League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2024-25 Summer Edition

[CapitalsCupReality]

Higher than any NHL game ever in the US? Or just higher than any nhl game on ESPN?

Any NHL game EVER…only a few International games were larger that I can see in a quick search.

 

[Jags]

I don't know about you all, but this tournament meant nothing to me, even had the US won.

Same. I loved the intensity, but I switched the TV off right after Canada's OT winner, went to bed, and really haven't been bugged by it at all. And I'm not sure winning would have felt much different.

If they want to expand a “4 Nations” type tournament they’ll have to group some nations/players together if they keep it NHL only.

Yeah, I'd do Canada, USA, Russia, and a Unified/Euro team. And for safety's sake, I would either coin-flip the matchups or make it a North America versus Eurasia thing and just play 3 total games -- two semis and a championship. If the hockey's going to be that lively and physical, they have to minimize the number of games and spread them out a bit more.

Side note: Matthew Tkachuk should not have played that game last night. He was clearly hurt and they said a groin injury I believe. Pretty difficult to try and skate with a groin issue. Can’t believe the Panthers let him even attempt to play.

Amen, though I also feel that way from a Team USA perspective. Woulda been an extremely popular player to leave out of the lineup, but them essentially playing with 10 forwards kneecapped them for two thirds of the game. If you're playing a hurt guy AND sheltering another in a f***ing all-star game, that says something really bad about the talent you feel your country has to offer. Not a good look for Guerin and the coaches.

 

[MW6]

I like the suggestion of 4 Nations group A and B run simultaneously. Same setup, but the winner of group B and last place finish in group A switch spots for next year. 8th spot might be based off of the best ranking in the previous world championships (I.e. Switzerland finishes 8th and Austria performs better at the world championships 3 months later, they draw in instead of Switzerland on the next 4 nations.

More meaningful games (I.e. for the last spots, most games would still be pretty even beforehand, all the best players get to participate, no days off scheduled for games but players still get the same amount of rest. And it would be based on meritocracy instead of popularity.