Terrible world cup ideas

[UsernameWasTaken]

I understand people don't like the gimmickry of the two combination teams, but I can see why the NHL wants to do it. I'm a fan of watching Slovakia play, I really am, but it's only the odd time when they're actually competitive. Same goes for Switzerland. Latvia, Germany, Belarus etc are never competitive. I understand that it's kind of conflicting when you have an entire nation going up against players from different nations on the same team, it's supposed to be an international tournament, not an all-star tournament but I can see why they want it. It's so that they can have more competition.

They don't want any "beat-up" games. They don't want Canada playing Latvia and winning 9-1 or something. They want the most competitive games possible. Do I think it's a good idea? Yes and no. On one hand, I love the international aspect of these tournaments, playing for your nation with pride and that's basically being taken out of the tournament.

On the other hand, I'm interested in seeing how the all-star European team performs with players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, etc. I know the Slovaks aren't going to be happy one bit, but I would love to see how their team looks when Anze Kopitar, Roman Josi, Mats Zucarrello, Mirco Mueller, Thomas Vanek etc are all added.

If that was the case, they wouldn't be including something that's one step up from a WJC team as well.

The problem with letting the other countries field a team is there is no way they'd get close to enough players in the NHL to do it - they'd have to resort to players in other leagues. This would mean opening things up in a way the NHL clearly doesn't want to do.

 

[dahrougem2]

Do you feel then the same way that other sports should do the same for balance then?

No, I like international competition. Just interested to see the type of roster the two "wildcard" teams would put together

 

[dahrougem2]

Fine, so put in Slovakia and Switzerland - two teams that have both finished within the top six at some point during the last three Olympics. In fact, Slovakia finished 4th in 2010 and 5th in 2006. Hardly blowouts or non-competitive.

I would vouch for them to be put in to be honest. It's more the Latvia's and Germany's of the world. It's nothing to be ashamed at for those countries, they generally aren't hockey countries. However, Slovakia and Switzerland being left out is a very big deal, especially given the progress Switzerland has made over the years

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

If the KHL plans to extend their season and begin it in August already, I can easily see them not releasing players for this.

I'm so hoping for this, this is a 3 team tournament with only the NHL and it will be hilarious without the KHL. This just puts into more evidence how supporters of the NHL don't understand what the international game is about. It's so laughable the league has support for this nonsense.

They think Canada or USA will dominate the likes of Switzerland and Slovakia, oh boy, where do we begin.

 

[dahrougem2]

If that was the case, they wouldn't be including something that's one step up from a WJC team as well.

The problem with letting the other countries field a team is there is no way they'd get close to enough players in the NHL to do it - they'd have to resort to players in other leagues. This would mean opening things up in a way the NHL clearly doesn't want to do.

I wouldn't call it a step up from the WJC, these U23's will all be NHL players, and some may even be stars. But I don't like the fact that they're actually making this team.

I personally don't think this idea is going to fly. I think that they are going to change things quickly. Players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany etc are not going to want to play in this. Heck, even the U23's may not want to play in this. I'm interested in the roster that would be put together, nothing else. The international aspect of this tournament is essentially being taken away from the event, and players don't like that.

If I'm Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, etc, and I'm good enough to play for Team Canada or Team USA, but they say no, you're too young, I would simply tell them "Alright, thanks but no thanks. If I can't play for my country, I'm not playing at all."

 

[patnyrnyg]

I wouldn't call it a step up from the WJC, these U23's will all be NHL players, and some may even be stars. But I don't like the fact that they're actually making this team.

I personally don't think this idea is going to fly. I think that they are going to change things quickly. Players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany etc are not going to want to play in this. Heck, even the U23's may not want to play in this. I'm interested in the roster that would be put together, nothing else. The international aspect of this tournament is essentially being taken away from the event, and players don't like that.

If I'm Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, etc, and I'm good enough to play for Team Canada or Team USA, but they say no, you're too young, I would simply tell them "Alright, thanks but no thanks. If I can't play for my country, I'm not playing at all."

Exactly. This was supposed to become the premiere international best on best competition and that is not what is going to happen.

 

[jcbio11]

I understand people don't like the gimmickry of the two combination teams, but I can see why the NHL wants to do it. I'm a fan of watching Slovakia play, I really am, but it's only the odd time when they're actually competitive. Same goes for Switzerland. Latvia, Germany, Belarus etc are never competitive. I understand that it's kind of conflicting when you have an entire nation going up against players from different nations on the same team, it's supposed to be an international tournament, not an all-star tournament but I can see why they want it. It's so that they can have more competition.

They don't want any "beat-up" games. They don't want Canada playing Latvia and winning 9-1 or something. They want the most competitive games possible. Do I think it's a good idea? Yes and no. On one hand, I love the international aspect of these tournaments, playing for your nation with pride and that's basically being taken out of the tournament.

On the other hand, I'm interested in seeing how the all-star European team performs with players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, etc. I know the Slovaks aren't going to be happy one bit, but I would love to see how their team looks when Anze Kopitar, Roman Josi, Mats Zucarrello, Mirco Mueller, Thomas Vanek etc are all added.

Yeah, I don't see anyone from Slovakia showing up to play for this monstrosity. Certainly none of the top tier NHL Slovaks.

It's a joke they want to have those two "special" teams instead of Slovakia and Switzerland. But no matter, if the format is really like that, no one will actually consider it a serious competition.

 

[jcbio11]

Why can't he? Everyone else on that team has the privilege of proudly playing for their generation. Why is Forsberg forced to play for his country?

Great post.

