World Cup: Team North-America's future

[tade]

This is simply NHL tournament, let's leave it here... and not compare it with Olympics or WHC because those are real international tournaments. I'll enjoy it, because, as we could see yesterday, players really care about it, so it should be terrific hockey, and Team NA is just... wow. Can't wait to watch their next game.

But I don't care about the outcome... and the importance of this tournament is minimal for me.

 

[JackSlater]

I've never been a fan of the gimmick teams but with all the condescending talking down to from some of you guys about how this tournament is meaningless and everyone who doesn't see it is stupid and so on is making me want to see the positives even more. That team NA sure can play, was pretty exciting to watch them, who knows, maybe this is the way to go.

Sure Henderson's goal was awesome, so was Lemieux in 87, Sittler in 76 etc. I've seen them all and they were amazing. At this point in time though, the iron curtain is down, all the best players play together in the NHL so there's no mystery like there once was and Canada is by far the best hockey nation and honestly, the last Olympics were boring hockey wise so it seems to me that national team competitions aren't what they once were. Either Canada wins and we all say yeah, we knew that would happen or there's an upset and we all know that in one game anything can happen but we still understand Canada's the best so what's the point?

I've said all along that I'll keep an open mind. After seeing the kids play last night I'm starting to think that by the time this is over, I just might be among those who would rather see competitive hockey than watch national teams. Maybe it's a 5-7 game series with NA vs Europe, maybe it's young vs old, maybe it's something else I dunno but there's something to be said for competitive hockey instead of watching Canada dominate the rest.

Maybe what we'll see is the NHL still participating in the Olympics AND some kind of gimmick from the NHL. Based on what I saw last night, there's something to be said for gimmicks after all.

I look forward to all the arrogant condescending comments that are sure to come. Not as much as I look forward to the next team NA game though.

As funny as this logic is (I'm sick of being proven wrong when I make poorly thought out and researched statements, so I will change my opinion for spite) at least it is consistent. If you don't want an international tournament but instead just an all star exhibition, then this format is indeed the one for you.

 

[Scotty B]

This is simply NHL tournament, let's leave it here... and not compare it with Olympics or WHC because those are real international tournaments. I'll enjoy it, because, as we could see yesterday, players really care about it, so it should be terrific hockey, and Team NA is just... wow. Can't wait to watch their next game.

But I don't care about the outcome... and the importance of this tournament is minimal for me.

I wonder how Young Gunz would look on Big Ice? Would it be better or worse for their European opponents?

Guess we'll never know. Still this much is certain...

Hockey's Future ( a least here in NA ) Is In Good Hands!

 

[JackSlater]

I wonder how Young Gunz would look on Big Ice? Would it be better or worse for their European opponents?

Guess we'll never know. Still this much is certain...

Hockey's Future ( a least here in NA ) Is In Good Hands!

Most of the Young Gunz have played on international sized ice within the last 16 months. Most were good.

 

[Video Coach]

Seabrook over Tanev?

Haha yeah, on my list. There's also Barrie and tons more guys that could potentially be on at least the B roster. Just shows how competitive they'd be.

 

[Ben White]

Who cares??????
Did you know that Taylor Hall and PK Subban have to play for different all star teams too???

OMG
Some people do believe international tourneys are some kind of all star showings...

 

[Ben White]

I've never been a fan of the gimmick teams but with all the condescending talking down to from some of you guys about how this tournament is meaningless and everyone who doesn't see it is stupid and so on is making me want to see the positives even more. That team NA sure can play, was pretty exciting to watch them, who knows, maybe this is the way to go.

Sure Henderson's goal was awesome, so was Lemieux in 87, Sittler in 76 etc. I've seen them all and they were amazing. At this point in time though, the iron curtain is down, all the best players play together in the NHL so there's no mystery like there once was and Canada is by far the best hockey nation and honestly, the last Olympics were boring hockey wise so it seems to me that national team competitions aren't what they once were. Either Canada wins and we all say yeah, we knew that would happen or there's an upset and we all know that in one game anything can happen but we still understand Canada's the best so what's the point?

I've said all along that I'll keep an open mind. After seeing the kids play last night I'm starting to think that by the time this is over, I just might be among those who would rather see competitive hockey than watch national teams. Maybe it's a 5-7 game series with NA vs Europe, maybe it's young vs old, maybe it's something else I dunno but there's something to be said for competitive hockey instead of watching Canada dominate the rest.

Maybe what we'll see is the NHL still participating in the Olympics AND some kind of gimmick from the NHL. Based on what I saw last night, there's something to be said for gimmicks after all.

