Puck Daddy: Team Europe World Cup players frustrated with format

[Jon Riley]

If everything is about money...well, a real international tournament would bring more. I am sure about it.
Pretty sure that the european market is larger than Toronto.
Put on a real best on best tournament and every single hockey fan on the planet would be willing to watch the matches. The revenues from tv rights and commercials would bury whatever they could possibly get from tickets sales in Toronto.

This is just goin to be a series of pre season exibition games. Entertaining? Maybe, if you don't like well organized defence and tactis.

I just hope this won't affect the olympics. At least every 4 years let people see some real quality international hockey.

 

[JackSlater]

If everything is about money...well, a real international tournament would bring more. I am sure about it.
Pretty sure that the european market is larger than Toronto.
Put on a real best on best tournament and every single hockey fan on the planet would be willing to watch the matches. The revenues from tv rights and commercials would bury whatever they could possibly get from tickets sales in Toronto.

They've put on real best on best tournaments before and European fans largely did not watch, for reasons that mostly confuse from a North American perspective. Put it in Toronto and it will sell out, and for higher prices than you would find anywhere in Europe. It also has a guaranteed TV audience of a few million in Canada. Having the gimmick teams is an absolute joke for many reasons, but I doubt those teams will either positively or negatively affect money in any noteworthy way.

 

[Jon Riley]

They've put on real best on best tournaments before and European fans largely did not watch, for reasons that mostly confuse from a North American perspective. Put it in Toronto and it will sell out, and for higher prices than you would find anywhere in Europe. It also has a guaranteed TV audience of a few million in Canada. Having the gimmick teams is an absolute joke for many reasons, but I doubt those teams will either positively or negatively affect money in any noteworthy way.

The problem with the two fake teams is just that they invalidate the tournament. Keep Switzerland and Slovakia out of it if you believe that they would not be "entertaining enough" just go for 6 teams where they can use all the best players they have.
There you have a international hockey competition worth watching, also for europeans. Swiss that likes the sports included. I have no doubts that somebody would buy the TV rights to broadcast it in the most "hockey aware" countries in Europe and it would be watched.
The way it is just does not move the interest of anybody out of Toronto and the people that would watch anything involving hockey, no matter how competitive.
Cutting out a potential huge market as Europe is just because they did not think through carefully about what they were doing is quite short sighted, in my opinion.

The way it is may well show some "spectacular" matches but it there will not be competition. You will see great goals, great passes etc. etc. but nobody would risk an injury for this tournament. Nobody would block a shot, simply because this tournament will have no meaning. Great show, maybe, still no competition.

 

[syc]

This is just goin to be a series of pre season exibition games. Entertaining? Maybe, if you don't like well organized defence and tactis.

I just hope this won't affect the olympics. At least every 4 years let people see some real quality international hockey.

Why would the defence and tactics be bad? Ok I see two gimmicky teams but I don't understand why people think the hockey will not be just as good as olympic hockey. I mean its the same coaches and rosters.

Please explain because I don't think you can.

 

[JackSlater]

The problem with the two fake teams is just that they invalidate the tournament. Keep Switzerland and Slovakia out of it if you believe that they would not be "entertaining enough" just go for 6 teams where they can use all the best players they have.
There you have a international hockey competition worth watching, also for europeans. Swiss that likes the sports included. I have no doubts that somebody would buy the TV rights to broadcast it in the most "hockey aware" countries in Europe and it would be watched.
The way it is just does not move the interest of anybody out of Toronto and the people that would watch anything involving hockey, no matter how competitive.
Cutting out a potential huge market as Europe is just because they did not think through carefully about what they were doing is quite short sighted, in my opinion.

The way it is may well show some "spectacular" matches but it there will not be competition. You will see great goals, great passes etc. etc. but nobody would risk an injury for this tournament. Nobody would block a shot, simply because this tournament will have no meaning. Great show, maybe, still no competition.

