Is 4 Nations a “Best on Best”?

[moropanov]

It cant be best on best if Ovechkin isn't playing versus Crosby

Thats always been forced rivalry.Crosbys always been much better as a player.. Ovechkin wouldnt make canadas roster based on hockey level dont think would have made Canadas roster even in 2014 when Babcock was coaching;D let alone nowadays atleast based on ability. He is scoring WWE typic forced goals in NHL nowadays empty netters etc but if being realistic same level guy would come to try outs with randon name he would be sended to ECHL right away slow beer league levelish skater clumsy hands in bad fit beer belly etc.. Playing in competition like 4 nations he would have been worst player around when its serious play not NBA typic hang around regular season game.

 

[Nucks2001]

Thats always been forced rivalry.Crosbys always been much better as a player.. Ovechkin wouldnt make canadas roster based on hockey level dont think would have made Canadas roster even in 2014 when Babcock was coaching;D let alone nowadays atleast based on ability. He is scoring WWE typic forced goals in NHL nowadays empty netters etc but if being realistic same level guy would come to try outs with randon name he would be sended to ECHL right away slow beer league levelish skater clumsy hands in bad fit beer belly etc.. Playing in competition like 4 nations he would have been worst player around when its serious play not NBA typic hang around regular season game.

I don’t think you understand how good prime Ovi was. When he had his game on, he was the most dominant goal-scorer we've seen in a long time.

He could score form anywhere. Off the rush, he was just too fast and strong, also some of the best hands for a guy that big too. You see McDavid and MacKinnon blow past defenders nowindays, Prime Ovi would go THROUGH defenders. His wrist shot was lethal from every square inch of the O-Zone and he had the best One-T on the PP for more than a decade. When he was dialed in, he could create plays and defend too.

That's the main difference between him and Crosby. Crosby gave that effort 100% of the time, always improved his game in the smallest of ways and was the more all-around player. When you compare Ovi at his best though, he was easily the best offensive force in hockey for multiple seasons and nights (Yes, even over Crosby).

 

[Peiskos]

It cant be best on best if Ovechkin isn't playing versus Crosby

Crosby's Canada crushed Ovechkin's Russia 7-3 at the best vs best Olympics in 2010. Crosby didn't get to play against Ovechkin at the 2014 Olympics but it wouldn't have mattered.. Crosby's team would have won.

Crosby also faced off against Ovechkin at the 2015 IIHF WC, while not a best on best Crosby's Canada once again crushed Ovechkin and Russia 6-1.

The Russians have largely been a tune up game for Canada at all levels of hockey, junior through mens level. Their participation in international hockey doesn't alter Canada's international hockey hegemony.

 

[Gerulaitis]

Crosby's Canada crushed Ovechkin's Russia 7-3 at the best vs best Olympics in 2010. Crosby didn't get to play against Ovechkin at the 2014 Olympics but it wouldn't have mattered.. Crosby's team would have won.

Crosby also faced off against Ovechkin at the 2015 IIHF WC, while not a best on best Crosby's Canada once again crushed Ovechkin and Russia 6-1.

The Russians have largely been a tune up game for Canada at all levels of hockey, junior through mens level. Their participation in international hockey doesn't alter Canada's international hockey hegemony.

Not sure what was your point.

I was talking about the rivalry of the two biggest names in modern hockey.

Well, and Ovechkin wasn't that all bad versus Canada. He eliminated Canada in the 2006 Olympics.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Technically no because European countries couldn't pick their best Euro players. Also Russia wasn't present. It's the next best thing though.

 

[jigglysquishy]

It is best on best. At the same time, Russia should have been there (and the Czechs). Doesn't take away from the fact that four countries sent their best rosters. Summit Series was best on best. Does it not count because the US, Sweden, Czech Republic, etc. weren't there? No, of course not.

The Summit Series wasn't best on best.

The term's genesis in hockey was to differentiate the 76 Canada Cup (best on best) from the 72 Summit Series (not best on best).

The entire reason the word is in hockey lexicon was because of the anger around 72 not being best on best.

 

[JackSlater]

The Summit Series wasn't best on best.

The term's genesis in hockey was the differentiate the 76 Canada Cup (best on best) from the 72 Summit Series (not best on best).

The entire reason the word is in hockey lexicon was because of the anger around 72 not being best on best.

Yes, even the IIHF wrote about the 1976 Canada Cup being the origin of specifically "best on best" when it counted down the top hockey stories of the century. As with many terms people try to twist the meaning of a term to suit what they want, and we see this with TSN calling the world juniors a best on best tournament in recent years, and if it happens enough then other people get confused about what the term means. The summit series was a big event, as was the Challenge Cup and a few other things on the level where this four nations event belongs.

 

[Czechboy]

Not sure what was your point.

I was talking about the rivalry of the two biggest names in modern hockey.

Well, and Ovechkin wasn't that all bad versus Canada. He eliminated Canada in the 2006 Olympics.

Which was great.. got my Czechs a medal. Ovi and friends took out Canada and cleared a path for everyone else. Lost to Finland and then lost to Czechs in bronze game. I believe they didn't score another goal and were 0-7 in those 2 games after the big win? Always appreciated Russia for doing the heavy lifting!

 

[Czechboy]

Crosby's Canada crushed Ovechkin's Russia 7-3 at the best vs best Olympics in 2010. Crosby didn't get to play against Ovechkin at the 2014 Olympics but it wouldn't have mattered.. Crosby's team would have won.

Crosby also faced off against Ovechkin at the 2015 IIHF WC, while not a best on best Crosby's Canada once again crushed Ovechkin and Russia 6-1.

The Russians have largely been a tune up game for Canada at all levels of hockey, junior through mens level. Their participation in international hockey doesn't alter Canada's international hockey hegemony.

Brutal round robin opponent and tough out on the way to a medal is how I'd characterize them internationally.

Just not.much to show in the big games. 5 big wins. 2 against Belarus. 1 against the Czechs. 1 against Finland and 1 impressive one against Canada (which I describe in the post before this).

 

[Gerulaitis]

Which was great.. got my Czechs a medal. Ovi and friends took out Canada and cleared a path for everyone else. Lost to Finland and then lost to Czechs in bronze game. I believe they didn't score another goal and were 0-7 in those 2 games after the big win? Always appreciated Russia for doing the heavy lifting!

What's your point. Ovechkin eliminated Canada. You're talking about Czechs and Finns.