The "Gimmick" Teams Are The Best Part of WCOH

[GoldiFox]

That's my main problem with it.

Team Canada can easily withstand the sage restriction of not having their under-25s.

But Team USA is really hurt by it. They could really use the best young American players on their team.

Teams should have been allowed to take their own players before the Team NA team was constructed. I think this is the primary component that the NHL flubbed. Team NA without McDavid, Gaudreau, and Eichel would still be entertaining while the national teams would have all their core players.

 

[JETZZZ]

If this was an event meant to replace the all star game, I think everyone would be cool with this and just enjoy the fun. in fact, many wouldn't mind it if there were more gimmick teams. If this is meant to replace best-on-best Olympic hockey, then **** em.

 

[MayDay]

Is the goal of the NHL to create a tournament that "matters" to the minority of hardcore hockey loyalists or is the goal to create a wildly entertaining product which will draw a large group of casual fans (from ESPN viewership no less) as the NHL season gets ready to start? The answer should be obvious. Any casual or non-fan who watched the Russia vs. NA game last night would definitely check out another game. It was fantastic.

They have marketed and cloaked the tournament in tradition, but make no mistake that this is a market-share grab. The NHL wants to provide entertainment to a larger group of people. They want to tap into what the NBA has been able to do. This tournament was constructed to maximize watchability, not honor tradition.

If the NHL wants to appeal to a large audience of casual American fans, it needs to have the best possible Team USA competing in the tournament.

What casual American fans want to see (look at the Summer Olympics) is Team USA dominating - or, failing that, at least being as competitive for a medal as possible.

I think the way that the NHL has hamstrung Team USA by denying them the use of their best young players has actually hurt them with casual American fans.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If the NHL wants to appeal to a large audience of casual American fans, it needs to have the best possible Team USA competing in the tournament.

What casual American fans want to see (look at the Summer Olympics) is Team USA dominating - or, failing that, at least being as competitive for a medal as possible.

I think the way that the NHL has hamstrung Team USA by denying them the use of their best young players has actually hurt them with casual American fans.

I agree. This is one reason why as I've said many times before - people are being paranoid, there will be no gimmick teams next time around.

Well ... maybe there's a slight chance for a Team Europe, there are definite positives to that team and nowhere near as many negatives. No team NA though, that much seems obvious.

 

[Damisoph]

I'm really being entertained watching Team NA so I'm cool with it.

I don't get all the angst.

edit - I do agree with the notion that team USA should have been able to pick their team before team NA picked their roster.

 

[GoldiFox]

If the NHL wants to appeal to a large audience of casual American fans, it needs to have the best possible Team USA competing in the tournament.

What casual American fans want to see (look at the Summer Olympics) is Team USA dominating - or, failing that, at least being as competitive for a medal as possible.

I think the way that the NHL has hamstrung Team USA by denying them the use of their best young players has actually hurt them with casual American fans.

Agree to disagree, I think the vast majority of casual fans can get behind Team NA and love seeing the speed and skill they bring. Entertainment value trumps nationalism for the casual fan. Although, as I said, I think the National teams should have been allowed to select any player they wanted before Team NA was made (eliminating this concern).

IMO Team USA has a lot bigger problem outside of not having Eichel and Gaudreau. His name is Tortorella and he is a scourge to the national team. As an American I am rooting for them to crash and burn badly so that I never have to see him behind a NT bench again.

 

[Irishguy42]

Team USA was not painfully crippled by the existence of Team NA and that team taking players like Eichel/Gaudreau/etc. Management's decision to not include better players like TyJo/Yandle/Shattenkirk/etc. are what hampered the team.

 

[GoldiFox]

Team USA was not painfully crippled by the existence of Team NA and that team taking players like Eichel/Gaudreau/etc. Management's decision to not include better players like TyJo/Yandle/Shattenkirk/etc. are what hampered the team.

Instead we get to see Abdelkader on the top line next to Kane. Because grits.

#JustTortorellaThings

 

[Irishguy42]

Instead we get to see Abdelkader on the top line next to Kane. Because grits.

#JustTortorellaThings

USA should just never have him again. Give me Sullivan instead.

 

[jw2]

Torts and not bringing the best players they had availible will be their undoing.

I said ina different thread, the Americans look like Americans that just went on vacation for 3 months and didn't do anything. Now, all of the sudden they have an international tournament to play.

 

[Not My Tempo]

The NA team has hampered the US team.

That in itself will be the undoing of team NA next time. The NHL will not want no US presence. You can bet they didn't think about that.

I am hoping they are both out in short order.

They left off Kessel and TyJo for grit, do you really think they would have taken any of the U23s?

 

[Scotty B]

I think all the teams still truly are stressed about winning. Perhaps not Europe and NA, but even then I have to think that they are itching to silence the doubters and slay the dragons that are Canada and Sweden. All of these teams have something to play for. For the 6 true national teams it is for national pride and for Europe it is show that their countries are worthy of more respect and for NA it is to prove that the new generation is better than the old guard. Perhaps others are taking it more serious from a fan perspective than I am -- I just think it is tremendously fun.

