Terrible world cup ideas

[Canuckistani]

I hate listening to Bettman lie like that. It's unbearable. Just as bad are the Sportsnet hosts who refuse to call him on his BS.

Bettman's entire excuse for including the two mickey mouse teams is that "there's a dramatic drop-off" in talent after the top-six and that this format is better for the overall quality of hockey.

Anyone who has paid attention to hockey knows that's simply not true.

Slovakia and Switzerland have repeatedly shown themselves to be highly capable of playing with the big six. Switzerland beats the Czechs and Canada in Turin, took Canada to a shootout in Vancouver, and made the final of the 2013 WHC. Slovakia made the semifinals in Vancouver (beating Russia and Sweden), took Russia to a shootout in Sochi, and made the WHC final in 2012. And now they are suddenly deemed to be so crappy that they need to be replaced???? Nonsense.

And Bettman knows NOTHING about international hockey if he honestly thinks that Slovaks, Swiss, Germans and Austrians will want to play their hearts out for Team Euro Leftover, or that Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will go all out for the U-23 Kiddie Squad. National team hockey is all about NATIONAL PRIDE. So how do it make for a better event by including two teams that represent absolutely nothing? Oh and his also hanicaps Canada and USA by refusing them the ability to select their best young stars.

Using Bettman's "logic" we should include several "best-of-the-rest" teams in the NHL playoffs made up of players whose teams wouldn't otherwise qualify so that we get to see the likes of Kessel, Hall and Eberle in the post-season. No one in their right mind would think that was a good idea, yet Bettman has decided to vandalize the international game with exactly that kind of thinking. It's shamefull and insulting.

I hope this event bombs so badly. Player boycotts, jokes teams not caring, empty arenas. This event simply can't be allowed to replace real best-on-best hockey.

 

[JackSlater]

I hate listening to Bettman lie like that. It's unbearable. Just as bad are the Sportsnet hosts who refuse to call him on his BS.

Bettman's entire excuse for including the two mickey mouse teams is that "there's a dramatic drop-off" in talent after the top-six and that this format is better for the overall quality of hockey.

Anyone who has paid attention to hockey knows that's simply not true.

Slovakia and Switzerland have repeatedly shown themselves to be highly capable of playing with the big six. Switzerland beats the Czechs and Canada in Turin, took Canada to a shootout in Vancouver, and made the final of the 2013 WHC. Slovakia made the semifinals in Vancouver (beating Russia and Sweden), took Russia to a shootout in Sochi, and made the WHC final in 2012. And now they are suddenly deemed to be so crappy that they need to be replaced???? Nonsense.

And Bettman knows NOTHING about international hockey if he honestly thinks that Slovaks, Swiss, Germans and Austrians will want to play their hearts out for Team Euro Leftover, or that Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel will go all out for the U-23 Kiddie Squad. National team hockey is all about NATIONAL PRIDE. So how do it make for a better event by including two teams that represent absolutely nothing? Oh and his also hanicaps Canada and USA by refusing them the ability to select their best young stars.

Using Bettman's "logic" we should include several "best-of-the-rest" teams in the NHL playoffs made up of players whose teams wouldn't otherwise qualify so that we get to see the likes of Kessel, Hall and Eberle in the post-season. No one in their right mind would think that was a good idea, yet Bettman has decided to vandalize the international game with exactly that kind of thinking. It's shamefull and insulting.

I hope this event bombs so badly. Player boycotts, jokes teams not caring, empty arenas. This event simply can't be allowed to replace real best-on-best hockey.

Good comparison on the best of the rest playoff teams. Imagine how exciting the playoffs would be! Top six from each conference advance to the playoffs, and the best players remaining on the outside make it in the final spots. Will Kessel mesh with Giroux? Will Karlsson thrive next to Faulk? Find out when you tune into the Colisee Pepsi to see the Honda Roughriders in action!

 

[seventieslord]

Yep, some of it can be found here:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-nhlpa-hopnig-best-ever-world-cup/

Look at the poll at the bottom. Do you like the new world cup format?

YES 52%
NO 48%

who and where are these people that like this format? I haven't met a single one.

 

[Xokkeu]

For all the screaming and crying on this board, I haven't seen many in the media panning this tournament. And I'm not even talking about rights holders. It does seem this will go ahead as planned and we can all just get ready for that.

 

[seventieslord]

For all the screaming and crying on this board, I haven't seen many in the media panning this tournament. And I'm not even talking about rights holders. It does seem this will go ahead as planned and we can all just get ready for that.

I really think they are banking too heavily on the likes of Chara/Gaborik/Kopitar/etc wanting to even get out of bed to play in this thing. I hope they all just flip it the bird, I really do.

