Some details about the World Cup...

[habsrule4eva3089]

Making it a closed even would really make it appealing to fans outside of traditional markets wouldn't it.

The inclusion of teams such as Japan, South Korea and Kazakhstan would not affect the tournament like you seem to think it would. You would still see the best on best.

A) You do realize they are not physically in the same league as professional Hockey players, do you really want to see a little asian guy get run over by a 6'4 Ryan Getzlaf and end up in the hospital?

I'm all for growing the game, but you haven't realized how no matter how much you try, Japan or those other countries wil never have a program to compete with any Hockey power. It's all good and well to gain some fans, but to waste time and big money at World Cup event to watch teams no one cares for. Thank goodness it's never going to happen with an NHL World Cup. We witness best on best every 4 years, it's time to enjoy what our sport has to offer more often, it's better seeing Russia play the likes of Sweden twice then watching them annihilate a lesser opponent.

The best thing would be for one day IIHF to hold a World Championship there in a country it wishes to target, that's when gains could be made. But they would obviously have to qualify once for this to happen.

 

[Shrimper]

A) You do realize they are not physically in the same league as professional Hockey players, do you really want to see a little asian guy get run over by a 6'4 Ryan Getzlaf and end up in the hospital?

I'm all for growing the game, but you haven't realized how no matter how much you try, Japan or those other countries wil never have a program to compete with any Hockey power. It's all good and well to gain some fans, but to waste time and big money at World Cup event to watch teams no one cares for. Thank goodness it's never going to happen with an NHL World Cup.

The best thing would be for one day IIHF to hold a World Championship there, that's when gains could be made. But they would obviously have to qualify for this to happen.

Your ignorance is outstanding.

19 Kazakhstan national team players in their most recent squad play in the KHL.

The South Korean and Japan teams play in the Asian League most likely. They are not weak players like you seem to think they are.

You also mention that these countries will never have the programme to compete with any hockey power. They won't if you close it off. But if you give them a bit of incentive and competition they'll improve.

 

[TollefsenFan]

A) You do realize they are not physically in the same league as professional Hockey players, do you really want to see a little asian guy get run over by a 6'4 Ryan Getzlaf and end up in the hospital?

I'm all for growing the game, but you haven't realized how no matter how much you try, Japan or those other countries wil never have a program to compete with any Hockey power. It's all good and well to gain some fans, but to waste time and big money at World Cup event to watch teams no one cares for. Thank goodness it's never going to happen with an NHL World Cup. We witness best on best every 4 years, it's time to enjoy what our sport has to offer more often, it's better seeing Russia play the likes of Sweden twice then watching them annihilate a lesser opponent.

The best thing would be for one day IIHF to hold a World Championship there in a country it wishes to target, that's when gains could be made. But they would obviously have to qualify once for this to happen.

Kazakhstan got some rly good players in Antropov and Dallman.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Your ignorance is outstanding.

19 Kazakhstan national team players in their most recent squad play in the KHL.

The South Korean and Japan teams play in the Asian League most likely. They are not weak players like you seem to think they are.

You also mention that these countries will never have the programme to compete with any hockey power. They won't if you close it off. But if you give them a bit of incentive and competition they'll improve.

Kazakhstan got some rly good players in Antropov and Dallman.

I understand you want to grow the game, but look, the Asian league is a minor league that's even inferior to the ECHL. Have you seen ECHL Hockey? Take a look at the pace and game and then post back.

Antropov is finished and Dallman, and Kazkazh KHL players, the overvaluation of the the minor league called the KHL continues. Nigel Dawes and Kyle Wilson career AHL'ers are top 5 scorers in that league from what I remember, so shall we value these players from other countries because they play in that league.

Why should the NHL waste , time and money on anyone other then top teams. I don't see why you don't want to watch the best countries in the World top 8-10 just slug it out and enjoy it. Sport at the highest level is meant to be enjoyed, when people pay for a ticket they want to see competition, close games, not one sided routes which will create history and dismay the sport if countries apart from the top 10-12 are added.