 

[Eidyia]

Slovakia could have a team like this for example:

Tatar - Rewáy - Hossa

Gaborik - Kopecky - Jurco

Panik - Dano - Miklik

Zaborsky - Viedensky - Bartovic


Chara - Sekera

Visnovsky - Meszaros

Marincin - Sersen


Halak
Laco
Godla


How is that not competitive compared to Finland for example? And how is that not more exciting team to play against than the Team Leftovers or the Team Kids?

 

[Slimmy]

Exactly. This was supposed to become the premiere international best on best competition and that is not what is going to happen.

I'm so happy they went full McIntosh with this tourney. It was farcical before but now it's a laugh riot.

And to those complaining; NHL is merely doing what the NHL does best, business. They're promoting their product and it's an absolutely logical step for them.

 

[MXD]

No problem with the event... It would make for a great exhibition, and could actually be called the All-Star Exhibition Tournament. Because that is both descriptive and catchy. It would be also way more interesting than the ASG.

"Realizes the NHL is trying to pass this as a World Cup/Best-on-Best Tournament"

...What a scam, really.

 

[Hedning]

A Hockey tournament in September with two gimmick team to boot as well. Wow, sign me up for this tremendous idea!

Have fun with this NA. I won't... I instead weep that this monstrosity will probably replace the Olympics in the future. Moneygrabbing sob's. (NHL) that is.

 

[Villert]

A Hockey tournament in September with two gimmick team to boot as well. Wow, sign me up for this tremendous idea!

Have fun with this NA. I won't... I instead weep that this monstrosity will probably replace the Olympics in the future. Moneygrabbing sob's. (NHL) that is.

Same can be said for the IIHF - just.. they're not as stupid or transparent about it. And also, I can't believe this tournament is actually a thing and going to happen.

 

[Slimmy]

I wouldn't mind the NHLs dominance if they didn't pander to whatever lunatic proposed the idea for this stupid tournament.

The World Cups in 1996 and 2004 were amazing and could have been repeated if the NHL were to bail on the olympics due to the Asian sites in 2018, 2022.

Instead they deliver the greatest insult to fans and players alike in the history of the game.

Well, now you get a taste of how european fans feel about NHL run international tourneys. I get that Canadians and Americans liked the old format but it was an insult to the rest of the hockey world having to cater to NA.

 

[Slimmy]

Same can be said for the IIHF - just.. they're not as stupid or transparent about it. And also, I can't believe this tournament is actually a thing and going to happen.

What in the world are you talking a bout, "same can be said about the IIHF". That's complete gibberish.

 

[Canuckistani]

I'm so happy they went full McIntosh with this tourney. It was farcical before but now it's a laugh riot.

And to those complaining; NHL is merely doing what the NHL does best, business. They're promoting their product and it's an absolutely logical step for them.

But they promoted their product very differently between 1976 and 2004.

The seven Canada Cup / World Cup tournaments back then involved national teams and the best players from any league the hockey federations wanted to build a team from.

So why would the NHL go completely insane now with this U-23/all-star garbage?

 

[Villert]

What in the world are you talking a bout, "same can be said about the IIHF". That's complete gibberish.

The whole money-grabbing part - not that the NHL is better by any means. As in, merely stating that the IIHF isn't exactly 100% altruistic by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Chara-3]

On the other hand, I'm interested in seeing how the all-star European team performs with players from Slovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Germany, etc.

Too bad it is not going to happen. Majority of players will decline to play in this joke team.

Why can't we have 6 teams only?

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

So players under the age of 23 will not be able to play for Canada or USA. Is this confirmed or just speculation based on the fact that there is an U23 team?
Anyway this tournament seems like a joke. 6 nations? Talk about growing the sport of hockey

 

[Theokritos]

This would actually kinda help tolerate this travesty. Not much, but a bit. At least they'd be honest by admitting the fact that this is some kind of new gimmicky sideshow, rather than actual international competition of any value.

Yeah, as long as they don't drop out of the Olympics. Otherwise the sideshow means the end of international best-on-best hockey.

 

[Villert]

Yeah, as long as they don't drop out of the Olympics. Otherwise the sideshow means the end of international best-on-best hockey.

This is what I worry about and fear is what will happen.

 

[Slimmy]

The whole money-grabbing part - not that the NHL is better by any means. As in, merely stating that the IIHF isn't exactly 100% altruistic by any stretch of the imagination.

You're forgetting something here, a fundamental difference; The IIHF is not a business. They are a governing body who's role is to represent all hockey federation members. Making money is not their principal aim but a necessity.

 

[Villert]

You're forgetting something here, a fundamental difference; The IIHF is not a business. They are a governing body who's role is to represent all hockey federation members. Making money is not their principal aim but a necessity.

I won't derail this topic by going into this any further but, read up some history on the IIHF. They've done a lot of good for the game, but that last part isn't always true...

 

[patnyrnyg]

Why can't we have 6 teams only?

That is what I am wondering. Round-robin preliminary round, top-4 to the knock-out.

 

[Slimmy]

But they promoted their product very differently between 1976 and 2004.

The seven Canada Cup / World Cup tournaments back then involved national teams and the best players from any league the hockey federations wanted to build a team from.

So why would the NHL go completely insane now with this U-23/all-star garbage?

Because the NHL can promote their product, which is the players under contract by the league. NHL stars who would not fit in the old Canada/World Cup can now easily be included in a mixed nationality team and they can show off the young talent in the league from NA in the U23 team. You see, you're thinking about this the wrong way; the NHL doesn't give a damn about Europe or the international game. There's only so much profit to be had on merch and TV rights for the NHL in Europe and it's simply not lucrative enough to hold entire WC tourneys here. There's still a big chunk of money to be made in NA, however, and potential new fans to lure to the NHL. The NHL places way down in the food chain in the US and they are scratching their heads as to how they can turn that around. This is a logical step in that direction while cashing in on the allure of international tournaments.