 

[JackSlater]

For all the screaming and crying on this board, I haven't seen many in the media panning this tournament. And I'm not even talking about rights holders. It does seem this will go ahead as planned and we can all just get ready for that.

James Duthie is the only one that I recall openly pointing out how ridiculous it is. McKenzie didn't defend it, but mainly explained the NHL's reasoning. The only way I can see it not going forward would be if a group of players refused, and considering the NHLPA and the international federations are on board, that seems unlikely.

 

[Gaps]

Yep, some of it can be found here:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/nhl-nhlpa-hopnig-best-ever-world-cup/

What a sickening article. I legit threw up in my mouth a little. This is not hockey, this is a circus.

 

[1Gold Standard]

James Duthie is the only one that I recall openly pointing out how ridiculous it is. McKenzie didn't defend it, but mainly explained the NHL's reasoning. The only way I can see it not going forward would be if a group of players refused, and considering the NHLPA and the international federations are on board, that seems unlikely.

Bettman was out doing the rounds yesterday on all T.O. media. On PTS McCown told Bettman he thought it was a stupid idea and Brunt called it a gimmick. Bettman didn't seem too thrilled... considering this was coming from Rogers personnel.

 

[Canuckistani]

For all the screaming and crying on this board, I haven't seen many in the media panning this tournament. And I'm not even talking about rights holders. It does seem this will go ahead as planned and we can all just get ready for that.

The writters of USA Today ripped it pretty badly when they were forcasting rosters a few weeks back.

I've only seen a handful of writers say the two joke teams are a good idea. The rest either don't like it or are resigned to the current format's idiocy.

 

[Canuckistani]

Bettman was out doing the rounds yesterday on all T.O. media. On PTS McCown told Bettman he thought it was a stupid idea and Brunt called it a gimmick. Bettman didn't seem too thrilled... considering this was coming from Rogers personnel.

I'm glad someone at Sportsnet still has their self-respect. Bettman should be getting laughed at from all sides for this stupid idea.

At least the guys at hockey central questioned whether or not anyone would want to play for the no-nation teams, but none of them took issue with Bettman's BS about the Slovaks and Swiss not being able to compete.

I suppose I did my part by getting a letter published in the Hockey News last week.

It's so frustrating watching the international game being wrecked by these idiots.

 

[FiLe]

If I go into selfish mode, I hope that the two gimmick squads were in the same group with Canada and USA while the European participants got to play between themselves.

That way there could be at least some interest to tune in. I'm not saying EHT matters, but it is viable entertainment regardless. And with those groups, I could pretend the whole thing is an EHT event... with NHLers.

It would also create better odds for an eye-opening failure, since the only game in the other group the NA viewers would give a rat's backside about was Canada-USA.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I'm glad someone at Sportsnet still has their self-respect. Bettman should be getting laughed at from all sides for this stupid idea.

At least the guys at hockey central questioned whether or not anyone would want to play for the no-nation teams, but none of them took issue with Bettman's BS about the Slovaks and Swiss not being able to compete.

I suppose I did my part by getting a letter published in the Hockey News last week.

It's so frustrating watching the international game being wrecked by these idiots.

What can I tell you...for a hockey nut like me, by the 3rd week of July I'm already itching for the start of the season, but I won't be watching 1 second of this contrived nonsense. If they want to come back in 2020 with the traditional international format, then I'll get behind that...but other than that, September 2016, or the final days of summer 2016, I'll be doing something else with my time.

 

[JackSlater]

If I go into selfish mode, I hope that the two gimmick squads were in the same group with Canada and USA while the European participants got to play between themselves.

That way there could be at least some interest to tune in. I'm not saying EHT matters, but it is viable entertainment regardless. And with those groups, I could pretend the whole thing is an EHT event... with NHLers.

It would also create better odds for an eye-opening failure, since the only game in the other group the NA viewers would give a rat's backside about was Canada-USA.

If I recall correctly, when it was announced on TSN they said something along the lines of the NHL not wanting Canada/USA and the Young Gunz to be in the same side. Deep down they know that the optics of people playing against their own country would be bad.

 

[stars33]

Bettman in the interview says he thinks it is good to have a debate with the made up 7th and 8th teams. The debate is not about the teams but rather how big of a moron Bettman is.

 

[stars33]

The captain of the team that wins the cup, should smashed it over Gary's head!!!

 

[stars33]

Why would any player on team Euro or team U-23 give a locker room speech between periods to his fellow players when they are down by 2 goals. They are not playing for any city or country. I guess they can say "Let's do it for Bettman!!!!"

 

[stars33]

Who is going to stand up and cheer when U-23 or team leftover scores? If there up 3-0 they arena is going to be silent.

 

[stars33]

What lunatic from Europe is going to fly to Toronto for this BS? The NHL is planning such a big extravaganza, they might take such a bath on this that it might damage the league.