I understand the stupidity of including the gimmick teams for competitive reasons. This tournament is not new though, and the past editions were generally best on best. The attention they received in Europe was not particularly big, to the best of my knowledge, so I'm not convinced that the gimmick teams are going to cost the NHL greatly in Europe. Canadian viewers will still watch, and Americans will largely ignore it as they always have.

The gimmick teams are terrible from a competitive standpoint and make the tournament ridiculous, but they shouldn't affect revenue positively or negatively. Not that I or any other fan should care about the revenues of a tournament.

 

[syc]

The problem with the two fake teams is just that they invalidate the tournament. Keep Switzerland and Slovakia out of it if you believe that they would not be "entertaining enough" just go for 6 teams where they can use all the best players they have.
There you have a international hockey competition worth watching, also for europeans. Swiss that likes the sports included. I have no doubts that somebody would buy the TV rights to broadcast it in the most "hockey aware" countries in Europe and it would be watched.
The way it is just does not move the interest of anybody out of Toronto and the people that would watch anything involving hockey, no matter how competitive.
Cutting out a potential huge market as Europe is just because they did not think through carefully about what they were doing is quite short sighted, in my opinion.

The way it is may well show some "spectacular" matches but it there will not be competition. You will see great goals, great passes etc. etc. but nobody would risk an injury for this tournament. Nobody would block a shot, simply because this tournament will have no meaning. Great show, maybe, still no competition.

Why would adding two bottom feeder teams make it better? From a competition standpoint the two gimmicky teams will be far superior to anything the Swiss or Slovaks could ice.

Is it great hockey to watch the US beat the Swiss 9-1 again? I guess it's a EU thing.

 

[FiLe]

Why would the defence and tactics be bad? Ok I see two gimmicky teams but I don't understand why people think the hockey will not be just as good as olympic hockey. I mean its the same coaches and rosters.

Please explain because I don't think you can.

Because it's an event closer to the NHL All-Star Game than an international tournament of any real meaning. Especially so with the gimmick teams in. The previous ones you could argue at least had some prestige, because it really was all the world's best hockey nations facing off against each other.

But still, seriously? To say it's a tournament as prestigious as the Olympics? Olympic champions are venerated into the history books for decades, if not centuries to come. Winning the World Cup of Hockey however will be a footnote in the list of achievements. Especially since it's readily admitted that the tournament's main market will be Canada and very little people elsewhere, especially in Europe, are expected to tune in. Which brings us to the main point. What makes you think the players of Sweden, Finland or Russia - and even moreso those of the Leftovers - will care, when nobody back home won't care?

If you manage to win Olympic gold, the party back home will be massive. There's a market square with a million screaming people waiting for you to take the stage. You win the World Cup of Hockey? Few hardcore followers who have the time to stay up at night will go "yay". Not exactly the same. Not even close.

Sure, the players will go out there, prolly thinking it's fun and try to win the games provided. But at the end of the day, it's been just that - a night of fun and games. Nothing they will be remembered for when all is said and done.

The tournament has potential however, and with the right steps taken it could be something truly prestigious. Sadly, the steps they took now don't help this upcoming iteration one bit. Sure, "one-time thing", "will be better the next time", but still not helping this one.

 

[JackSlater]

Why would adding two bottom feeder teams make it better? From a competition standpoint the two gimmicky teams will be far superior to anything the Swiss or Slovaks could ice.

Is it great hockey to watch the US beat the Swiss 9-1 again? I guess it's a EU thing.

USA beating Switzerland 9 - 1 is completely unrealistic. Switzerland is unlikely to win, but they are not susceptible to being blown out.

Why do you prefer two gimmick bottom feeders (which is what European Leftovers and NA Young Gunz are) to actual national teams (who are also bottom feeders) in what is supposed to be an international tournament?

Because it's an event closer to the NHL All-Star Game than an international tournament of any real meaning. Especially so with the gimmick teams in. The previous ones you could argue at least had some prestige, because it really was all the world's best hockey nations facing off against each other.

