Some details about the World Cup...

[Xokkeu]

Problem with this tournament is that there is no meaning and history to it. If Hockey wishes to create a Football style World Cup, 8 teams are not enough. A tournament is valued only if everyone participating cares, no one apart from Canadians will watch this tournament, and no fans from Europe will fly over to come watch. Another aspect that's important is too have fans of the World come fly in to support their nation no matter where it is. I hope this is a long term goal, because it will most likely take probably upwards of 10 years (2-3 versions) for this tournament to mean anything to the World and then again, I don't think it will suddenly until it's held around Europe and different countries.
They should not have started this tournament in Canada to begin with if they're serious about anything. But like most professional leagues only $ matters so it's a good quick cash grab on their part.

Until then, I hope the National Hockey League does not damage the only true International Hockey tournament that matters and exists, and continues their participation.

The FIFA World Cup was a bit of a joke it's first three times.

 

[Xokkeu]

I agree but, if you have too many teams, you get a painfully long and boring tournament like the World Championships. Best to stick with the Olympics.

I like whoever suggested that having a qualifying tournament a year out. The WBC tournament had one, although they didn't have their best players due to timing. Host it in September, and if some players opt out that's their issue.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

I like whoever suggested that having a qualifying tournament a year out. The WBC tournament had one, although they didn't have their best players due to timing. Host it in September, and if some players opt out that's their issue.

I love international hockey but I have no interest in seeing the World Cup return. It is too much. Sadly, I think it is inevitable.

 

[JackSlater]

....which is exactly why you'd think it'd be addressed whenever someone writes about it. Just like I said.

I was only adding my thoughts, not disagreeing with you.

Problem with this tournament is that there is no meaning and history to it. If Hockey wishes to create a Football style World Cup, 8 teams are not enough. A tournament is valued only if everyone participating cares, no one apart from Canadians will watch this tournament, and no fans from Europe will fly over to come watch. Another aspect that's important is too have fans of the World come fly in to support their nation no matter where it is. I hope this is a long term goal, because it will most likely take probably upwards of 10 years (2-3 versions) for this tournament to mean anything to the World and then again, I don't think it will suddenly until it's held around Europe and different countries.
They should not have started this tournament in Canada to begin with if they're serious about anything. But like most professional leagues only $ matters so it's a good quick cash grab on their part.

Until then, I hope the National Hockey League does not damage the only true International Hockey tournament that matters and exists, and continues their participation.

The Canada/World Cup has plenty of history and meaning, even according to the IIHF. Lack of fans from outside of Canada is unfortunate, but if something is going to be built it needs to start somewhere. Ideally the tournament could start in Europe instead of Canada, but if they are going to do multiple iterations of the tournament they probably want to profit at least once to see if it is feasible, which is pretty much guaranteed starting in Toronto.

 

[Xokkeu]

I love international hockey but I have no interest in seeing the World Cup return. It is too much. Sadly, I think it is inevitable.

Clearly the first statement is a lie. If you love international hockey having more than a major title once every four wouldn't too much.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

I am not seeing the point unless the KHL is on board.

Seems like a big waste of time.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Clearly the first statement is a lie. If you love international hockey having more than a major title once every four wouldn't too much.

It's not a lie. It's too much of a good thing. Once every 4 years is enough and keeps the Best on Best special.

 

[Xokkeu]

I am not seeing the point unless the KHL is on board.

Seems like a big waste of time.

Nobody sees the point with the khl, but there's no info being released on where the khl stands in this.

 

[Jussi]

I like whoever suggested that having a qualifying tournament a year out. The WBC tournament had one, although they didn't have their best players due to timing. Host it in September, and if some players opt out that's their issue.

The problems would come with insurance costs. NHL would have to cover those as well. The federations for example Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany would probably not want the extra cost of insurances.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Nobody sees the point with the khl, but there's no info being released on where the khl stands in this.

Medvedev recently said in an interview (can't remember which site. sovsport or allhockey) that the KHL is considering starting the season in late August and would include a break for the World Cup... his preference would be in February but in all likely hood it will be in September. Still just him speculating an opinion and everything will have to be negotiated once the NHL gets its **** together.

I don't read anything negative on the Russian sites from league officials re:WC that makes me want to question at this moment their involvement, yea or nay.