Here, Here...couldn't have said it better myself...

...that game last nite...YG's vs dreaded Russian Bear...that had that Old Summit Series, international intrigue, Cold War on Ice, appeal ...with a chaser of R&R, Sex and ( NA ) New Age punks on speed for good measure

Don't Know bout you...but coulda sworn I saw CIA & KGB spooks, in the cheap seats, sitting next to John Lennon, uproariously drunk & wildly applauding

 

[HockeyMomx2]

It's the first big international tournament I actively avoid, so yeah...

That's on you. There's been some fantastic hockey being played. Fun even sometimes on the edge of your seat fun. Personally, I am ecstatic that I get hockey this early and cannot wait to see what impact the players game shape will make early in season instead of a month into it when NHL starts.

 

[themelkman]

Glorified allstar weekend at this point.

Do they give medals in the end? The amount of cringe would be unreal.

they give out the world cup of hockey

 

[capebretoncanadien]

I like it; watching Team NA and Russia play last night was pure entertainment.

 

[GoJetsGo55]

Still not sure if I like it but last nights Russia - Team NA game was awesome!!!!

 

[gwh]

they give out the world cup of hockey

That s an air turbine for the new stealth bomber. Russians surely want to take that home.

 

[Scotty B]

That s an air turbine for the new stealth bomber. Russians surely want to take that home.

Sure they can copy + put a mini version on their skates...so they can skate with YG's for 3 full periods

 

[Canuckistani]

They left off Kessel and TyJo for grit, do you really think they would have taken any of the U23s?

I read somewhere that the USA team brass specifically asked for Jack Eichel.

 

[Seanaconda]

I read somewhere that the USA team brass specifically asked for Jack Eichel.

Should of given them him. Doesn't take away the fact usa does have the depth and talent to put up a fine team without their kids. And they made enough weird picks I don't feel bad for them.

 

[TLeafsFan]

If the NHL wants to appeal to a large audience of casual American fans, it needs to have the best possible Team USA competing in the tournament.

What casual American fans want to see (look at the Summer Olympics) is Team USA dominating - or, failing that, at least being as competitive for a medal as possible.

I think the way that the NHL has hamstrung Team USA by denying them the use of their best young players has actually hurt them with casual American fans.

Canada had to follow the same criteria. You don't see us crying.

Maybe you should just watch, learn and realize that you

1) Lack the depth of talent that your nation assumed you had.

2) Have inept management capable of utilizing the best remaining available talent.

Watch hockey more. Learn hockey more. Realize you aren't the best at everything. Grow your hockey program if you want to get better.

Tuning out won't solve your problem in this sport.

 

[Seanaconda]

Canada had to follow the same criteria. You don't see us crying.

Maybe you should just watch, learn and realize that you

1) Lack the depth of talent that your nation assumed you had.

2) Have inept management capable of utilizing the best remaining available talent.

Watch hockey more. Learn hockey more. Realize you aren't the best at everything. Grow your hockey program if you want to get better.

Tuning out won't solve your problem in this sport.

Their hockey program is fine 2 first overall picks since whenever Kane was picked Eichel second last year and they do have enough depth they just picked a team to beat canada and not to make the finals apparently.

 

[TLeafsFan]

Their hockey program is fine 2 first overall picks since whenever Kane was picked Eichel second last year and they do have enough depth they just picked a team to beat canada and not to make the finals apparently.

Point is that tuning out won't help them grow and get better in this sport.

Yes hopefully they just picked a team to beat Canada in the first, meaningless, exhibition game and that's all they had in the tank.

We'll find out tonight.

 

[MayDay]

Canada had to follow the same criteria. You don't see us crying.

Maybe you should just watch, learn and realize that you

1) Lack the depth of talent that your nation assumed you had.

If you actually read my earlier post in my thread, you would see that I acknowledged that Canada had to follow the same restrictions, but could withstand it much more easily because of their greater depth. I specifically said that the restrictions hurt USA more than Canada because of the difference in depth. Maybe you should read what I actually wrote before you criticize.

Team USA doesn't have the same depth, but can be competitive in a short best-on-best tournament, provided they actually have all of their best.

Watch hockey more. Learn hockey more. Realize you aren't the best at everything. Grow your hockey program if you want to get better.

I watch plenty of hockey and have my whole life. I'm from Buffalo. Don't assume you know or watch hockey better than me just because you're Canadian and I grew up a few miles on the other side of the border.

And our hockey program IS growing. Which is why much of our best American talent is in that under-25 group. That's my whole point.

The fact that USA Hockey development is growing and improving is precisely the same reason that Team USA is hampered to a greater degree by not having access to the improving young pipeline of players.

 

[Damisoph]

that trophy is god awful.

Maybe the winners will treat it like the conference champion trophies, just shake hands, take pictures and skate back to their team.