Is 4 Nations a “Best on Best”?

[Joe Zanussi]

I’m sure it’s posted elsewhere…but I’m lazy.

Click to read more...

 

[WarriorofTime]

Technically no because it’s a 4-team invitational without open qualification. But it is marketed as such as the four teams have fill nhl player availability.

 

[ORRFForever]

No.

4 teams. No Russia. No dark horses like Czechia or the Swiss or Slovakia. There has to be a bare minimum to be considered Best On Best and this doesn't get close.

This is a warm up (between 4 strong nations) for the Olympics.

 

[Mathieukferland]

No

 

[moropanov]

Yea best againts best games between these nations thats what it means i suppose. Same as if Denmark and Latvia played best of 7 series it would be best againts best.

 

[Crosby2010]

Well, with the 4 countries playing in it, yes. But overall no. Russia, Czechs, Slovakia are all not playing. With the Challenge Cup in 1979 it wasn't the Canada Cup with training camps and lots of practice time or anything. It was like this, it was to replace the All-Star game. And it was the Soviets vs. the NHL. Technically not Canada as the team had all Canadians plus three Swedes. To me it is still important but the Canada Cups were the key to the best on bests. That was the real tournaments.

 

[57special]

Yes, pretty much.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

Does the 4 nations represented have their best available players? Yes
Are the best players in the world represented? No
But it happens a lot, like Zlatan when he was arguable top 5 in the world, wasnt at
FIFA world cup, i guess neither Haaland, worlds best player will be in WC in USA.
Its just the way it is sometimes

 

[ORRFForever]

Well, with the 4 countries playing in it, yes. But overall no. Russia, Czechs, Slovakia are all not playing. With the Challenge Cup in 1979 it wasn't the Canada Cup with training camps and lots of practice time or anything. It was like this, it was to replace the All-Star game. And it was the Soviets vs. the NHL. Technically not Canada as the team had all Canadians plus three Swedes. To me it is still important but the Canada Cups were the key to the best on bests. That was the real tournaments.

For something to be considered Best on Best, there has to be a minimum of 8(?) teams - it provides a chance for an upset.

 

[Miro4Norris]

Yes, it is 4 best hockey countries by far going against each other (Russia doesn’t exist rn and it’s their fault. And well, Russia never really succeed anyways). Of course I prefer Olympics but next year we will get them and before that i will enjoy this tournament without a need to cry that something else is happening in hockey world instead of boring forever-lasting 82 game regular season.

 

[Jumptheshark]

I’m sure it’s posted elsewhere…but I’m lazy.

Nope. AS other have pointed out, there were not qualification games to get into the games. I think two of Germany, Swiss or Czechs should have been in as well.. By only having the FIns and Swedes in the game, I believe the NHL left a lot of money on the table

 

[WarriorofTime]

Does the 4 nations represented have their best available players? Yes
Are the best players in the world represented? No
But it happens a lot, like Zlatan when he was arguable top 5 in the world, wasnt at
FIFA world cup, i guess neither Haaland, worlds best player will be in WC in USA.
Its just the way it is sometimes

But world cups can be seen as extensive to the qualification events where their countries did participate.

Now if a tournament is big enough to where lack of qualification is a matter of form not substance I understand but with four teams, that’s far too small imo.

 

[Czechboy]

I say no it isn't

BUT, if Czechs were in and won it.. you'd never hear the end of it.

Reminds me of a subway series in Junior to be honest. Great hockey, important but not the same as winning a U20.

 

[Albatros]

To me it is still important but the Canada Cups were the key to the best on bests. That was the real tournaments.

They also frequently included depleted rosters.

 

[Greatzsky 99]

But world cups can be seen as extensive to the qualification events where their countries did participate.

Now if a tournament is big enough to where lack of qualification is a matter of form not substance I understand but with four teams, that’s far too small imo.

Yeah thats fair enogh, I agree, maybe was a bad comparation, i meant, that in team sports, not always
the best player(s) can compete for medals.

 

[Zine]

Nope. There are restrictions on rosters, even for those countries participating.

Granted the NHL is where the elite talent is, but countries must have access to their entire national talent pool.

Like with all Finland injuries, some Euro based player would likely make it over Vaakanainen if available.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Nope. There are restrictions on rosters, even for those countries participating.

Granted the NHL is where the elite talent it, but countries must have access to their entire national talent pool.

Like with all Finland injuries, some Euro based player would likely make it over Vaakanainen if available.

Good point on an injury depleted and not super nhl level deep Finland. The euro league guys for them are usually pretty solid.

 

[the valiant effort]

It’s the Cherry Blossom on top of the shitcake that the powers that be have made of international hockey.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

Nope. AS other have pointed out, there were not qualification games to get into the games. I think two of Germany, Swiss or Czechs should have been in as well.. By only having the FIns and Swedes in the game, I believe the NHL left a lot of money on the table

this is a silly comment considering none of those countries even have enough nhl players to fill out a roster, let alone talent to hang with the other 4

 

[trader997]

It's best on best! Can't believe people don't know their hockey here. People talk about the Czech's or Germany or Slovakia not being there... They can't even ice a full roster! Lol Germany has 7 players in the NHL, Czechia has 4D's only and Slovakia probably 5 NHL players only.

 

[Drake1588]

It's genuinely a best-on-best tournament if you can only invite those countries who can assemble their best from NHL rosters.

If a country has to delve into the European leagues to assemble their best team (and especially if they don't have enough players in the NHL and fall short of even being able to put together a team filled out with mediocrity), then those countries weren't invited. It's actually touch and go for the Swedish and Finnish teams to have enough NHL players, after you account for injuries right now.

Everyone focuses on the hockey nations' unhappiness with Russian foreign policy, but this isn't truly about that, or the list of nations would be larger (there is no political reason to exclude the Czechs, Slovaks, Germans, Swiss, Danes, etc.). This is about the NHL wanting to have a BoB tournament this year, amid a bitter fight between the NHL and the IIHF over how proceeds should be shared from such a tournament. They can't agree, so the World Cup/Four Nations can't have IIHF players. These are the only four teams, other than Russia, that can assemble a roster from the NHL ranks. (If you invite the Russians, the Swedes and Finns will boycott, and you'd only have three teams.)

• Gord Miller talked about this at length on the Ray & Dregs podcast last week. Really good stuff on the Four Nations (24:05 to 35:00).
• Then good stuff on the gap between US/Canada and the rest at the junior level, the European club system, parallels with futbol transfers, and the impact that NCAA rules changes will have on imports. (35:00 to 39:30).

 

[trader997]

For something to be considered Best on Best, there has to be a minimum of 8(?) teams - it provides a chance for an upset.

Just 5 countries have enough players for a full roster. And Russia can't participate in anything right now so this is the best that we are going to get!