 

[Jussi]

Medvedev recently said in an interview (can't remember which site. sovsport or allhockey) that the KHL is considering starting the season in late August and would include a break for the World Cup... his preference would be in February but in all likely hood it will be in September. Still just him speculating an opinion and everything will have to be negotiated once the NHL gets its **** together.

I don't read anything negative on the Russian sites from league officials re:WC that makes me want to question at this moment their involvement, yea or nay.

That would mean that with the KHL training camps beginning in early July already that players playing at the Worlds would have a total of month and a half of off-season. With plans to go to 66 game regular seasons, you'd see more of Mozyakins (star players in European leagues turning down World Championship).

 

[1Gold Standard]

That would mean that with the KHL training camps beginning in early July already that players playing at the Worlds would have a total of month and a half of off-season. With plans to go to 66 game regular seasons, you'd see more of Mozyakins (star players in European leagues turning down World Championship).

Then they would perhaps delay training camp for a few weeks to late July for a late August start up to the KHL season. Break for a World Cup once every 4 years and the NHL breaks for the Olympics once every 4 years. fair compromise I think...It's not really a big deal imo.

Why they think they need a 6/7 week training camp starting on July 10/11 is beyond me anyway.

 

[Yakushev72]

Medvedev recently said in an interview (can't remember which site. sovsport or allhockey) that the KHL is considering starting the season in late August and would include a break for the World Cup... his preference would be in February but in all likely hood it will be in September. Still just him speculating an opinion and everything will have to be negotiated once the NHL gets its **** together.

I don't read anything negative on the Russian sites from league officials re:WC that makes me want to question at this moment their involvement, yea or nay.

I'm not familiar with that interview, and there is almost no discussion about a World Cup on Russian websites. I am really skeptical that the KHL would be willing to play at all, because there is no particular need or desire to support NHL business ventures, and there is also a strong feeling that KHL countries are at a severe disadvantage competitively under the format that the NHL has speculated on. Also, its one thing to shut down during the exhibition season, and quite another to interrupt the revenue derived from the regular season.

Because the KHL doesn't have the degree of revenue sharing that you have in the NHL, giving up your best players to a foreign tournament during the regular season
could impact on making the playoffs, which is critical from a revenue standpoint to KHL teams. Even if the NHL were willing to hold the tournament in February, and no one has suggested that they are, the KHL would probably not participate. The KHL and the NHL are competing to sign talent - why sleep with the enemy?

The only thing, in my opinion, that could lure KHL participation is cash money. If the NHL were willing to guarantee enough revenue to provide a substantial windfall to KHL franchises, then anything is possible. But that raises the question: would the NHL be willing to substantially bankroll a KHL that still has struggling franchises so that the KHL could hire players away from them? Not likely, I think. Especially when the tournament in question is held, on average, every 7 years.

 

[Yakushev72]

Lebrun reporting that the World Cup for 2016 is a done deal, but the announcement is being delayed a bit because the NHL and NHLPA would like to announce more than just a one off tournament. They'd like to have some level of continuity for the tournament, ie announce a four year cycle and future tournaments etc.

As was reported it will be in Toronto, in September of 2016. It will consist of 8 teams, with automatic qualifying for the big 6 of Canada, USA, Russia, Finland, Sweden and the Czechs. How they figure out the final two spots is still open.

Apparently the Sochi Olympics were absolutely fantastic from the player perspective and in some ways Korea might suffer from it, because they might not be able to match what was presented in Russia.

Promises of holding the tournament in Europe someday will be viewed in Europe as being as empty as they are, given the transitory and arbitrary nature of the tournament. The interval between the first and second tournament was 8 years, and the announced interval between the 2nd and 3rd is 12 years. There is no international organizing and regulatory body to guarantee equal competition, or even whether there is competition at all.

If the NHL decides to follow its discretionary progression, the next tournament after 2016 will be 2032. Who can complain about it? The NHL is free to decide whatever it chooses to guarantee that either Canada or the United States will win the tournament. Its in the NHL's best financial interests if it stacks the deck so that one of the two teams wins. That's why I think a better format would be just two teams, Canada vs. the USA, in a best of 7 August/September series.

 

[Urbanskog]

An invitational exhibition tournament of eight teams with no guaranteed KHL participation.

