Some details about the World Cup...

[xxxx]

So if we imply that Switzerland is top 7, is there a massive drop to Slovakia?

I would say that it is clear that the TOP 8 nations are Canada, USA, Sweden, Russia, Finland, Czechs, Slovakia, and Switzerland.



I think there are some options how to organize the World Cup, I would like to see the following one:

6 TOP teams - CAN, USA, FIN, SWE, RUS, CZE

• This is interesting because all the teams could play each other, so it wouldn't happen something like in 2010, that USA didn't face Russia, or in 2014, Canada didn't play Russia, etc. It could be interesting becasue you would have only the really best nations - so yes, it would be an invitational tournament, but definitely with some great positives.
  
  The first two teams would advance to the semi-finals, while the other 4 would battle for the remaining two spots in a single elimination game. The semis and the finals would be played as a best-of-three series. Overall, the number of games would be 9 - 12 for one team. Shame that this probably won't happen though.

Then, you can make the WC with 8 teams, 10, 12, 14 .... but I don't know if this is the right option. Even if you chose to play with 12 teams, how you determinate which 12? According to IIHF ranking? Or play a qualification tournament? How? You need NHL players in it, it makes no sense otherwise. And for a qualifiation tournament like that, you need a lot of time and the NHL approval.

The World Cup must be an invitational tournament IMO. If you want, make the top8 according the IIHF ranking, but that's about it.
The IIHF had a good qualification system before the olympics, but with one big defect. Without NHL players in it, is it fair that Germany, Belarus, or Denmark didn't qualified to Sochi? I think, it's kind of a joke to battle for the olympics without your best players. It happend to Slovakia too in 2002, SLC. It's nonsense.

 

[jekoh]

I think, it's kind of a joke to battle for the olympics without your best players. It happend to Slovakia too in 2002, SLC. It's nonsense.

No it didn't. Slovakia didn't have to play qualifiers for the 2002 Olympics, they qualified automatically after the 1999 WCh.

They were without their best players at the Olmpics, though.

 

[Yakushev72]

Considering they're lowering the salary cap to around 22 million euros and eliminating NHL/star player exemptions from it, that would suggest the intention is to create a "healthy league" rather than trying to compete with the NHL on unrealistic business models.

You're talking about immediate solutions to immediate problems, not long-term goals. Everyone knew there would be adjustments from the time the league was formed. And I am not talking about catching up to the NHL overnight. The NHL is more than 100 years old, the KHL 5.

The KHL is based on the premise that the World is big enough for 2 hockey leagues, especially considering the continued growth of hockey in Europe. Finland and Sweden measure their hockey programs on how many players they have in the NHL, and that's like to continue for the foreseeable future. The rest of Europe may very well seek their hockey identity under the framework of the KHL.

 

[Jablkon]

You're talking about immediate solutions to immediate problems, not long-term goals. Everyone knew there would be adjustments from the time the league was formed. And I am not talking about catching up to the NHL overnight. The NHL is more than 100 years old, the KHL 5.

The KHL is based on the premise that the World is big enough for 2 hockey leagues, especially considering the continued growth of hockey in Europe. Finland and Sweden measure their hockey programs on how many players they have in the NHL, and that's like to continue for the foreseeable future. The rest of Europe may very well seek their hockey identity under the framework of the KHL.

Just in case that czech will be so bad that NHL won't be really accesible for our players. Otherwise it is still measured according to players in NHL - not a very good result nowadays))

 

[Xokkeu]

it happend to slovakia too in 2002, slc. It's nonsense.

1998

 

[Xokkeu]

Hockey has such a massive drop off in terms of participation, infrastructure and talent after the top 6 or 7 countries that it is pretty easy and fair to have an invitational tournament. Soccer is obviously very different in this respect.

The US soccer team in 1990 was composed of a bunch of amateurs, foreign kids with US passports and collegiate players.

12 years later they made the quarterfinals and now have players regularly playing in the top leagues of Europe.

Does any of that happen without a World Cup? I don't know, but to exclude teams like Denmark, who have several NHL players is short sighted for the tournament and does more than anything to make it seem like an exhibition.

Even the WBC has qualification.

 

[Yakushev72]

[/B]

Just in case that czech will be so bad that NHL won't be really accesible for our players. Otherwise it is still measured according to players in NHL - not a very good result nowadays))

The Czechs and Slovaks have been quicker to embrace opportunities in the KHL for a franchise than Finland and Sweden. Once there is a home-grown franchise in the league, its just a matter of time before hockey fans start getting interested in the league itself.

 

[Jussi]

The Czechs and Slovaks have been quicker to embrace opportunities in the KHL for a franchise than Finland and Sweden. Once there is a home-grown franchise in the league, its just a matter of time before hockey fans start getting interested in the league itself.

That Czech franchise is funded primarily on Russian money and that hasn't been enough since they are in financial difficulties. Lev are still the 3rd ticket in Prague.

 

[xxxx]

No it didn't. Slovakia didn't have to play qualifiers for the 2002 Olympics, they qualified automatically after the 1999 WCh.

They were without their best players at the Olmpics, though.

Yeah, you are right. I was mistaken.

But the point remains, it's a joke to battle for the OG without your best players - like Denmark, Belarus, etc. before the Sochi olympics. In my opinion at least.

 

[Lepardi]

The Czechs and Slovaks have been quicker to embrace opportunities in the KHL for a franchise than Finland and Sweden.