But still, seriously? To say it's a tournament as prestigious as the Olympics? Olympic champions are venerated into the history books for decades, if not centuries to come. Winning the World Cup of Hockey however will be a footnote in the list of achievements. How many of you can recite out of memory the teams that won the 1996 or 2004 editions?

Sure, the players will go out there, prolly thinking it's fun and try to win the games provided. But at the end of the day, it's been just that - a night of fun and games. Nothing they will be remembered for when all is said and done.

Very European perspective. Not all Olympic winners are "venerated into the history books". The Olympic tournament is good because it is best on best, just as this tournament should be.

 

[FiLe]

Very European perspective. Not all Olympic winners are "venerated into the history books". The Olympic tournament is good because it is best on best, just as this tournament should be.

He asked for a reason why some teams might not give it a 100% in the same manner they do when it's olympic time. And I gave him one.

Olympic hockey will draw the audiences in Europe on a whole different level than the World Cup will - whether it's objectively rational or not. Maybe it should draw. I wouldn't mind if it did. (As long as they did away with the gimmicky teams.)

But regardless, the point still stands. It's harder for players to care if the fans back home won't care.

 

[jeru]

Is it great hockey to watch the US beat the Swiss 9-1 again? I guess it's a EU thing.

Nonsense, The US would be the favorite for sure. But check the records, the Czechs had problems against the Swiss - so had Canada. The time 0f 9-1 results are over...

it's not a "EU thing"...whatever that means. Not helping the sport at all.

 

[FiLe]

Nonsense, The US would be the favorite for sure. But check the records, the Czechs had problems against the Swiss - so had Canada. The time 0f 9-1 results are over...

Aww, how dare you distort people's delusions with such pesky facts?

Besides, it's an argument you can't win anyway. Even if you manage to convince 'em that no, the results are not blowouts anymore, the narrative will switch to them being bad regardless, because they're achieved with "boring" trap hockey.

 

[Number 57]

I think for hockey development a World Cup made up of all the top countries EXCEPT Canada, USA, Russia and Sweden would be very good.

Yeah sure, Finland or the Czechs would probably win it all, but honestly, the difference between these teams and SVK, SWI, NOR, LAT isn't that great compared to say a match between Canada and Austria.

How about this format: USA, CAN, SWE and RUS battle it out in a 4-team tournament; best on best. That would rake in the $$$$$$ for the NHL.

Meanwhile, the NHL should sponsor and hype a 12-team tournament takes place in some other place of the world to grow hockey, like say the Netherlands, Japan or England. Those 12 teams would be as said above Finland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, France, Norway, Latvia, Danemark, Belarus and the likes.

That would be very interesting I think.

 

[FiLe]

Yeah sure, Finland or the Czechs would probably win it all, but honestly, the difference between these teams and SVK, SWI, NOR, LAT isn't that great compared to say a match between Canada and Austria.

If Finland and the Czech Republic are allowed to use their best possible rosters, the gap to the four upwards is more narrow than it is downwards to the rest. There's a reason they call it the "Big Six". And probably a reason too why they were allowed to have their own teams in this upcoming tournament even if they'll likely end up bringing roughly a quarter of their players from outside the NHL (then again, Russia might do the same).

That being said, the World Cup is an invitational tournament, where the amount of teams and participants is decided entirely on the NHL's whim. So homerism aside, I'd see little reason to protest against a setup like that. At least it'd be a true international event (as in, national teams only).

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

Because it's an event closer to the NHL All-Star Game than an international tournament of any real meaning. Especially so with the gimmick teams in. The previous ones you could argue at least had some prestige, because it really was all the world's best hockey nations facing off against each other.