Sounds promising

 

[1Gold Standard]

I'm not familiar with that interview, and there is almost no discussion about a World Cup on Russian websites. I am really skeptical that the KHL would be willing to play at all, because there is no particular need or desire to support NHL business ventures, and there is also a strong feeling that KHL countries are at a severe disadvantage competitively under the format that the NHL has speculated on. Also, its one thing to shut down during the exhibition season, and quite another to interrupt the revenue derived from the regular season.

Because the KHL doesn't have the degree of revenue sharing that you have in the NHL, giving up your best players to a foreign tournament during the regular season
could impact on making the playoffs, which is critical from a revenue standpoint to KHL teams. Even if the NHL were willing to hold the tournament in February, and no one has suggested that they are, the KHL would probably not participate. The KHL and the NHL are competing to sign talent - why sleep with the enemy?

The only thing, in my opinion, that could lure KHL participation is cash money. If the NHL were willing to guarantee enough revenue to provide a substantial windfall to KHL franchises, then anything is possible. But that raises the question: would the NHL be willing to substantially bankroll a KHL that still has struggling franchises so that the KHL could hire players away from them? Not likely, I think. Especially when the tournament in question is held, on average, every 7 years.

It was in sport-express.ru

http://hockey.sport-express.ru/reviews/48421/

the specific Q re:World Cup.

– В 2016 году канадцы возрождают Кубок мира. (For the benifit of those here who do not speak Russian) The Canadians are reviving the World Cup in 2016.

Medvedev:

We are prepared to start the preseason on July 1 and the regular season on August 21. That's another 12 days and 4-5 additional matches. We will have consequently fixed breaks for the World Championships, Olympics and the World Cup. For the World Hockey Championships I would like to move the date: this year the tournament begins on May 1. That is too early, I would like it (to begin) on the 9th of May.

It is possible to hold the World Cup in August, but for me, it would be so much better in February, at the peak of the season. Although, the NHL is saying that it doesn't know if it will release players for the Olympics in Korea. They are being ...... (something like less than forthcoming) I would like for the NHL to understand that the international calendar is important for everybody.

– Мы готовы начать предсезонку 1 июля, а чемпионат – 21 августа. Это еще 12 дней и дополнительно 4-5 матчей. Мы последовательно выступаем за фиксированные перерывы на чемпионат мира, Олимпиаду и Кубок мира. По чемпионату мира хотелось бы подвинуть дату: в этом сезоне турнир стартует 1 мая – это очень рано. Хотелось бы 9 мая.

Можно Кубок мира и в августе проводить, но по мне так лучше в феврале – на пике сезона. Хотя НХЛ пока говорит, что не знает, отпустит ли своих игроков на Олимпиаду в Корею. Лукавят они. Хотелось бы, чтобы НХЛ поняла, что международный календарь важен для всех.

 

[Canuckistani]

The NHL is free to decide whatever it chooses to guarantee that either Canada or the United States will win the tournament. Its in the NHL's best financial interests if it stacks the deck so that one of the two teams wins. That's why I think a better format would be just two teams, Canada vs. the USA, in a best of 7 August/September series.

I guess that's why Finland went to the final during the last World Cup after beating USA on American ice in the semi.

Why are some European fans so convinced that anything not held by the IIHF is somehow a conspiracy against them?

I'm sure the IIHF loves it when there's an all-Euro final at the WHC (and there usually is) but that doesn't mean it's rigged that way. Good lord.

 

[Canuckistani]

It is possible to hold the World Cup in August, but for me, it would be so much better in February, at the peak of the season.

Can't argue with Medvedev on that.

The Canada/World Cup produced some great hockey but it's always best to see players in mid-season form.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

All the last IIHF approved/involved "everybodys happy" tournament proved was that the European Teams are just as capable of failing in them and coming up short to a North American team as they are in an NHL organized tournament.

What's the difference?

If any European fans want to come here and start a logical argument for why this tournament should not happen come at it from the angle of co-operation in the hopes of building a better tradition around it for the good of the game, not from the rigged angle.

That has been proven to be merely code for sore loser.

The results in Sochi have layed that stuff to rest.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Can't argue with Medvedev on that.

