Some details about the World Cup...

[Slimmy]

Yeah, let's boycott a tournament that could feature all of the world's best players in the name of bureaucracy!

If this latest revival of the Canada cup is at the expense of the Olympics, then the NHL can sod off.
Giving the NHL more power isn't the answer to solving the imbalance in the hockey world.

And by the way, bureaucracy? It's an INVITATIONAL! It's a joke of a gimmick tourney run by NHL Disney Inc.

 

[joe89]

Why are they going along with this? What's the incentives for the Swedish federation and the IIHF?
As far as I'm concerned, they should boycott it. An invitational tournament has no legitimacy at all.

From the Swedish POV it's very easy, to show off our finest talent and strengthen the Tre Kronor trademark that is fading with all the D teams during season and B to C teams at the World Champs. Outside of North America, I reckon Sweden being one of the most positive countries towards a World Cup tournament. This is just a perfect way for the federation to show off the best players to the casual followers, maybe even with a few games in Stockholm.

Not a view I necessarily share, I should say. It's more of a gimmick to me. The Olympics hold the real prestige.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

If this latest revival of the Canada cup is at the expense of the Olympics, then the NHL can sod off.
Giving the NHL more power isn't the answer to solving the imbalance in the hockey world.

And by the way, bureaucracy? It's an INVITATIONAL! It's a joke of a gimmick tourney run by NHL Disney Inc.

Just wondering, are you a fan of the NHL?

 

[JackSlater]

If this latest revival of the Canada cup is at the expense of the Olympics, then the NHL can sod off.

We don't know that it is. The possibility exists participation in this tournament could be a bargaining chip to force the NHL into continuing Olympic participation.

Giving the NHL more power isn't the answer to solving the imbalance in the hockey world.

Hockey tournaments aren't designed to solve the "imbalance in the hockey world" but instead to, you know, have players play hockey.

And by the way, bureaucracy? It's an INVITATIONAL! It's a joke of a gimmick tourney run by NHL Disney Inc.

Yes bureaucracy, which seems to be more important to you than the actual players. If the world's best players participate it shouldn't matter if the bureaucrats are the IIHF, NHL, KHL or NAMBLA.

Just wondering, are you a fan of the NHL?

I would have to assume that he is a fan of either the IIHF/IOC rather than a fan of the sport or the players or any teams.

 

[Slimmy]

We don't know that it is. The possibility exists participation in this tournament could be a bargaining chip to force the NHL into continuing Olympic participation.



Hockey tournaments aren't designed to solve the "imbalance in the hockey world" but instead to, you know, have players play hockey.



Yes bureaucracy, which seems to be more important to you than the actual players. If the world's best players participate it shouldn't matter if the bureaucrats are the IIHF, NHL, KHL or NAMBLA.



I would have to assume that he is a fan of either the IIHF/IOC rather than a fan of the sport or the players or any teams.

Yes, because there's no hockey being played outside of NA. Ridiculous. I question whether YOU are a fan of the sport. I want what's best for the sport and that is not a gimmick tournament like the Canada cup. To grow the sport you need to look outside of the traditional hockey countries. That's where the IIHF comes in.

 

[Slimmy]

Just wondering, are you a fan of the NHL?

No, but I do recognise that the best talent and hockey is in the NHL. I follow swedish players predominately but any player with great skill is fun to watch. Unfortunately the NHL has more or less a monopoly in that department. I'd like that to change so that we could enjoy watching some of these stars more regularly in Sweden as well. Don't think that's a controversial view even if that could be hard to grasp for some.
But tossing us a bone with a game or two of the Canada cup being played in Stockholm is not really how I envisioned it.

 

[Urbanskog]

Why are they going along with this? What's the incentives for the Swedish federation and the IIHF?
As far as I'm concerned, they should boycott it. An invitational tournament has no legitimacy at all.

This. Especially when considering that the World Cup is designed to stop the NHL participation in the Olympics.

 

[JackSlater]

Yes, because there's no hockey being played outside of NA. Ridiculous.

It has nothing to do with the hockey that is played in Sweden or elsewhere. It's an international tournament. Instead of focusing on teams or players involved, you seem to only care about the organizing body. That is indeed ridiculous.

I question whether YOU are a fan of the sport. I want what's best for the sport and that is not a gimmick tournament like the Canada cup. To grow the sport you need to look outside of the traditional hockey countries. That's where the IIHF comes in.