But still, seriously? To say it's a tournament as prestigious as the Olympics? Olympic champions are venerated into the history books for decades, if not centuries to come. Winning the World Cup of Hockey however will be a footnote in the list of achievements. Especially since it's readily admitted that the tournament's main market will be Canada and very little people elsewhere, especially in Europe, are expected to tune in. Which brings us to the main point. What makes you think the players of Sweden, Finland or Russia - and even moreso those of the Leftovers - will care, when nobody back home won't care?

If you manage to win Olympic gold, the party back home will be massive. There's a market square with a million screaming people waiting for you to take the stage. You win the World Cup of Hockey? Few hardcore followers who have the time to stay up at night will go "yay". Not exactly the same. Not even close.

Sure, the players will go out there, prolly thinking it's fun and try to win the games provided. But at the end of the day, it's been just that - a night of fun and games. Nothing they will be remembered for when all is said and done.

The tournament has potential however, and with the right steps taken it could be something truly prestigious. Sadly, the steps they took now don't help this upcoming iteration one bit. Sure, "one-time thing", "will be better the next time", but still not helping this one.

Are you suggesting a Finn would be less motivated playing for their country in the World Cup than they would be playing for their NHL team? Also I don't recall the big party after the last OG. It was all a bit boring if you ask me.

 

[JackSlater]

I think for hockey development a World Cup made up of all the top countries EXCEPT Canada, USA, Russia and Sweden would be very good.

Yeah sure, Finland or the Czechs would probably win it all, but honestly, the difference between these teams and SVK, SWI, NOR, LAT isn't that great compared to say a match between Canada and Austria.

How about this format: USA, CAN, SWE and RUS battle it out in a 4-team tournament; best on best. That would rake in the $$$$$$ for the NHL.

Meanwhile, the NHL should sponsor and hype a 12-team tournament takes place in some other place of the world to grow hockey, like say the Netherlands, Japan or England. Those 12 teams would be as said above Finland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, France, Norway, Latvia, Danemark, Belarus and the likes.

That would be very interesting I think.

Why separate the weak teams? It's insulting to the Czechs, Finns and a few other nations.

Why would the NHL organize a tournament (the second one you mention) featuring less than 20% NHL players, particularly when that tournament would almost certainly lose money? That sounds like what the IIHF already does with the lower division world championships, but at least it makes sense for the IIHF.

Are you suggesting a Finn would be less motivated playing for their country in the World Cup than they would be playing for their NHL team? Also I don't recall the big party after the last OG. It was all a bit boring if you ask me.

Teemu Selanne called the (then upcoming) World Cup final in 2004 the biggest game in Finnish hockey history. The players will be decently motivated. The tournament is still a joke this time though.

 

[FiLe]

Are you suggesting a Finn would be less motivated playing for their country in the World Cup than they would be playing for their NHL team?

If only very small part of the country bothers to tune in, then yeah.

It's the presence of fans that makes the players play extra hard - either in-house, or back home glued to their screens. With this one, the people on the rafters will be almost exclusively Canadian with very little fans from elsewhere - and the coverage back in Finland will be woefully small, at least when compared to the Olympics (it's pay TV that will be showing the games - not a national channel as is the case with the OG). In the current media age, there's no way this will escape the players. So for them, it'll be more akin to a fun get-together rather than something that feels like a must win.

So yeah, it's actually possible they'll play harder when donning their club team jerseys - because the fans of the club cheering them on are everpresent. But here, they'll be playing for crowds that are at best neutral towards 'em.

Also I don't recall the big party after the last OG. It was all a bit boring if you ask me.

Lemme assure you, there would have been one had Finland managed to win. Or pretty much any other country save for Canada, who at this point seem to treat these wins like every other Tuesday.

Teemu Selanne called the (then upcoming) World Cup final in 2004 the biggest game in Finnish hockey history. The players will be decently motivated. The tournament is still a joke this time though.

The 2004 iteration actually got decent coverage in Finland for a multitude of reasons. It was the first time all the best Finnish players from the then-present generation were together (the SLC team two years earlier was riddled with injuries), some of the games were actually played in Finland, and one of the national tv channels struck a deal to broadcast.

