Is there a competitiveness problem with the World Juniors?

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Scores of the first 10 games of the tournament. 1 game within 2 goals.

6-2
5-2
4-1
6-0
3-0
4-3
8-1
10-0
11-3
5-0

Click to read more...

 

[WarriorofTime]

Always has been

 

[SI90]

You’d like parity but it’s clear there isn’t a balance of power. Although I a team like Switzerland is usually better than their current showing.

 

[Drake1588]

There's only 4-6 competitive teams every year. The rest is... something something growing the game.

The teams that get shellacked claim that facing and losing to these superteams is good for their development and the IIHF is inclined to agree, so the field stays the size that it is and the round robin is full of mismatches as a result. The good teams don't get anything out of it. The round robin isn't really for them, but for the teams trying to improve from the fringes. Those 10-0 and 11-3 scores aren't exactly peak entertainment, though.

 

[Mattb124]

The problem is with people who assume life is fair. It isn’t.

 

[Dingo]

they usually start out by getting the lopsided matchups out of the way and saving the marquee ones for NYE.

Ya, its been worse than usual, and also Finland is suprisingly weak and Russia isnt there... so, the typical top 5 is a top 3 this time.

 

[majormajor]

There should be 6 teams in a top group each tournament.

The 7-12 play in their own pool to fight for promotion.

It's really not okay to have this many imbalanced games and several of the best clubs don't even play each other. Some of the federations need to step out to force the IIHF to change it.

 

[Statsy]

Until these last few games, it looked like the weaker teams were actually better than usual this year. There's still a huge gap between the top and the bottom though.

 

[Rob]

Russia is missing and a weaker team is added.

 

[admiralcadillac]

they usually start out by getting the lopsided matchups out of the way and saving the marquee ones for NYE.

Ya, its been worse than usual, and also Finland is suprisingly weak and Russia isnt there... so, the typical top 5 is a top 3 this time.

You say that as if the Czechs and Slovaks have no shot. Both teams are good this year. The Slovaks could’ve been great with Slaf and Nemec.

Denmark isn’t in this year but I remember them making a splash with Ehlers and Bjorkstrabd. This tournament is a chance for a lot of players to try and make a splash.

 

[Siludin]

The tournament should be even bigger.
In the middle of each bracket you would get a higher quantity of competitive matchups.
At the extreme ends you get 34-0 games.
I want to see Canada shred Somalia. I want to see how Singapore does against Nigeria.
I want it all.

 

[Statsy]

There should be 6 teams in a top group each tournament.

The 7-12 play in their own pool to fight for promotion.

It's really not okay to have this many imbalanced games and several of the best clubs don't even play each other. Some of the federations need to step out to force the IIHF to change it.

CLEARLY, we have more than 6 decent teams. If we contract, it would be by two. Don't forget we're missing Russia at the moment.

 

[WarriorofTime]

There should be 6 teams in a top group each tournament.

The 7-12 play in their own pool to fight for promotion.

It's really not okay to have this many imbalanced games and several of the best clubs don't even play each other. Some of the federations need to step out to force the IIHF to change it.

Agreed, 6 team tournament would make things interesting and actually require a fight.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Ice hockey might be the most top-heavy international sport there is.

 

[majormajor]

Agreed, 6 team tournament would make things interesting and actually require a fight.

Imagine getting to see Canada, US, Russia, Czechia, Finland, and Sweden all playing each other. It would be an insane pleasure compared to the snooze fest we have to watch every round robin.

I hope TSN is lobbying for it, it's amazing what they have to carry with these Canada v Latvia matchups.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Tourney is fine as is and is at it's optimal setting right now. The double relegation was abysmal... the bye was abysmal... they got rid of those things.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

They are never going to go to less teams. Ever. An actual solution would be to run the tournament the way the IIHF runs their womens tournaments.

 

[majormajor]

CLEARLY, we have more than 6 decent teams. If we contract, it would be by two. Don't forget we're missing Russia at the moment.

I don't think we do.

The 7th or 8th best team, even with Russia present, still get smoked.

 

[pld459666]

10-2 and 11-3 scores are boring.

 

[ORRFForever]

Yes. Getting Russia backs improves it. Getting Czechia and Slovakia to their previous levels improves it even more.

We need more than the Big 4.

 

[Czechboy]

Do you have the scores from the precious decade after 2 matches?

From experience I can say the Czechs have taken a lot of bearings in round robin action since 2006. Same with Slovakia.

Both are improved here.

Germany beat Finland.

I feel it's always been this way ... Unxompetive till quarters.. then one crazy upsets and then good semis and finals with minimal upsets really...

Slovaks, Czechs and swiss occasionally get 1 medal. Otherwise it was the big 5 and now big 4 getting all the medals.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Have a group A with the top 5 nations based on the rankings(or can just be previous years results) this year that would be(CAN, FIN, USA, GER, SWE) they all play each other and at the end of the round robin get ranked 1-5 for the quarters. The other 5 teams are in group B. Top 3 teams in group B get spots 6-8 in the QF and the bottom two are off to the relegation. I am not sure they will even make a change to the format, but if they did this is the way to go.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

CLEARLY, we have more than 6 decent teams. If we contract, it would be by two. Don't forget we're missing Russia at the moment.

I think there are currently nine relevant hockey playing countries:

* Canada
* The U.S
* Russia
* Sweden
* Finland
* Czechia
* Slovakia
* Switzerland
* Germany

We all know of the issues with Russia. The Czechs and Slovaks have experienced a resurgence, which is great. Germany is on the rise, which is also good. The Swiss are in a bit of a lull IMO. It would be great if a 10th country could rise and be competitive year in, year out though.

 

[Czechboy]

Have a group A with the top 5 nations based on the rankings(or can just be previous years results) this year that would be(CAN, FIN, USA, GER, SWE) they all play each other and at the end of the round robin get ranked 1-5 for the quarters. The other 5 teams are in group B. Top 3 teams in group B get spots 6-8 in the QF and the bottom two are off to the relegation. I am not sure they will even make a change to the format, but if they did this is the way to go.

Agree but base it on previous year... Czechs were silver last year and should be in the A group. Once they get anhilated.. ship them to B.

I don't think it will ever happen because I'm not sure how much ad and ticket revenue group B would get. I'd watch but I'm a weirdo.

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Should be top 6 teams only. Play a single round robin. Top 4 make the Medal round.