The IIHF World Championship in May is perfect for global development, but why should a NHL and IIHF World Cup also make way for such things. Let's watch elite competition instead of seeing it once every 4 years. And at least we'll also see it on the ice surface which Hockey is meant to be played on more often, which is another plus.

 

[cutchemist42]

I hope you dislike the soccer/basketball/cricket/rugby World Cups for similar reasons then habs.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

I hope you dislike the soccer/basketball/cricket/rugby World Cups for similar reasons then habs.

I do enjoy the Cricket World Cup especially when Canada shouldn't be included, you know why?

Canada's results

Sri Lanka won by 210 runs
Zimbabwe won by 175 runs
New Zealand won by 97 runs
Australia won by 7 wickets chasing 200 in half the overs.

Is it helping grow Cricket in Canada?

I don't remember seeing you at the Cricket ground anywhere. Oh Right, you just take a look at it once every 4 years and don't know anything about it. It's really growing the game.

For posters who don't know cricket, it's the equivalent of losing games 15-0 or something in Hockey, heck 20-0.

Hockey is not like any of those sports to begin with, I don't think you realize how small a sport Hockey is. As long as it's going to be expensive, it will stay this way for a while. And we all can agree on that.

Soccer/Rugby/Cricket

Cleats/Shins
Cleats
Shoes/Bat/Gloves/Pads

Hockey

Where do we even begin, it's not accessible, we should discuss that if you want to grow the game, not allowing minor countries who don't deserve it to play amongst the best when that will not help grow a game where you need close to $1000 just to play and get training as a child.

But then again, back to earlier, I'm sure you'd rather watch those games involving Canadian Cricket then watching a masterclass from Sachin Tendulkar , right? ;P

 

[The Bad Guy*]

I hope you dislike the soccer/basketball/cricket/rugby World Cups for similar reasons then habs.

To be honest, I don't enjoy watching the U.S basketball team beat up on Angola either.

I don't even bother watching games like that.

And that is his point, and it is a legitimate one.

 

[iamthewalrus]

Is it an unpopular opinion to wish that the Olympics would go back to amateurs?

I'm all for a Hockey World Cup using players from the NHL, but allowing professionals into the Olympics has kind of ruined the Olympics for me.

Well, ruined is a strong word, I would just highly prefer it going back to amateur

 

[jekoh]

Is it an unpopular opinion to wish that the Olympics would go back to amateurs?

I'm all for a Hockey World Cup using players from the NHL, but allowing professionals into the Olympics has kind of ruined the Olympics for me.

Well, ruined is a strong word, I would just highly prefer it going back to amateur

How old are you? The Olympics have been involving professionals for 40+ years.

 

[Yakushev72]

There's no way any team would beat Kazakhstan or Japan 30-0. Typical arrogance again.

He's thinking about the whopping 3 goals that the best on best 2014 Canadian Olympic team scored on Norway, or the 2 goals scored against Latvia and Finland, or the goal scored against the US. I think he is confident that the Canadian Olympic team could beat Kazakhstan 4-0.

 

[jekoh]

He's thinking about the whopping 3 goals that the best on best 2014 Canadian Olympic team scored on Norway, or the 2 goals scored against Latvia and Finland, or the goal scored against the US. I think he is confident that the Canadian Olympic team could beat Kazakhstan 4-0.

Last time Kazakhstan was at the Olympics in Turin the USA beat them 4-1 and Russia beat them 1-0.

 

[TollefsenFan]

I understand you want to grow the game, but look, the Asian league is a minor league that's even inferior to the ECHL. Have you seen ECHL Hockey? Take a look at the pace and game and then post back.

Antropov is finished and Dallman, and Kazkazh KHL players, the overvaluation of the the minor league called the KHL continues. Nigel Dawes and Kyle Wilson career AHL'ers are top 5 scorers in that league from what I remember, so shall we value these players from other countries because they play in that league.