This time 'round, due to wildly different circumstances, it will likely fly completely under the radar for most Finns. Only the most hardcore will tune in, and even then some - like yours truly - will be put off because the format is so alien. And imagine a casual fan tuning in... "Huh? Who exactly are they playing? Is that USA? Canada? 'Young Stars'? Oh, this must be some kind of exhibition game. Guess I'm just going to bed then."

It's kind of sad, really. The league is banking so hard on the Canadian dollar that the rest of the world has little reason to be interested. However, this will also mean that the players representing the rest of the world have little reason to be interested either. Sure, their professional pride will stop them from completely mailing it in, but OG hockey this will be not.

And let it be said that back in 2004, I actually thought this might be a big thing one day if it gets arranged regularly. But now 12 years have passed and practically nothing is left of the things that made it great back then. Woeful coverage, no hype surrounding the team (which is yet another pity, because it will likely feature the best and the brightest representing our future), and it involves opponents that do not even grant you the bragging rights if beaten. And while I'm using Finland as example, most of Europe will be in the same boat.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

If only very small part of the country bothers to tune in, then yeah.

It's the presence of fans that makes the players play extra hard - either in-house, or back home glued to their screens. With this one, the people on the rafters will be almost exclusively Canadian with very little fans from elsewhere - and the coverage back in Finland will be woefully small, at least when compared to the Olympics (it's pay TV that will be showing the games - not a national channel as is the case with the OG). In the current media age, there's no way this will escape the players. So for them, it'll be more akin to a fun get-together rather than something that feels like a must win.

So yeah, it's actually possible they'll play harder when donning their club team jerseys - because the fans of the club cheering them on are everpresent. But here, they'll be playing for crowds that are at best neutral towards 'em.

Lemme assure you, there would have been one had Finland managed to win. Or pretty much any other country save for Canada, who at this point seem to treat these wins like every other Tuesday.

The 2004 iteration actually got decent coverage in Finland for a multitude of reasons. It was the first time all the best Finnish players from the then-present generation were together (the SLC team two years earlier was riddled with injuries), some of the games were actually played in Finland, and one of the national tv channels struck a deal to broadcast.

This time 'round, due to wildly different circumstances, it will likely fly completely under the radar for most Finns. Only the most hardcore will tune in, and even then some - like yours truly - will be put off because the format is so alien. And imagine a casual fan tuning in... "Huh? Who exactly are they playing? Is that USA? Canada? 'Young Stars'? Oh, this must be some kind of exhibition game. Guess I'm just going to bed then."

It's kind of sad, really. The league is banking so hard on the Canadian dollar that the rest of the world has little reason to be interested. However, this will also mean that the players representing the rest of the world have little reason to be interested either. Sure, their professional pride will stop them from completely mailing it in, but OG hockey this will be not.

And let it be said that back in 2004, I actually thought this might be a big thing one day if it gets arranged regularly. But now 12 years have passed and practically nothing is left of the things that made it great back then. Woeful coverage, no hype surrounding the team (which is yet another pity, because it will likely feature the best and the brightest representing our future), and it involves opponents that do not even grant you the bragging rights if beaten. And while I'm using Finland as example, most of Europe will be in the same boat.

Anyone who has watched past CCups and WCups knows that the euro teams will play hard and in that respect this tournament won't be any different. These players know they are facing the best and will want to prove themselves. Finland has never won a major tournament and we all know the Finns will go crazy if they win this. Maybe not as much as an OG but way more than they would if they won a world championship.

 

[JackSlater]

And let it be said that back in 2004, I actually thought this might be a big thing one day if it gets arranged regularly. But now 12 years have passed and practically nothing is left of the things that made it great back then. Woeful coverage, no hype surrounding the team (which is yet another pity, because it will likely feature the best and the brightest representing our future), and it involves opponents that do not even grant you the bragging rights if beaten. And while I'm using Finland as example, most of Europe will be in the same boat.