I look forward to all the arrogant condescending comments that are sure to come. Not as much as I look forward to the next team NA game though.

Sigh, in table tennis China is far more superior than Canada in hockey. But ping pong doesn't have a commercial super power who can say "hey, international competition is old.Let's do something else, more fun (and more profitable)". In the beginning of team sports it was always one club or one city or one nation vs another. Now it's just commercial franchises (in the NHL they're not even bonded to a specific location but can move around) vs each other. Something remained sacred though. The international tourneys - until now...

 

[Poignant Discussion*]

Lots of people have bashed this tournament for many reasons, and there is another one which I don't think very many people have talked about: Team North-America's future.

See, in any sports' international competition, players represent their country and they continue to do so until retirement. There is a sort of continuity. But in the World Cup of Hockey, Team N-A will not be able to do this. Actually, in this first tournament Team N-A will face Canada and the United States, and then, 4 years after, most of Team N-A will move on to play FOR Canada and the United States.

Wait, what?

McDavid, Gaudreau, Ekblad, etc are part of team N-A, but in 4 years they will be the main cogs for CAN and USA. A new wave of prospects will suit up for team N-A, and then 4 years after they will suit up for CAN and USA, and on and on.

Am I the only one who sees an issue with this?

If you don't like the concept, don't watch. Very simple.

[mod]

 

[KingsFan7824]

In the beginning of team sports it was always one club or one city or one nation vs another. Now it's just commercial franchises (in the NHL they're not even bonded to a specific location but can move around) vs each other. Something remained sacred though. The international tourneys - until now...

Sacred? Wasn't Alan Eagleson involved in the pros playing in these international tournaments? Certainly sacred. The Olympics have nothing to do with money. Very sacred. Plus there are some countries that have split over time, and don't exist anymore. Russia isn't even what they used to be with the old Soviet Union.

 

[tony d]

Once again I don't see why this event is getting so much flak. This U23 is going to provide excitement and also gives the young players a chance to play internationally.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Once again I don't see why this event is getting so much flak.

People thought the players wouldn't care that much.

Turns out they do.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I hope Team NA's future is having players of any age eligible and having them play a 5-7 game series against a Team Europe made up of players from all the European countries.

In theory, Team NA would be better than any Team Canada ever assembled or to put it another way, it would be the best hockey team ever. Unless of course the best team ever turned out to be team Europe.

I can't be the only one who drools over this possibility can I? A hockey version of the Ryder Cup. This has the potential to be absolutely phenomenal!!

 

[Seanaconda]

I hope Team NA's future is having players of any age eligible and having them play a 5-7 game series against a Team Europe made up of players from all the European countries.

In theory, Team NA would be better than any Team Canada ever assembled or to put it another way, it would be the best hockey team ever. Unless of course the best team ever turned out to be team Europe.

I can't be the only one who drools over this possibility can I? A hockey version of the Ryder Cup. This has the potential to be absolutely phenomenal!!

I thought the nhl was already planning on doing this.

But yeah I'd watch it for sure.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I thought the nhl was already planning on doing this.

But yeah I'd watch it for sure.

I think the idea has been mentioned but nothing's written in stone. If they did announce that this was happening though it would be a happy day for me.

 

[GoldiFox]

Someone should bring in a cheese platter to go with all this whine.

This isn't the Olympics. This tournament is closer to the All-Star fantasy Draft teams and it has been extremely entertaining this far. The reasons that WC bashers have said the tournament will fail (players won't care, it will be slow and non-physical, no viewership, etc.) are all clearly falling by the wayside. Now those haters are clinging to "what about the future?!?" when the reality is that nobody has any idea what the future of the tournament looks like. They could easily wipe out Team NA and Europe and add two fringe countries. I doubt it though, because replacing Team NA with a Switzerland-type would be replacing a ridiculously exciting team to watch with a team that gets easily destroyed. But hey, it would be closer to the Olympics right?

 

[86Habs]

I hope Team NA's future is having players of any age eligible and having them play a 5-7 game series against a Team Europe made up of players from all the European countries.

In theory, Team NA would be better than any Team Canada ever assembled or to put it another way, it would be the best hockey team ever. Unless of course the best team ever turned out to be team Europe.

I can't be the only one who drools over this possibility can I? A hockey version of the Ryder Cup. This has the potential to be absolutely phenomenal!!

I'd prefer that over this current tournament, honestly. Or Canada vs. USA, best of 9, if they want to cater to the North American market specifically.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

People thought the players wouldn't care that much.

Turns out they do.

Tournament hasn't started yet. I'll believe it once the tournament is over.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'd prefer that over this current tournament, honestly. Or Canada vs. USA, best of 9, if they want to cater to the North American market specifically.