Why should the NHL waste , time and money on anyone other then top teams. I don't see why you don't want to watch the best countries in the World top 8-10 just slug it out and enjoy it. Sport at the highest level is meant to be enjoyed, when people pay for a ticket they want to see competition, close games, not one sided routes which will create history and dismay the sport if countries apart from the top 10-12 are added.

The IIHF World Championship in May is perfect for global development, but why should a NHL and IIHF World Cup also make way for such things. Let's watch elite competition instead of seeing it once every 4 years. And at least we'll also see it on the ice surface which Hockey is meant to be played on more often, which is another plus.

Its not a Waste of time and Money. The game has to grow and now is the chanse. Basketball is a sport thats growing in China and east asia. Why? Because in China u got major cities and a population that needs Entertainment. More important they are not good in Soccer and their basketball team has never been the same without Yao Ming. So hockey can grow over there and they got the Money. If the sport of hockey grows, then NHL would make more Money on tv deals. Thats why Bettman should let one asian team join.

Kazakhstan is almost as good as Latvia, Belarus, Germany, Norway, Denmark etc. I Guess u didnt watch any of their games

 

[Shrimper]

I understand you want to grow the game, but look, the Asian league is a minor league that's even inferior to the ECHL. Have you seen ECHL Hockey? Take a look at the pace and game and then post back.

Antropov is finished and Dallman, and Kazkazh KHL players, the overvaluation of the the minor league called the KHL continues. Nigel Dawes and Kyle Wilson career AHL'ers are top 5 scorers in that league from what I remember, so shall we value these players from other countries because they play in that league.

Why should the NHL waste , time and money on anyone other then top teams. I don't see why you don't want to watch the best countries in the World top 8-10 just slug it out and enjoy it. Sport at the highest level is meant to be enjoyed, when people pay for a ticket they want to see competition, close games, not one sided routes which will create history and dismay the sport if countries apart from the top 10-12 are added.

The IIHF World Championship in May is perfect for global development, but why should a NHL and IIHF World Cup also make way for such things. Let's watch elite competition instead of seeing it once every 4 years. And at least we'll also see it on the ice surface which Hockey is meant to be played on more often, which is another plus.

Why should the NHL make it a close event and do damage to potential growth of the game in non-traditional markets?

The IIHF's mandate is to grow the game globally and to make it more competitive across the World. Having qualifiers does this.

USA
Canada
Russia
Sweden
Switzerland
Finland
Czech Rep.
Slovakia
Europe 1
Europe 2
Asia 1
Asia 2

Group 1:
USA
Canada
Finland
Sweden
(Europe 1)
(Asia 1)

Group 2:
Russia
Czech Rep
Switzerland
Slovakia
(Europe 2)
(Asia 2)

Maybe swap one of Finland and Sweden into Group 2.
Seems fine to me.

 

[Jussi]

Is it an unpopular opinion to wish that the Olympics would go back to amateurs?

I'm all for a Hockey World Cup using players from the NHL, but allowing professionals into the Olympics has kind of ruined the Olympics for me.

Well, ruined is a strong word, I would just highly prefer it going back to amateur

It's uneducated to think there are amateur hockey players these days in the major European leagues in the biggest team sports or that there were only amateurs in the Olympics before 1998 or 1992.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

It's uneducated to think there are amateur hockey players these days in the major European leagues in the biggest team sports or that there were only amateurs in the Olympics before 1998 or 1992.

When most North Americans say amateur in this context what they really mean is minor league players or in other words those from leagues other than the nhl

 

[Macman]

Is it an unpopular opinion to wish that the Olympics would go back to amateurs?

I'm all for a Hockey World Cup using players from the NHL, but allowing professionals into the Olympics has kind of ruined the Olympics for me.

Well, ruined is a strong word, I would just highly prefer it going back to amateur

It was only ever amateur in hockey for some countries and not for others. We don't need those days again.

 

[Zine]

Today Tretiak said, if he's re-elected the president of FHR, Russia's priorities will be the 2016 World Championships (Moscow/Saint Petersburg) and 2018 Olympics. No mention of a World Cup.
Saying that, I think his days are numbered regardless.