The Canada/World Cup produced some great hockey but it's always best to see players in mid-season form.

I'm all for a World Cup in February. Just not the annual IIHF Skoda Invitational moving from May to February, like some have proposed.

 

[Jussi]

Then they would perhaps delay training camp for a few weeks to late July for a late August start up to the KHL season. Break for a World Cup once every 4 years and the NHL breaks for the Olympics once every 4 years. fair compromise I think...It's not really a big deal imo.

Why they think they need a 6/7 week training camp starting on July 10/11 is beyond me anyway.

Based on that translation in your other post, I got the impression they'd move the season start to early August even if there was no World Cup. They want to increase the regular season to 66 games and there's no room elsewhere but the beginning of the season. I don't see them shortening the training camps, long training camps are Russian tradition and the KHL regular season schedule doesn't allow for much training these days anymore due to the travelling. This is more about KHL but I feel that the league's attraction to European players will diminish if the season becomes equally if not more grueling than the NHL one.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Based on that translation in your other post, I got the impression they'd move the season start to early August even if there was no World Cup. They want to increase the regular season to 66 games and there's no room elsewhere but the beginning of the season. I don't see them shortening the training camps, long training camps are Russian tradition and the KHL regular season schedule doesn't allow for much training these days anymore due to the travelling. This is more about KHL but I feel that the league's attraction to European players will diminish if the season becomes equally if not more grueling than the NHL one.

Whatever their motivation for starting the season earlier, that's really besides the point...the point is, as was expressed in the interview, the KHL is prepared to build in fixed breaks to accommodate the WHC, Olympics and World Cup....which is what was in question anyway...

I'm not suggesting anything is a done deal from the KHL's perspective. A poster questioned the existence of such an interview/statement and I answered. Simple as that...

 

[Yakushev72]

I guess that's why Finland went to the final during the last World Cup after beating USA on American ice in the semi.

Why are some European fans so convinced that anything not held by the IIHF is somehow a conspiracy against them?

I'm sure the IIHF loves it when there's an all-Euro final at the WHC (and there usually is) but that doesn't mean it's rigged that way. Good lord.

I didn't say fix the tournament, just stack the decks so that the 2 NA home teams have maximum advantage to end up in the final together. That helps the NHL in its most critical and important business objective, to build interest in hockey in the United States. However, the US has to cooperate by playing well enough to get themselves to the final. They'll have their own home grown referees and home crowds to support them. They have the ability to stack the decks at their own discretion - who has a right to complain? Its a private invitational summer tournament.

 

[Yakushev72]

Whatever their motivation for starting the season earlier, that's really besides the point...the point is, as was expressed in the interview, the KHL is prepared to build in fixed breaks to accommodate the WHC, Olympics and World Cup....which is what was in question anyway...

I'm not suggesting anything is a done deal from the KHL's perspective. A poster questioned the existence of such an interview/statement and I answered. Simple as that...

I wasn't questioning the existence of the interview, just saying I hadn't seen it. Its good business for Medvedev to publicly proclaim that the KHL is wide open to it. That puts the ball in the NHL's court to come up with a guaranteed profit sharing arrangement on the World Cup sufficient to induce the KHL to want to join. After all, its an invitational tournament, and if the NHL wants it to be a best on best, in the Canadian parlance, then they will be willing to pay a significant percentage of their profits for the tournament to the KHL. Personally, I don't think that the NHL will offer it, because there is no benefit involved in solving the KHL's financial problems.

 

[Xokkeu]

Promises of holding the tournament in Europe someday will be viewed in Europe as being as empty as they are, given the transitory and arbitrary nature of the tournament. The interval between the first and second tournament was 8 years, and the announced interval between the 2nd and 3rd is 12 years. There is no international organizing and regulatory body to guarantee equal competition, or even whether there is competition at all.

If the NHL decides to follow its discretionary progression, the next tournament after 2016 will be 2032. Who can complain about it? The NHL is free to decide whatever it chooses to guarantee that either Canada or the United States will win the tournament. Its in the NHL's best financial interests if it stacks the deck so that one of the two teams wins. That's why I think a better format would be just two teams, Canada vs. the USA, in a best of 7 August/September series.

You know that's all ********.

They are specifically waiting to announce the tournament when they figure out a regular interval and hosting system.