Puck Daddy: Team Europe World Cup players frustrated with format

[Frank the Tank]

Why not just pick Slovakia and Switzerland then? It's clear they are the best out of the ''rest''. And in the next World Cup,have qualifiers, so countries like Latvia or Germany can compete for spot.


If NHL managment wanted it to be national teams only, it would be. But they didn't, they wanted money and it's simple, team with Kopitar will be selling more tickets than team with european team's players.

Why act shocked that a hockey tournament is being held to make money? Why is the World Hockey Championships hosted every year on a European hockey friendly schedule (that blatantly contradicts the playoffs of the best hockey league in the world)? Because Europeans are the hockey fans who watch it on TV and buy the tickets so the IIHF caters the tournament schedule toward them.

 

[1Gold Standard]

The "not enough time for qualifiers" is just an excuse for the gimmicky teams...

A qualifying round for the final 2 spots for countries ranked 7-12 would be ideal, but not necessary... Top 8 ranked teams according to IIHF rankings from the WHC a year out (in this case 2015) are the 8 teams. Slovakia and Switzerland would be in.

Doesn't seem too complicated to me. but to the dimwits at the NHL marketing office, John Collins and Co, apparently it is a tad complicated.

This is not going to be well received in Toronto anyway.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

I'll be definitely NOT watching this and I'm from Toronto

 

[JackSlater]

Well judging by that quote the new version of this tournament seems to have qualifiers to me. And I never said it was NHL exclusive, but it certainly is NHL focused.

When were those qualifiers played?

If is isn't NHL exclusive, how do you explain your statement...

There aren't enough Swiss and Slovak players to compose a full team.

Why act shocked that a hockey tournament is being held to make money? Why is the World Hockey Championships hosted every year on a European hockey friendly schedule (that blatantly contradicts the playoffs of the best hockey league in the world)? Because Europeans are the hockey fans who watch it on TV and buy the tickets so the IIHF caters the tournament schedule toward them.

Yeah, the money part is irrelevant. It's not even like ensuring Kopitar is in the tournament is going to cause viewership or ticket sales to soar. They're going to sell just as many tickets (easy enough in Toronto) and probably have just as many viewers (mostly Canadians) either way.

 

[Stand Witness]

Isn't it pretty much known that the Young team and Europe team are more or less fill ins until a team like Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, etc... manage to get into the tournament and a good enough program to be somewhat competitive?

Maybe I am misinformed.

Also is the a 2nd/3rd division for relegation?

 

[FiLe]

Maybe I am misinformed.

Yeah, obviously. Have you by any chance watched a single second of the past two best-on-best tournaments, the olympics in Sochi and Vancouver?

They may not be candidates to win it all, but they're far from pushovers, even if half their squads may comprise of players from some Eastern Bloc dungholes good ole' Joe Hockey living in the heartlands has never heard about.

And that's the reason these countries are not in - their supposed competitiveness or the lack of it has nothing to do with it. Because Joe has no idea who these guys are, Bettman & co simply don't think they're marketable. Better to have Kopitar and Vanek and who else in in their stead.

 

[Stand Witness]

Yeah, obviously. Have you by any chance watched a single second of the past two best-on-best tournaments, the olympics in Sochi and Vancouver?

They may not be candidates to win it all, but they're far from pushovers, even if half their squads may comprise of players from some Eastern Bloc dungholes good ole' Joe Hockey living in the heartlands has never heard about.

I was more talking about the plan to phase out the 2 gimmick teams and less about the talent of the outside countries. But I think that does prove my point that the WCoH wants a competitive game and isn't too fond of putting in a team that wouldn't be competitive. 3/4 years could really go a long way for some these countries.

 

[FiLe]

I was more talking about the plan to phase out the 2 gimmick teams and less about the talent of the outside countries. But I think that does prove my point that the WCoH wants a competitive game and isn't too fond of putting in a team that wouldn't be competitive. 3/4 years could really go a long way for some these countries.

It's quite unlikely they'll suddenly take giant strides in the next five years and advance far from the state they've been in for the past decade. That is to say, they'll run into a hurdle sooner or later, but can still win any single game and their losses won't be blowouts.

I think that's plenty "competitive" enough. Or what should they be able to do? Dominate Canada regularly?

 

[Stand Witness]

It's hardly unlikely they'll suddenly take giant strides in the next five years and advance far from the state they've been in for the past decade. That is to say, they'll run into a hurdle sooner or later, but can still win any single game and their losses won't be blowouts.

I think that's plenty "competitive" enough. Or what should they be able to do? Dominate Canada regularly?

I think it would be fair to say that if the WCoH can set up a D1 and D2 with a 2 team relegation that it would be competitive if it isn't constantly the same 2 teams moving up and down after each tournament. They might have to go to a 12 team instead of 8 team format for that though.