Ahhh yes how benevolent of you to care about the sport of hockey. How does the Canada Cup hurt hockey, particularly when there is no proof that it comes at the expense of the Olympics? Even the IIHF is on record as believing that the Canada Cup tournaments were good for hockey, so I would love to hear how more hockey, with the world's best players, hurts hockey.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

No, but I do recognise that the best talent and hockey is in the NHL. I follow swedish players predominately but any player with great skill is fun to watch. Unfortunately the NHL has more or less a monopoly in that department. I'd like that to change so that we could enjoy watching some of these stars more regularly in Sweden as well. Don't think that's a controversial view even if that could be hard to grasp for some.
But tossing us a bone with a game or two of the Canada cup being played in Stockholm is not really how I envisioned it.

Here's the thing. Due to basic geography and time zones the NHL will almost certainly forever remain an NA based league, which means you will likely never be a fan of, or source of revenue for the NHL. So why should the NHL care about what you want?

 

[Slimmy]

It has nothing to do with the hockey that is played in Sweden or elsewhere. It's an international tournament. Instead of focusing on teams or players involved, you seem to only care about the organizing body. That is indeed ridiculous.



Ahhh yes how benevolent of you to care about the sport of hockey. How does the Canada Cup hurt hockey, particularly when there is no proof that it comes at the expense of the Olympics? Even the IIHF is on record as believing that the Canada Cup tournaments were good for hockey, so I would love to hear how more hockey, with the world's best players, hurts hockey.

The Canada cup does absolutely NOTHING to grow the sport. That the IIHF wants to be on good terms with the NHL and Canadian fans is probably what contributed to the "good for hockey" statement. It's out of self preservation, not my benevolence, that I want the sport to grow. If the sport grows in Europe, there's more money to be had and better contracts can be offered to players to stay in Europe. The ECHL is a good start but WHC and WHJC is a great tool to grow the sport in Europe and elsewhere. Another aspect is that the WHC is a lot more fun to watch if it's not just the usual suspects that are in contention. It would also be better for me as a hockey fan in Europe if the sport grew so that the main focus was not football/soccer. Hope that helps.

 

[Slimmy]

Here's the thing. Due to basic geography and time zones the NHL will almost certainly forever remain an NA based league, which means you will likely never be a fan of, or source of revenue for the NHL. So why should the NHL care about what you want?

I'm not saying they should. I think you misunderstood. I want the hockey federations to boycott the Canada Cup so that the NHL are not dictating international hockey. IF the olympics is in danger then put pressure on the NHL to guarantee participation before accepting an invite to the Canada cup.

 

[The Bad Guy*]

I'm not saying they should. I think you misunderstood. I want the hockey federations to boycott the Canada Cup so that the NHL are not dictating international hockey. IF the olympics is in danger then put pressure on the NHL to guarantee participation before accepting an invite to the Canada cup.

Maybe the NHL should boycott the WHC so the IIHF is not dictating international hockey.


It's a bad attitude and will lead to nothing but headaches for fans of international hockey. The N.H.L is the biggest moneymaker and best hockey league in the world,there is no choice but to play ball with it and co-operate. if international hockey and not money was most important to the players then they would all leave the NHL and go play whatever hockey best afforded them the chance to play with their national team when required but fat chance you see that.

The N.H.L is the N.H.L, they drive the sport for better or worse, the I.I.H.F has to take their wishes into consideration and work with them whether you like it or not.


This world runs on money not idealism.

 

[Slimmy]

Maybe the NHL should boycott the WHC so the IIHF is not dictating international hockey.


It's a bad attitude and will lead to nothing but headaches for fans of international hockey. The N.H.L is the biggest moneymaker and best hockey league in the world,there is no choice but to play ball with it and co-operate. if international hockey and not money was most important to the players then they would all leave the NHL and go play whatever hockey best afforded them the chance to play with their national team when required but fat chance you see that.

The N.H.L is the N.H.L, they drive the sport for better or worse, the I.I.H.F has to take their wishes into consideration and work with them whether you like it or not.


This world runs on money not idealism.

I can guarantee that the NHLPA would not find a boycott on international play by the nhl agreeable.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Especially when considering that the World Cup is designed to stop the NHL participation in the Olympics.

The IOC, with their new "European democracies need not apply" hosting policy, seems to be doing a good job of contributing to that

 

[The Bad Guy*]

I can guarantee that the NHLPA would not find a boycott on international play by the nhl agreeable.

No they would not, but they would also not agree that the N.H.L (who pays their fat cat bills)...........................can have no say in dictating the international hockey game. Don't kid yourself.