I'd prefer it over the current tournament, I might even prefer it over a World Cup with no gimmick teams in fact I probably would. I don't like the idea of Canada vs the US though, NA vs Europe is a much better idea and there's no reason it shouldn't appeal to the NA market.

 

[Seanaconda]

Sigh, in table tennis China is far more superior than Canada in hockey. But ping pong doesn't have a commercial super power who can say "hey, international competition is old.Let's do something else, more fun (and more profitable)". In the beginning of team sports it was always one club or one city or one nation vs another. Now it's just commercial franchises (in the NHL they're not even bonded to a specific location but can move around) vs each other. Something remained sacred though. The international tourneys - until now...

You use table tennis as an example but what about ....... normal tennis. You know where the doubles teams can be from different nationalities in the biggest tournament.

Oh wait they still go to the Olympics for a true version of international doubles? Well so does nhl.

Tennis vs hockey is a bad comparison.

Football with fifa does use a true international traditional best on best format

But at the same time the Olympics is one of the tourneys soccer clubs aren't obligated to let there players go to. So the Olympics had to switch to the u23 thing. But soccer has fifa world cup so who cares.

 

[Seanaconda]

Tournament hasn't started yet. I'll believe it once the tournament is over.

......so you think they will stop caring after the games that don't matter end.

 

[JackSlater]

Once again I don't see why this event is getting so much flak. This U23 is going to provide excitement and also gives the young players a chance to play internationally.

The issues have been laid out, repeatedly. To continue your last sentence, it also gives young players their chance to play against their own country. What a bright idea.

I hope Team NA's future is having players of any age eligible and having them play a 5-7 game series against a Team Europe made up of players from all the European countries.

In theory, Team NA would be better than any Team Canada ever assembled or to put it another way, it would be the best hockey team ever. Unless of course the best team ever turned out to be team Europe.

I can't be the only one who drools over this possibility can I? A hockey version of the Ryder Cup. This has the potential to be absolutely phenomenal!!

In truth this is likely the best possible outcome.

 

[jj cale]

For me it is one and done with Team North America and Team Europe, don't want to see it again after this go around.

I have resigned myself to what it was a couple of months ago and have tried to make the best of it and I am enjoying it so far but a World cup has to be about only national teams, you can argue whether it should only be a 6 team tournament or 8 or whatever but it has to go back to being only national teams after this.

Just watching Connor Mcdavid I know he would really help Team Canada already and really should be on our team, makes me sick to think he would not be on the next version of Team Canada either if this continues.

It is supposed to be an international competition in it's ENTIRETY, this is not.

It can't continue on. It will be pretty fun and different for a one time thing but that is exactly what it should be..............a one time thing.

 

[dubey]

It's sad reading some of these posts... People actually want to see gimmick tournaments instead of real, passionate international hockey. "Hey, let's split Canada into 2!" "Let's draw players out of a hat."

Get a grip, it's pathetic. The greatest moments in hockey are in international games. Henderson's goal in '72, Crosby's goal in 2010, the 1987 world cup. How this is becoming acceptable is pretty embarrassing. I don't see other sports making them look like clowns with dumb teams like this. I'd love to see a kid try to explain to his grandfather how the gimmick teams work, grandfather would be shocked at how low the NHL went if he even understood the teams.

Keep lowering the bar, then you'll look less like a jackass.

Gary just has this innate ability to rustle jimmies lol

 

[Mattpilf]

"You have played against your own country, my son. Now you may join us."

Huh?

Players switch teams they've played against all the time. This includes real deep rivalries as. It's not like team North America is gonna have bad blood, and even if they did, all would be forgiven. Lindros wanted Kasperitis on his team despite delivering a near career ending hit to his head.


This isn't a war, despite what some might want to believe. I don't think any of those guys have a problem with this.

 

[Ben White]

Sacred? Wasn't Alan Eagleson involved in the pros playing in these international tournaments? Certainly sacred. The Olympics have nothing to do with money. Very sacred. Plus there are some countries that have split over time, and don't exist anymore. Russia isn't even what they used to be with the old Soviet Union.

Nothing is perfect. But there's still a reason for competition, a "we against them" mentality - the very foundation of true competition. Two commercial franchises vs each other is, what? Just recently the "money", the franchise chose Vegas instead of Quebec... It's not town vs town anymore or even club vs club. It's soon to be team McDonalds vs team Starbucks... Why not legalize rigged games and so on if it's "only" about entertainment anyway...

About the ping ping reference, it was far from perfect but I was talking about the team part of the table tennis championships. There's always a team tournament where China is superior.