 

[cutchemist42]

Im actually of the thought that YoungGunz/Europe does not increase ratings/ticket sales over what Swiss/Slovankia would have. I believe this because decades of intl competition in every sport has already climatized watchers to know the appeal is in watching countries play, whether or not those countries truly have the best players. While most intl tournies feature the best players, the appeal is something more than the players.

The NHL is trying to reinvent the wheel, when soccer/rugby/cricket/basketball/basseball/etc have shown you dont need video game teams to make international hockey fun.

I also still think there's no guarantee these two video game teams work as hard or put on as much of a show as determined Swiss/Slovak squads would have anyway. This tourney has the same rules the ASG game has, where NHLPA members need to show up, but with zero gurantee of effort. Simply said, what is a video game team's true motivation in an international tournament?

 

[FiLe]

I think it would be fair to say that if the WCoH can set up a D1 and D2 with a 2 team relegation that it would be competitive if it isn't constantly the same 2 teams moving up and down after each tournament. They might have to go to a 12 team instead of 8 team format for that though.

I'd say that's entirely possible for current-day Slovakia and Switzerland already. They may not win it all, but there's no reason to automatically assume that they'll be the bottom feeders because half their squad is from Europe.

A case in point - in Sochi, Finland won bronze with a squad that had 11 out of its 22 skaters from various euro leagues. If our guys can pull that off, then there's no reason to assume Slovakia and Switzerland couldn't be competitive enough with their 10something NHLers and top players from Europe.

 

[Elvs]

Im actually of the thought that YoungGunz/Europe does not increase ratings/ticket sales over what Swiss/Slovankia would have. I believe this because decades of intl competition in every sport has already climatized watchers to know the appeal is in watching countries play, whether or not those countries truly have the best players. While most intl tournies feature the best players, the appeal is something more than the players.

The NHL is trying to reinvent the wheel, when soccer/rugby/cricket/basketball/basseball/etc have shown you dont need video game teams to make international hockey fun.

I also still think there's no guarantee these two video game teams work as hard or put on as much of a show as determined Swiss/Slovak squads would have anyway. This tourney has the same rules the ASG game has, where NHLPA members need to show up, but with zero gurantee of effort. Simply said, what is a video game team's true motivation in an international tournament?

This, the casual fan doesn't know or care about players, they care about teams and countries. Most fans are casual, thus they hold the key to revenue.

 

[WarriorofTime]

This whole tournament is a huge joke. Team "Europe" lol.

 

[Fixed to Ruin]

One idea I thought was a good one was for the Team Euro and the U-23 teams is that there would be a shoulder patch on the jerseys with the crest or flag from each player nationality. At least each player has some sort of visible reference to their home countries.

 

[wej20]

Can players refuse to be considered for Team Europe?

 

[Hanji]

Why act shocked that a hockey tournament is being held to make money? Why is the World Hockey Championships hosted every year on a European hockey friendly schedule (that blatantly contradicts the playoffs of the best hockey league in the world)? Because Europeans are the hockey fans who watch it on TV and buy the tickets so the IIHF caters the tournament schedule toward them.

Both the IIHF and NHL try to maximize profits, but at least the IIHF doesn't compromise the sanctity of the international game in the process. Team YoungStarz? Seriously Bettman? It's so lowest common denominator-ish.
What an arrogant attempt at a fast money grab, piggybacking on what was once a solid international tournament. It's so arrogant and lazy that a real possibility of it backfiring exists.
Vince McMahon would be proud.

 

[mjlee]

It seems the European players are a little bit more forthright when it comes to the Olympics except for Stamkos, good for him! I bet that if you asked Tavares he'd say the sam thing. While having to toe the company line, it doesn't seem many of the players are looking forward to the coming Cup with any more enthusiasm than fans. http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/09/08/nhl-players-still-see-olympics-as-pinnacle-of-international-ice-hockey.html

As for JVR's comments, the difference between the World Cup of Football and this one is first that the WC has a very long and distinguished history, and while a single sport event is also run by FIFA, the equivalent of IIHF not the BPL or La Ligua or any single or even multiple national leagues but by the world body of federations.

 

[JackSlater]

It seems the European players are a little bit more forthright when it comes to the Olympics except for Stamkos, good for him! I bet that if you asked Tavares he'd say the sam thing. While having to toe the company line, it doesn't seem many of the players are looking forward to the coming Cup with any more enthusiasm than fans. http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/09/08/nhl-players-still-see-olympics-as-pinnacle-of-international-ice-hockey.html

Tavares is on record as saying that he wants NHL players to stay in the Olympics, even shortly after his injury in 2014.

 

[talkinaway]

Can players refuse to be considered for Team Europe?