You made the mistake of assuming that the NHL wouldn't be stupid enough mishandle its own tournament so badly. I did as well. Reasonable assumption, but clearly wrong at this point.

 

[Jussi]

The 2004 iteration actually got decent coverage in Finland for a multitude of reasons. It was the first time all the best Finnish players from the then-present generation were together (the SLC team two years earlier was riddled with injuries), some of the games were actually played in Finland, and one of the national tv channels struck a deal to broadcast.

This time 'round, due to wildly different circumstances, it will likely fly completely under the radar for most Finns. Only the most hardcore will tune in, and even then some - like yours truly - will be put off because the format is so alien. And imagine a casual fan tuning in... "Huh? Who exactly are they playing? Is that USA? Canada? 'Young Stars'? Oh, this must be some kind of exhibition game. Guess I'm just going to bed then."

It's kind of sad, really. The league is banking so hard on the Canadian dollar that the rest of the world has little reason to be interested. However, this will also mean that the players representing the rest of the world have little reason to be interested either. Sure, their professional pride will stop them from completely mailing it in, but OG hockey this will be not.

And let it be said that back in 2004, I actually thought this might be a big thing one day if it gets arranged regularly. But now 12 years have passed and practically nothing is left of the things that made it great back then. Woeful coverage, no hype surrounding the team (which is yet another pity, because it will likely feature the best and the brightest representing our future), and it involves opponents that do not even grant you the bragging rights if beaten. And while I'm using Finland as example, most of Europe will be in the same boat.

As I've said before, due to the closeness of the Athens Olympics, the tournament was a bit of an afterthought in the eyes of the media and public. The home games didn't sell out and the media interest didn't really rise until the Niinimaa incident. We weren't playing very well and our first line was far from healthy. Of course after the semifinal there was interest but two years later, no one was talking about that tournament anymore.

 

[FiLe]

Anyone who has watched past CCups and WCups knows that the euro teams will play hard and in that respect this tournament won't be any different. These players know they are facing the best and will want to prove themselves. Finland has never won a major tournament and we all know the Finns will go crazy if they win this. Maybe not as much as an OG but way more than they would if they won a world championship.

Said the Canadian (who seemingly is unable to view things from other than his own, narrow perspective) to a Finn (who's pretty passionate about international hockey).

*Yawn*. Finland will go crazy if our team happens to win an international tournament.

This is not one. It's exhibition that in these parts will have far less coverage than your run-of-the-mill WHC. And I wish it was different, that this a) was a proper international tournament and b) it would get the attention it deserves.

But neither of these things is happening. There is no hype. Even the most positive of people who ARE aware at this point have said that it could be fun to watch, but the whole thing "smells like plastic". So don't come telling me what will happen, especially if you are a few thousand miles away and obviously clueless.

As I've said before, due to the closeness of the Athens Olympics, the tournament was a bit of an afterthought in the eyes of the media and public. The home games didn't sell out and the media interest didn't really rise until the Niinimaa incident. We weren't playing very well and our first line was far from healthy. Of course after the semifinal there was interest but two years later, no one was talking about that tournament anymore.

The coverage was... somewhat decent. But yeah, I guess it still wasn't something a hockey tournament usually gets in these parts. And due to wildly different circumstances, it's not difficult to say what this one will get will be a far cry from that. I guess one could wonder if it was quickly forgotten because we happened to lose the final... but then again, it's been quite a while since Turin too, and even to this day, people ARE still talking about that.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

Said the Canadian (who seemingly is unable to view things from other than his own, narrow perspective) to a Finn (who's pretty passionate about international hockey).

*Yawn*. Finland will go crazy if our team happens to win an international tournament.

This is not one. It's exhibition that in these parts will have far less coverage than your run-of-the-mill WHC. And I wish it was different, that this a) was a proper international tournament and b) it would get the attention it deserves.

