WCH and FIFA World Cup

[Xokkeu]

Propostition, ditch the world championships and put one competition every year.
20 team world cup. Same system as rugby world cup
Olympics
Continental championships including 16 team European championships
Regional championships (Works as a qualifying tournament)

Make EHT 8 team world league. Below that would be 8 team European league and 4 team Asian league.

Too many games for NHL players

 

[Tuoppi]

Too many games for NHL players

Not all of the competitions would include NHL players. 4 or 5 team groups and single elimination playoffs so not so many games, room for surprises and not so many meaningless games.

 

[Shrimper]

Looking at the ticket map, lots of tickets available for USA v Europe

 

[tony d]

I don't think you'll see hockey go full out qualification for this and have teams like Mongolia eligible to qualify for the World Cup of hockey but I'd like to see a qualification tournament prior to the next 1 and have it be 16 instead of 8 teams.

 

[serp]

Looking at the ticket map, lots of tickets available for USA v Europe

I'd be suprised to see any games sold out that don't have Canada or team NA involved.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Canada always sells out and Team North america has the potential superstars

 

[holyprime]

At the same time, the NHL is a business. As it pertains to the current issue, the IOC cannot expect them to pay all of the expenses and insurances fees while shutting down their season.

It's not about making money, it's about not being stuck with the bill for sending the NHL players and taking all of the risk. We all want the NHL players at the Olympics, the players want to go.

All the other players are part of a business too. Some teams in europe like Bern or Berlin have a higher average attendance than certain NHL franchises.

Most teams struggle a lot more than an NHL franchise to get a budget together to stay competitive. The loss of a star player for such teams in the Olympics doesn't mean high draft pick, but possible relegation.

Yet they all manage without crying the world a river about it, unlike the NHL: The biggest and richest league in the sport is basically holding the best players hostage to milk some more money out of them.

Maybe the IIHF needs to use some power to influence the IOC?

That's impossible. The IOC can't do that, it would open a floodgate: Other hockey leagues will demand the same treatment and what about other athletes? They could make a very compelling argument that they too deserve their insurance covered. Now, how much is Usain Bolt's season worth and how can you tetermine that?

 

[xxxx]

I'm not going to compare these two tournaments

You just did.

 

[Analyst365]

FIFA World Cup = a competition
WCH = an invitational

 

[Arto Kilponen]

FIFA World Cup = a competition
WCH = an invitational

Exactly. And with Team Africa U50 and whatever made up teams. FIFA World Cup has basically every single country in it (obviously not in final tournament), without any stupid divisions.

Personally I didn't watch a single WCOH game, because I just hate the artificial teams just like the All-Star weekend teams.

 

[Jon Riley]

I think it's 50/50. The IOC should inherently know that not having the NHL players there will really put a huge damper on their marquee event. That said, does the IOC ego and the fact that they already have the huge rights fees paid for overwhelm their arrogance.

There is only one problem, hockey is only one of the many sports in the olympic tournament. For the IOC point of view is completely irrelevent whether NHL sends the players or not, it only affects hockey (of course) and most of the viewers would not care anyway and watch it.
The only one that has something to lose from this situation are the hockey fans that want a real best on best competition.
The NHL does not care, they are better without olympics.
The IOC does not care, they get what they want anyway.
The only possibility of seeing a real meaningful tournament is a cooperation between the NHL and the IIHF. Either at the championship or the world cup, but they must cooperate and get their stuff together.
Starting the european leagues a little later, or shorten a little the NHL season so you can hold a tournament at the end of the seasons, playing one time in europe with iihf rules and one time in NA with nhl rules.
Or something along this line