And so as I said, the N.H.L is going to be involved and have a major say in international hockey.

You may as well accept it and the sooner the better.

They are the biggest hockey league in the world, that's the bottom line.

If you want any evidence on just who the boss is between the League and the NHLPA look no further then the last work stoppages. Once the big cheques stopped and guys were having to go ply their trade in places like Freiburg or whatever they got on board pretty quickly and folded like a very cheap suit.

No, the players union will not be dictating to the NHL.

 

[Slimmy]

No they would not, but they would also not agree that the N.H.L (who pays their fat cat bills)...........................can have no say in dictating the international hockey game. Don't kid yourself.

And so as I said, the N.H.L is going to be involved and have a major say in international hockey.

You may as well accept it and the sooner the better.

They are the biggest hockey league in the world, that's the bottom line.

If you want any evidence on just who the boss is between the League and the NHLPA look no further then the last work stoppages. Once the big cheques stopped and guys were having to go ply their trade in places like Freiburg or whatever they got on board pretty quickly and folded like a very cheap suit.

No, the players union will not be dictating to the NHL.

It's not written in stone. I'm an optimist

 

[The Bad Guy*]

It's not written in stone. I'm an optimist

Hats off to you!!

It can only serve you well to cushion the cold, hard inevitable blow you will suffer on this issue.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

I'm not saying they should. I think you misunderstood. I want the hockey federations to boycott the Canada Cup so that the NHL are not dictating international hockey. IF the olympics is in danger then put pressure on the NHL to guarantee participation before accepting an invite to the Canada cup.

I remember seeing a mats sundin interview where he said he didn't think twice about coming to the NHL even though at the time it meant almost certainly never being able to play in the Olympics down the road. Anyway, for good or bad there aren't any people or organizations that either individually or collectively are in a position to put any kind of pressure on Bettman, except the NHL owners and to a much lesser degree nbc. He's the most powerful man in hockey right now and for the time being I can't see that changing. I understand that it must be frustrating to see sweden's best players leaving for NA, but that is just how it is these days. European soccer fans benefit from South American (and other places) players in a similar way.

 

[Canuckistani]

I want what's best for the sport and that is not a gimmick tournament like the Canada cup.

What's best for the sport is for the top talent to be showcased in best-on-best events.

Whoever holds such an event (NHL, IIHF, KHL) is helping the game.

 

[Canuckistani]

The ECHL is a good start but WHC and WHJC is a great tool to grow the sport in Europe and elsewhere.

None of those events are being taken away in order for there to be a World Cup in 2016.

Another aspect is that the WHC is a lot more fun to watch if it's not just the usual suspects that are in contention.

Actually it mostly is the usual suspects. Thirty years ago it was Canada, USSR, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, with USA and Finland on the way up. Since then many emerging teams have pulled off the odd upset but only Switzerland has arguably joined the club of contenders, and that's based on the result of one tournament (silver in 2013).

More people are playing and watching hockey in more countries, but for the most part nothing has changed in the past few decades. Doesn't matter how many nations you allow into a given tournament, the medals will still go to either Canada, Russia, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, USA and maybe Switzerland. No one else has a prayer.

 

[Jussi]

Kalervo Kummola confirmed to Finnish paper Iltalehti that the World Cup will return in 2016. Everything is pretty much sealed, final details will be ironed out in November.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Jea its finally confirmed (officially in a month). Kummola says this time they will not play any games in Europe but the entire tournament will be held in Toronto and Montreal. To compensate Kummola says they are planning to play atleast 1 Friendly match in Europe between Finland and Sweden thou before the tournament.

 

[Jussi]

Jea its finally confirmed (officially in a month). Kummola says this time they will not play any games in Europe but the entire tournament will be held in Toronto and Montreal. To compensate Kummola says they are planning to play atleast 1 Friendly match in Europe between Finland and Sweden thou before the tournament.

That exhibition game would take place in Finland.

 

[Canuckistani]

Jea its finally confirmed (officially in a month). Kummola says this time they will not play any games in Europe but the entire tournament will be held in Toronto and Montreal. To compensate Kummola says they are planning to play atleast 1 Friendly match in Europe between Finland and Sweden thou before the tournament.

That sucks. Was looking forward to seeing games in Europe again.

Why would they scrap the best thing about the previous world cups?

 

[Jussi]

That sucks. Was looking forward to seeing games in Europe again.

Why would they scrap the best thing about the previous world cups?

More money from Canadians.