But neither of these things is happening. There is no hype. Even the most positive of people who ARE aware at this point have said that it could be fun to watch, but the whole thing "smells like plastic". So don't come telling me what will happen, especially if you are a few thousand miles away and obviously clueless.

I'm a Canadian who is a dual EU national, married to a Swede, spent lots of time in Europe and for that matter have even been to the best part of Finland (free Ã…land!). I realize that it is incomprehensible to you that a North American know more about you than you know about him, but having read a lot of the nonsense you have posted I'm pretty sure that is the case.

You are not alone amongst Euro hockey fans in being jealous and resentful of NA and the NHL. Understandable since pretty much all of your best players leave Europe to play in NA, since so much of the balance of power in the sport lies on this side of the ocean and since we have little interest in fueling the hyper nationalism that is far too common on your side of the pond. Furthermore you know there is little or no reason for the NHL to care about you. Finland is a tiny market, with a national team that is painfully boring to watch and let's face it, you haven't produced an interesting player since the early 1990's.

Looking ahead I'm sure you realize that the chances of Finland winning a tournament on the small ice are even less than they are at the WC or OG and thus you are trying to discredit the tournament before it even starts. No matter how the tournament is being characterized now if Finland makes it through to the finals it will be a big deal over there and if they win it will be a huge deal. BTW, your stereotype of NA hockey fans being clueless about international hockey is laughable.

 

[FiLe]

I'm a Canadian who is a dual EU national, married to a Swede, spent lots of time in Europe and for that matter have even been to the best part of Finland (free Ã…land!). I realize that it is incomprehensible to you that a North American know more about you than you know about him, but having read a lot of the nonsense you have posted I'm pretty sure that is the case.

Am I supposed to be impressed? Being a Canadian married to a Swede who's been to Ã…land makes you about as competent on commenting the Finnish mindset as planting glasses on a pig gives it competence to comment on astrophysics.

You are not alone amongst Euro hockey fans in being jealous and resentful of NA and the NHL. Understandable since pretty much all of your best players leave Europe to play in NA, since so much of the balance of power in the sport lies on this side of the ocean and since we have little interest in fueling the hyper nationalism that is far too common on your side of the pond. Furthermore you know there is little or no reason for the NHL to care about you. Finland is a tiny market, with a national team that is painfully boring to watch and let's face it, you haven't produced an interesting player since the early 1990's.

And where have I complained about these things? Such is life and I accept it. Only things I'm complaining about are the NHL's complete incompetence to adhere to true-and-tried international formula that has been proved successful a thousand times over AND the risk it presents to a product that does get it right - the Olympics. Should these be done away with, I'd be happy to have the World Cup find its place even if it was organized in Antarctica and marketed to Martians.

Besides, the NHL cared enough to give Finland its own team in this. If this really was about my European nationalistic tendencies, what would I personally have to complain? I could watch my team play its boring hockey and be happy, because I certainly don't expect too many people outside Finland be cheering for them in any other tournament either. Little reason for me to get my knickers in a twist over Slovakia and Switzerland if that was the case. Neither of them is my nation. And it's not like they're our main rivals either. Those countries are also right there, with us in the same group.

Looking ahead I'm sure you realize that the chances of Finland winning a tournament on the small ice are even less than they are at the WC or OG and thus you are trying to discredit the tournament before it even starts. No matter how the tournament is being characterized now if Finland makes it through to the finals it will be a big deal over there and if they win it will be a huge deal. BTW, your stereotype of NA hockey fans being clueless about international hockey is laughable.

"Nah nah nah... I don't wanna listen to the facts so I come up with this fantasy of the other guy simply being resentful about their chances of winning." Besides, it's an extremely convenient claim to you, because you're banking on the odds of either one of us proven right being minimal.