 

[Thesensation19*]

I would invite every country to participate. I would not limit to only NHL players who can just don the flag on their jersey.

I am aware that the Olympics will not be stopped. Players will play for their country in that huge event, and I have no plans to stop them. As leader of the NHL though, I do want in on that International pride action and that is why the World Cup should be every 2 years after the olympics (in this case, before).

Whether the other countries hockey federations want to control it or not will change my route of it all.

However, just make it small and simple. 6 teams. 2 groups. Every team plays each team once in group and then the top 2 or 1 team plays a final. Simple

 

[Jussi]

When most North Americans say amateur in this context what they really mean is minor league players or in other words those from leagues other than the nhl

So in other words, uneducated. And based on previous posts on the subject, no, they actually want true amateurs.

 

[cutchemist42]

So do most World Cup supporters think the other leagues are dumb for not having complete control over their respective World Championships? Just honestly trying to understand the viewpoint of this better.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

So in other words, uneducated. And based on previous posts on the subject, no, they actually want true amateurs.

Either you totally missed what he said or just avoided the answer and the faceplam didn't save you.

 

[SH15]

This is a pipe dream but imagine how awesome this would be...

8-nation tournament, one pool, you play each other team home and away.

So each team selects a home city to host their games...

Canada - Montreal
USA - Boston
Russia - Moscow
Sweden - Stockholm
Finland - Helsinki
Czech Rep. - Prague
Slovakia - Bratislava
Switzerland - Zurich

Think of the worldly feel! Tonight Canada travels to Moscow to take on the Russians! Followed by Finland & Sweden in Stockholm! Oh my...

After the 14 games teams are ranked 1-8 and a single elimination playoff begins, with the higher seed obviously hosting. This would provide NO home ice advantage, other than earned.

First of all it would never happen because of the 14 games before playoffs and the timing doesn't work. But hey, we can dream right?

I just love that idea because it eliminates Canada's auto home ice advantage. I understand why they do it like that ($$$$ + in North America), but still. It is a WORLD CUP, let's spread it out!

 

[Yakushev72]

So in other words, uneducated. And based on previous posts on the subject, no, they actually want true amateurs.

By the 1970's, the financial distinction between amateurs and professionals was practically non-existent in Olympic hockey. The Soviets were called professionals, but they never made more than 5,000 US - maybe a few bonuses for major tournament wins. Bottom line, they made only enough to pay living expenses, although they did have access to apartments that were reserved for the Soviet elite.

At the same time, let's take Lake Placid as an example, the US and Canadian Olympic teams lived in team quarters, were fed meals by the team, and had all of their living expenses paid for. I'll bet it cost more than 5,000 US to pay for Canadian and American hockey players in 1980. They all played together throughout the year, which is why the American team had such an amazing performance. The pro/amateur argument is completely bogus!

 

[Yakushev72]

This is a pipe dream but imagine how awesome this would be...

8-nation tournament, one pool, you play each other team home and away.

So each team selects a home city to host their games...

Canada - Montreal
USA - Boston
Russia - Moscow
Sweden - Stockholm
Finland - Helsinki
Czech Rep. - Prague
Slovakia - Bratislava
Switzerland - Zurich

Think of the worldly feel! Tonight Canada travels to Moscow to take on the Russians! Followed by Finland & Sweden in Stockholm! Oh my...

After the 14 games teams are ranked 1-8 and a single elimination playoff begins, with the higher seed obviously hosting. This would provide NO home ice advantage, other than earned.

First of all it would never happen because of the 14 games before playoffs and the timing doesn't work. But hey, we can dream right?

I just love that idea because it eliminates Canada's auto home ice advantage. I understand why they do it like that ($$$$ + in North America), but still. It is a WORLD CUP, let's spread it out!

Obviously, on the face of it, its a lot more fair to the other participants than having it all in Toronto. I have a question as to whether the NHL would adopt the format though.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

He obviously did, but that's not a given that they will always be, especially if the NHLers do not take part in the Olympics any more.

Out of the qualifiers - who would knock the US out ?

Korea ?