalie piece oversimplifies how well people like Slavin and Miller played. (PS: I would be willing to trade for US vs Canada JT Miller.)

You act like the chances Canada had were nothing, they definitely had some strong opportunities. It was a low shot affair from both sides and neither team was well above the other

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Can’t tell you how many friends (who either don’t watch hockey or are very casual) reached out and said stuff like this. Massive W for the NHL.

 

[SteelCityCannon]

I'd like to keep it to national teams too but if we need to accommodate players, I think just one misfits/underdogs team would be the ticket.

I find it slightly annoying that the 4 Nations tournament standings are nowhere to be found. Apparently the standings use the 3 points system used in some places in Europe? So it's something like:

USA - 6p
CAN - 3p
FIN - 2p
SWE - 2p

I like the 3p system because it gives meaning to regulation wins better than the 2p system. But it's interesting the NHL chose it, given how weird it must feel to North Americans? Or is it used somewhere in the lower levels/juniors?

(I guess for such a short tourney, 3p system works better/faster at getting the teams separated... interesting if they go back to 2p for the 8 Nations version.)

They're on NHLs app and website. You're right other than Canada actually has two points. Each game is worth 3 total. They beat Sweden in OT so they got 2 for it.