Let me be absolutely clear: I resent this tournament for one thing only - breaking the international formula for involving teams that are NOT national teams. Because that makes this something that is NOT an international tournament, and I couldn't care less who wins it.

That's for my personal views. Now to the facts: It's NHL-driven exhibition that's not getting half the attention an annual WHC does in these parts. That's not me trying to discredit it. That's me stating the things for what they are. If I saw this being plastered everywhere and heard people talk about this with enthusiasm (as they did the year leading up to Sochi), I certainly wouldn't be here claiming the opposite, because in this information age it would be relatively easy to expose me as a liar.

I'm not calling you clueless because it's some stereotype. I'm calling you clueless because you exhibit utterly clueless behavior right here and now. With a healthy dose of rather typical North American arrogance added to the mix.

 

[Gaps]

I'm a Canadian who is a dual EU national, married to a Swede, spent lots of time in Europe and for that matter have even been to the best part of Finland (free Ã…land!). I realize that it is incomprehensible to you that a North American know more about you than you know about him, but having read a lot of the nonsense you have posted I'm pretty sure that is the case.

You are not alone amongst Euro hockey fans in being jealous and resentful of NA and the NHL. Understandable since pretty much all of your best players leave Europe to play in NA, since so much of the balance of power in the sport lies on this side of the ocean and since we have little interest in fueling the hyper nationalism that is far too common on your side of the pond. Furthermore you know there is little or no reason for the NHL to care about you. Finland is a tiny market, with a national team that is painfully boring to watch and let's face it, you haven't produced an interesting player since the early 1990's.

Looking ahead I'm sure you realize that the chances of Finland winning a tournament on the small ice are even less than they are at the WC or OG and thus you are trying to discredit the tournament before it even starts. No matter how the tournament is being characterized now if Finland makes it through to the finals it will be a big deal over there and if they win it will be a huge deal. BTW, your stereotype of NA hockey fans being clueless about international hockey is laughable.

This tournament will not be shown on any free channels in Finland, thus its audience as well as any coverage will be limited. Right now people here barely know there's going to be a tournament like this. Some time ago there was a small article on the gimmick teams in a free local newspaper that I regularly read at work with my colleagues. Out of the 8 people sitting at the table, 1 person (besides me) was even aware of the tournament at all, despite them rest of them being hockey fans as well. They were a bit excited until I informed them about the gimmick teams. After hearing about them, they scoffed and said "Oh, so it's an NHL garbage tournament".

Even the actual World Cup in 2004 was missing the coverage and hype it would've actually deserved (mostly because the games were on so late and the average Finnish hockey fan didn't really see the World Cup as that big of a deal compared to the Olympics and the WHC), so I find it laughable that you claim it would be a huge deal here. It wouldn't be all that huge even if this was an actual international tournament.

 

[sepHF]

If I have the schedule correct they are starting the tournament RIGHT before pre-season?

Why would any player want to give it their all and risk injury right before a new season?

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

Am I supposed to be impressed? Being a Canadian married to a Swede who's been to Ã…land makes you about as competent on commenting the Finnish mindset as planting glasses on a pig gives it competence to comment on astrophysics.

What an ignorant statement. What country outside of Finland knows more about the mindset of Finns than Sweden?

And where have I complained about these things? Such is life and I accept it. Only things I'm complaining about are the NHL's complete incompetence to adhere to true-and-tried international formula that has been proved successful a thousand times over AND the risk it presents to a product that does get it right - the Olympics. Should these be done away with, I'd be happy to have the World Cup find its place even if it was organized in Antarctica and marketed to Martians.

I don't like the gimmick teams either. These days I'd be more interested in seeing a CAN-USA 7 game series, or even a CAN, USA, SWE, RUS mini tournament, but the fact the gimmick teams are there doesn't really effect how I feel about the games not involving those teams (other than it slightly weakens the CAN and USA teams). For you they just provide a convenient way to try and discredit the tournament. If they weren't there you'd just find some other excuse to be negative about it.