So now in 2015, we've seen Chinese people drafted, Australians drafted, More Germans, French, players coming about. One day in 10-15 years there'll be more and more players coming from countries we can't even reckon right now. There will be a Chinese invasion one day with the Olympics going there. People get introduced to the game through the Olympics and Worlds. People across the World don't watch the nhl. Everyone watches the Olympics. The Olympics is cream of the crop and when parents, children see that, it gets them started.
This is not something that holds true for the "developing" hockey countries, but
established ones as well. Perhaps the NHL is seen as the ultimate goal for any aspiring hockey junior in North America, but elsewhere, Russia, Finland, Sweden and so forth, its more a means to an end. And that end is one day being a venerated national hero. When a kid first ties his skates and takes those first aspiring strides on the ice, he does NOT think about hoisting the cup while wearing the jersey of the Habs, Bruins or the Hawks - but standing on ice and watching his country's flag go up while the national anthem plays. And there is no greater epitome feeding that dream than the Olympic Games every four years or so.
However, to get to that moment, the best way is to become an NHLer. Therefore, many a kid sets the league in his sights regardless. Now, I think the people who claim that the Olympics do nothing to raise the league's viewer market are pretty much right - tuning into olympic hockey does not mean same people will later tune into the NHL. But what the league has obviously not considered, is that by having a clammy stance towards the international game, they're certainly hurting the quality of players available to them in the future.
Best note though, that I'm not implying by this that these kids, when they grow up, will simply settle for the KHL or various other European leagues. Those who do pick up the game will still go where the money is. But if the positive buzz around a country's national team dies, it will mean that many of these kids who could otherwise one day be world class in hockey, simply pick up other sports that seem to offer a more likely road into national reverence.
The Olympics may not be good for the NHL in a manner that is directly observable, but they are good for the game as a whole. And in the long run, the NHL will also benefit from it. Therefore, it seems quite incomprehensible that the NHL execs favor the quick buck over long-term benefits, especially since the price is extremely light, especially when compared to most other sports around. Instead of having to adhere to regular international breaks multiple times a year as is the case with soccer (and soon will be the case with basketball as well), all that's required of them is to shut down the league and work with the world's governing body for a couple of weeks every other year or so.
And oh, to stay on topic... the true World Cup?
1. Invite the best hockey countries in the world based on the latest international results. NTs only. No gimmicks.
2. Have the participants piece their teams together using whatever players available to them, no matter the league they play in.
3. Let the tournament run its course.
That's it.