That's not much of a surprise, because Czechoslovakia was a member of the Warsaw Pact, Finland and Sweden were not. That's why the Czech Republic and Slovakia are culturally way closer to Russia.

 

[Xokkeu]

That's not much of a surprise, because Czechoslovakia was a member of the Warsaw Pact, Finland and Sweden were not. That's why the Czech Republic and Slovakia are culturally way closer to Russia.

I think you're off base on this one.

 

[lamini]

That's not much of a surprise, because Czechoslovakia was a member of the Warsaw Pact, Finland and Sweden were not. That's why the Czech Republic and Slovakia are culturally way closer to Russia.

Actualy traditional Slovak and Finnish team joined KHL, while Czech team had to be created by russians, is owned by russians and most players in it are foreigners
Also that traditional Slovak team tried to join Czech league first, they were just looking for better league than Slovak extraliga and khl was the one willing to accept them...on the other hand Finnish team left pretty good league

 

[Lepardi]

Actualy traditional Slovak and Finnish team joined KHL, while Czech team had to be created by russians, is owned by russians and most players in it are foreigners

Where do you think Jokerit will get their money from when they move into KHL? Do you know who bought their arena last year?

 

[Jablkon]

That's not much of a surprise, because Czechoslovakia was a member of the Warsaw Pact, Finland and Sweden were not. That's why the Czech Republic and Slovakia are culturally way closer to Russia.

) you talking like we had option not to be)) No we are not culturally close to russians, but both hockey styles have some simmilar signs...

 

[Jablkon]

The Czechs and Slovaks have been quicker to embrace opportunities in the KHL for a franchise than Finland and Sweden. Once there is a home-grown franchise in the league, its just a matter of time before hockey fans start getting interested in the league itself.

not really. This franchise is on the edge and i think it will be soon forgotten if they don't fill up the budget.....the true is majority of czech players would choose NHL before KHL. Except some individuals willing to have appropriate ice time in first or second line..

 

[SanDogBrewin]

This not even frustrating but also shows that owners and probably sole NHL are hungry a....h....s who need just more and more more money and completely lost contact with reallity.

Let's keep it straight, there are just two reasons for having world cup: 1. no income for NHL from Olympics, 2. some NA fans would like to see it on small ice. Guess which reason is more important.

There are no "nice guy billionaires" on any continent. Don't act like Owners of hockey or soccer clubs overseas aren't greedy. Billionares are all alike, some have better PR personnel to make them appear better or nicer.

I don't care which size ice the WHC, Olympics or World Cup is on. I have rarely heard NA Hockey fans, around me, say that is the reason they want the World Cup to come back. Most NA hockey fans just want to see more "best on best" hockey.

The NHL made plenty through NBC in regards to the Olympics.

 

[Jablkon]

There are no "nice guy billionaires" on any continent. Don't act like Owners of hockey or soccer clubs overseas aren't greedy. Billionares are all alike, some have better PR personnel to make them appear better or nicer.

I don't care which size ice the WHC, Olympics or World Cup is on. I have rarely heard NA Hockey fans, around me, say that is the reason they want the World Cup to come back. Most NA hockey fans just want to see more "best on best" hockey.

The NHL made plenty through NBC in regards to the Olympics.

they will not see more if NHL don't let players participate in olympics. It just seems like that NHL has been trying to find int. venue for last 40 years and still..... that's just a joke.

 

[Jussi]

Actualy traditional Slovak and Finnish team joined KHL, while Czech team had to be created by russians, is owned by russians and most players in it are foreigners
Also that traditional Slovak team tried to join Czech league first, they were just looking for better league than Slovak extraliga and khl was the one willing to accept them...on the other hand Finnish team left pretty good league

But mostly due to the owners financial problems.

 

[Zine]

If the Europeans don't play ball with the NHL on a WCup then they will lose getting to see most of their best players at the OG. Seems logical doesn't it?

There's nothing to suggest the NHL is using the OG as a stick-and-carrot for World Cup participation. Rather, it appears NHL is re-introducing the World Cup as an alternative to the Olympics; especially as it pertains to the NHLPA.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

they will not see more if NHL don't let players participate in olympics. It just seems like that NHL has been trying to find int. venue for last 40 years and still..... that's just a joke.

The next NBC contract for the NHL and the one just signed with Rogers will hold the NHLPA and the Owners quite nicely for some time. Sports owners and Network CEOs get what they want.

The Olympics will be fine with or without pro hockey players. Nothing has been decided yet anyways. Money will flow somewhere.

 

[jekoh]

The Olympics will be fine with or without pro hockey players. Nothing has been decided yet anyways.

The Olympics will be played by pro players disirregardless of whether or not the NHL choose to participate.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

The Olympics will be played by pro players disirregardless of whether or not the NHL choose to participate.

Won't be best on best and you will still find reasons to say the WHC is. While blaming the NHL.

 

[jekoh]

Won't be best on best and you will still find reasons to say the WHC is. While blaming the NHL.

I have no idea what you are trying to say

 

[Yakushev72]

That Czech franchise is funded primarily on Russian money and that hasn't been enough since they are in financial difficulties. Lev are still the 3rd ticket in Prague.

The arena was pretty full and crazy in the playoffs for a 3rd ticket!

 

[ShortSideFlick]

Every year the WHC accommodates European schedules and screws NA. Word comes out the World cup will be back and accommodate the NA schedule and suddenly it`s unfair and everyone is up in arms. Yeah, that`s REAAAALLY unfair