Is it safe to say that USA-Canada is now the biggest rivalry in international hockey?

[Maestro84]

I always thought of Canada vs Russia or Sweden vs Finland as the biggest hockey international rivalries as those two matchups go way back with another.

Canada and Russia are by far the two most successful hockey nations in history and their matchups have always given us some of the best hockey matchups we've ever seen for the last 60 years. With Sweden and Finland, they're both hockey passionate Nordic nations who have a regional rivalry spanning over the past millennia that transcends the sport itself. While the US was always there, they didn't truly become a contender in ice hockey until the 1990s

However, it seems like the USA-Canada matchup is now firmly #1...would you say this is a general consensus? And if so, when would you say this became the biggest rivalry?

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[Mattb124]

USA and Canada now contribute ~70% of players in the NHL. Not sure there is room for any other countries for the “biggest rivalry”.

 

[Maestro84]

USA and Canada now contribute ~70% of players in the NHL. Not sure there is room for any other countries for the “biggest rivalry”.

Do you think it's fair to say that between 1950-2010, Canada-Russia was the biggest hockey rivalry but since 2010, it's now USA-Canada?

I think the 2010 Olympics where Canada beat Russia badly (never thought I'd see Russia get beat like that), and then the US played them in another gold medal match (the third since '96) and had beaten the Canadians in the group stages officially swung it in favour of US-Canada.

 

[Mattb124]

Do you think it's fair to say that between 1950-2010, Canada-Russia was the biggest hockey rivalry but since 2010, it's now USA-Canada?

I think the 2010 Olympics where Canada beat Russia badly (never thought I'd see Russia get beat like that), and then the US played them in another gold medal match (the third since '96) and had beaten the Canadians in the group stages officially swung it in favour of US-Canada.

Where exactly between 1950 and 2010 is now?

 

[Maestro84]

Where exactly between 1950 and 2010 is now?

I personally think that right now it's USA vs Canada but there's no doubt that for several decades upon decades, it was Canada vs Russia/USSR, so I would personally vote 'yes' in this poll but wanted to see others' opinions.

I was more so asking above when exactly the US-Canada rivalry overtook Canada-Russia...for me, that would be in the 2010 Olympics

 

[Yozhik v tumane]

Do you think it's fair to say that between 1950-2010, Canada-Russia was the biggest hockey rivalry but since 2010, it's now USA-Canada?

It’s probably fair to say that at least prior to the 1972 Summit Series, there were few good arguments for Canada and the USSR being the greatest rivalry in international hockey. Czechoslovakia and the USSR would probably be it.

 

[Shark Finn]

Objectively probably, especially in terms of on ice talent, but subjectively my own preference as a Finn will always be against the Swedes.

 

[Bounces R Way]

They are the two currently strongest countries so yes it is very safe to say they are the best rivalry. If it was two other countries that were clearly tier 1 it would probably be them.

Russia has barely done shit in 30 years. Struggle to develop quality top 6 Cs and top pairing true #1 defenseman. The Russian W and G groups however you could put up against anybody in my opinion. Especially in net, whatever they put in their borscht is producing some seriously great goalies. All of Sweden, Finland, and the Czechs are all capable of beating anyone on any given night in best on best. I don't even think Canada or the States would be considered heavy favourites against them everyone healthy. Slovakia, Germany, and the Swiss punchers chance kind of teams. Routinely now can get a player or two from one of these countries in the top 15 of the NHL draft.

As a Canadian hockey fan I got to say I absolutely f***ing love to see it, hockey is a great sport with tons of incredible athletes. We'll never have what soccer has internationally but the quality of the competition at the next Olympics should be high. I do hope by then whatever nonsense can be sorted out in Europe and the Russians can participate. As much as it sucks to have not seen McDavid or Makar or MacKinnon at the Olympics, Nikita Kucherov hasn't put on his nation's sweater since the WJs either.

 

[HBK27]

Right now, yes as USA is seriously challenging Canada for the top spot. Add in all the, um, extracurricular noise and I think it takes top spot currently.

 

[Machinehead]

I don't think there's a point since the 90's where it wasn't.

You have to go back to when the US wasn't a major hockey power.

 

[Fatass]

These countries have been the two best for quite a while.

 

[loadie]

It’s undoubtedly the US - Canada now

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Yes quite easily , Russia is not very good anymore

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Objectively probably, especially in terms of on ice talent, but subjectively my own preference as a Finn will always be against the Swedes.

I’m Canadian and I still give the edge to Finland/Sweden as well.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Initial thought is no but I think when you factor in the USA vs Canada Womens rivalry it makes it a more clear result to me.

 

[koyvoo]

It has been for close to 30 years now

 

[ViD]

Yes quite easily , Russia is not very good anymore

That’s a weird statement considering Russia won more medals at WHC than any other nations before the ban and won gold and silver of the two last Olympics

 

[Golden_Jet]

That’s a weird statement considering Russia won more medals at WHC than any other nations before the ban and won gold and silver of the two last Olympics

lol WHC is the best of the worst, and the last 2 Olympics, the best players never went.
Russia just doesn’t do well anymore at best on best.

 

[WarriorofTime]

lol WHC is the best of the worst, and the last 2 Olympics, the best players never went.
Russia just doesn’t do well anymore at best on best.

There hasn't been that much best on best lately though. The current generation of Russian goaltenders for instance weren't around back in 2014. I would consider Russia's Sochi Roster to be an all time low for a real or hypothetical best on best roster.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Voted US-Canada but I think it comes down to how you quantify it. On a whole, Finland and Sweden are much more invested in hockey and in international competition.

Compare the TV ratings of a Finland/Sweden game in those countries to a US/Canada game, and I bet FIN/SWE market share trounces US/Canada

 

[ViD]

lol WHC is the best of the worst, and the last 2 Olympics, the best players never went.
Russia just doesn’t do well anymore at best on best.

Russia beat McDavid in 2016 and lost 3-5 to Canada in the semis.
The U.S. did not even make it out of the group

 

[Golden_Jet]

How can the money line be the same tonight -110 for both teams,

When the puck line is -1.5 USA

Edit: ignore, this was supposed to be in GDT,

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Time to Beat down them soft canadians on the scoreboard again that Trudeau is proud of for getting clapped on the scoreboard and with the fist cuffs. Trudeau being proud of them is peak Trudeau.

 

[Mobiandi]

There is no rivalry. A rivalry implies that there’s some push and pull for the top spot.

At the highest level, USA has been Canada’s punching bag for the last 30 years.

 

[piqued]

We all gonna act like Belarus-Japan doesn't exist?