 

[stars33]

This is like the NHL having the 7 and 8 playoffs teams being made up from the rest of the best players of teams not in the playoffs.

 

[Canuckistani]

If I recall correctly, when it was announced on TSN they said something along the lines of the NHL not wanting Canada/USA and the Young Gunz to be in the same side. Deep down they know that the optics of people playing against their own country would be bad.

If so then that's the first sign of brain activity we've seen from the NHL on this issue.

Yes, it looks absolutely effing terrible to have Canadian and American players going up against their own country.

Any rational person would then conclude that it's probably best not to design a tournament that even allows for such a ridiculous scenario.

Hopefully the two joke teams mail it in and get crushed. I mean the whole jusification for their inclusion is to prevent blowouts, right?

Speaking of which, I wonder what Gary makes of these scores from the last three olympics....Russia 5, Sweden 0....Sweden 7, Czechs 3....Finland 4, Russia 0....Canada 7, Russia 3...USA 6, Finland 1....Finland 5, USA 0

In addition, the Swiss got lit up 5-0 by Finland and 6-2 by Sweden in 2006 while Slovakia lost 7-1 to USA last year. So if the Swiss and Slovaks aren't considered worthy of the World Cup based on those results then clearly Russia, Sweden, Czech Rep, Finland and USA shouldn't be there either since they seem just as prone to blowout losses.

So Canada wins by default. No need for the World Cup.

 

[saskganesh]

Look at the poll at the bottom. Do you like the new world cup format?

YES 52%
NO 48%

who and where are these people that like this format? I haven't met a single one.

You ask a shallow question, you get a shallow response. Especially after a press release pretending it's an article.

If you asked the 52% what the "old" format was like, an unloaded open-ended question, I bet most couldn't tell you.

 

[stars33]

Canada better not show up to this World Cup. Because USA will not and Europe is definitely not going to Toronto for this horse crap.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Look at the poll at the bottom. Do you like the new world cup format?

YES 52%
NO 48%

who and where are these people that like this format? I haven't met a single one.

Wonder if the NHL is doing some astroturfing, employing some bots to vote 'yes'.

But yeah, I've heard very little in the way of positive reception to this format. Those results are surprising to say the least.

 

[1Gold Standard]

You ask a shallow question, you get a shallow response. Especially after a press release pretending it's an article.

If you asked the 52% what the "old" format was like, an unloaded open-ended question, I bet most couldn't tell you.

Exactly. Any marketing firm hired by the NHL to sell this dog and pony show will deliver to the NHL the results the NHL wants and only want the NHL wants. Obviously, any sane person with even half a clue knows that an overwhelming positive result for this would not be believed by anybody, but a fairly even split down the middle? and it is much easier for the casual fan to accept. That survey was/is just as contrived as this World Cup of nonsense.

 

[JackSlater]

If so then that's the first sign of brain activity we've seen from the NHL on this issue.

Yes, it looks absolutely effing terrible to have Canadian and American players going up against their own country.

Any rational person would then conclude that it's probably best not to design a tournament that even allows for such a ridiculous scenario.

Hopefully the two joke teams mail it in and get crushed. I mean the whole jusification for their inclusion is to prevent blowouts, right?

Speaking of which, I wonder what Gary makes of these scores from the last three olympics....Russia 5, Sweden 0....Sweden 7, Czechs 3....Finland 4, Russia 0....Canada 7, Russia 3...USA 6, Finland 1....Finland 5, USA 0

In addition, the Swiss got lit up 5-0 by Finland and 6-2 by Sweden in 2006 while Slovakia lost 7-1 to USA last year. So if the Swiss and Slovaks aren't considered worthy of the World Cup based on those results then clearly Russia, Sweden, Czech Rep, Finland and USA shouldn't be there either since they seem just as prone to blowout losses.

So Canada wins by default. No need for the World Cup.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl-announces-world-cup-of-hockey-to-return-in-2016-1.190879

The part pertaining to groups is:

Daly said that "they don't love the idea of the North American stars beating one of their teams or competing against their flag." It's possible the Young Stars may be put in a different pool than Canada and the United States.

Which yes, clearly indicates the flaw in the tournament. If you don't want some teams to play other teams in the tournament because it demonstrates how ridiculous those teams happen to be, then you shouldn't include them in the tournament.

The talk of a balanced tournament is garbage. The NHL wants as many NHL players involved as possible, and to suggest otherwise is insulting. They keep trying to reference lopsided scores to obscure this, but it isn't even close to being rooted in reality. For instance, I recall people complaining after Canada played Norway (3-1) Austria (6-0) and Latvia (2-1) in the 2014 Olympics that those scores weren't lopsided enough.