I'm pretty sure any player can decline to play, for any team, and for any reason. I can't imagine that an NHL contract signed in 2012 or 2013 would have a clause forcing players to play in the World Cup of Hockey....but then again, perhaps future contracts would have this.

That said, the players have some incentive to make this thing work - the money goes to the NHL and NHLPA, doesn't it? I presume that some small portion of that money trickles down to the players. Of course, players like Chara, Ovi, Crosby, and Toews with big contracts are the players least motivated by the money - but maybe they'll play because they "love the game", for their fellow players who have smaller contracts who would stand to gain, or because they want to see the cap increase. Or for their country....oh, wait, hi there, Chara!

I'm concerned about this taking time away from camp. The Bruins would lose Krejci and Pastrnak if the WC were this year, and the biggest question in camp IMO is who's on our first line with Krejci. With the WCoH potentially obliterating the entire preseason game schedule for players on teams who make the finals....a Czech final would be a disaster for the Bruins.

Plus, injuries. It's bad, but understandable, when players get injured playing for their country in a recognized, international event like the Olympics. This event could help Bettman leapfrog back on top of the list of "worst commissioners" if there are a lot of injuries. (And, yes, they can happen in preseason training or practices too....just ask Pastrnak and Connolly.)

 

[Frank the Tank]

Both the IIHF and NHL try to maximize profits, but at least the IIHF doesn't compromise the sanctity of the international game in the process. Team YoungStarz? Seriously Bettman? It's so lowest common denominator-ish.
What an arrogant attempt at a fast money grab, piggybacking on what was once a solid international tournament. It's so arrogant and lazy that a real possibility of it backfiring exists.
Vince McMahon would be proud.

The IIHF compromises the sanctity of their very own World Hockey Championships by refusing to wait a few weeks for the NHL playoffs to end. Why? Because they want to maximize profits by catering to the European hockey fan.

The IOC remains so corrupt that only China and Kazakhstan were willing to meet the outlandish demands and costs required of a potential Winter Olympics host. So now the 2022 Olympics will be held in a location that is not great for a world-class international hockey tournament.

Yet, the NHL is the only organization called out for an attempted a money grab? At least in this case the money also enters the pockets of the actual players, who are putting their careers on the line to play in an international tournament.

 

[Theokritos]

Tomáš Tatar:
It won’t be the same as playing for Team Slovakia, but we can have fun.

This should be the official tournament slogan. Not an international tournament, a gimmicky NHL All-star exhibition. It's not the same, but...we still can have fun!

Can players refuse to be considered for Team Europe?

Players have declined to play in the Canada Cup and World Cup before. Wouldn't be any different this time around.

 

[FiLe]

The IIHF compromises the sanctity of their very own World Hockey Championships by refusing to wait a few weeks for the NHL playoffs to end. Why? Because they want to maximize profits by catering to the European hockey fan.

Actually, the issue reaches further than that. If the IIHF waits for those precious few weeks, it's been two to three months since most players from various European leagues have played any competitive games.

Besides, the WHC has gradually been pushed further over the last few years. Ten years ago, the tournament used to start in early April. Its current timing is a compromise between having a reasonable amount of NHLers available vs. not having the players in Europe be out of shape.

Funny how some people seem to think that the NHL is the only hockey league in the world...

 

[wej20]

This should be the official tournament slogan. Not an international tournament, a gimmicky NHL All-star exhibition. It's not the same, but...we still can have fun!



Players have declined to play in the Canada Cup and World Cup before. Wouldn't be any different this time around.

Interesting, I'd decline the invite if I was Swiss/Slovakian/Other.

 

[Hanji]

The IIHF compromises the sanctity of their very own World Hockey Championships by refusing to wait a few weeks for the NHL playoffs to end. Why? Because they want to maximize profits by catering to the European hockey fan.

The sanctity of the IHWC isn't compromised. The IIHF doesn't claim, nor market the tournament to be something it's not; nor is the IHWC being looked on as a potential replacement for the OG. The same doesn't hold true for the World Cup. The World Cup is a gimmicky NHL all-star exhibition dressed up and marketed as an international best on best, piggybacking on the good name of past World Cups.
It's a cheap and sleazy money grab of the worst kind from Bettman and co.

 

[Jussi]

Actually, the issue reaches further than that. If the IIHF waits for those precious few weeks, it's been two to three months since most players from various European leagues have played any competitive games.

Besides, the WHC has gradually been pushed further over the last few years. Ten years ago, the tournament used to start in early April. Its current timing is a compromise between having a reasonable amount of NHLers available vs. not having the players in Europe be out of shape.

Funny how some people seem to think that the NHL is the only hockey league in the world...

Also many of the European leagues now end later as well due to longer regular seasons. I thik the past two seasons ina row, due to going the full 7 game finals, Finnish league has ended only two weeks before the start of the Worlds as well.