What are the long-term takeaways from the 4 Nations Tournament?

[1989]

Going forward, what do you want to see from the NHL in regards to events replacing or incorporated into the traditional All-Star weekend circus?
It cannot be expected that they host a 4 Nations or a World Cup every year as it would also make it stale.
It would also likely not take place before the season starts as many would like to suggest.

Surprisingly, a lot of things went extremely right for the NHL this time around.

Not only did the 4 Nations Face-Off successfully show off hockey at the highest level, they did it within the confines of the NHL. They showed like 80% of the best available talents and the intensity of the games. For the casual non-hockey sports fan, I imagine they now understand the intensity of the playoffs and what it means to win a Stanley Cup. They know there is pure international rivalries which is something most of their other major team sports lack outside of the Olympics (Finland/Sweden for example as well as Canada/USA.)

Something that was somewhat lost in how the final game was played was the lack of game management by referees. Very much felt like a Stanley Cup Final "Let the players play unless it's egregious" and it was greatly appreciated by both players and fans alike. Really showed off the flow of the game, no controversial calls like goalie interference or centimetre-perfect offsides reviews.

Felt like a satisfying sampler bite of what the NHL can offer sports fans who aren't already into hockey. This exhibition tournament, as well as having replaced the All-Star circus, was probably the best event any major North American sport could hope for. I'm not an active NBA fan but the stuff I've read about how pathetic their All-Star weekend went is also a positive to hockey, perfectly timed.

But, what are your expectations going forward?

Click to read more...

 

[Captain3rdLine]

The all star game isn’t that bad for years without international events but otherwise they don’t really have to do anything.

It would be entirely reasonable to just have a short break in. The season and let the stars rest along with the other players.

 

[BB79]

As a hockey fan: entertainment value was off the charts. Felt like the playoffs in February!

As a USA fan: f*** this, back to the All-Star weekend please.

 

[centipede2233]

I think the one thing that is going to be scrutinized are the injuries. There were a lot of key injuries to star players.

 

[ORRFForever]

It was an interesting tournament...

Canada, as always, started slow and finished first.

The U.S. won their first 2 games convincingly but lost their last 2 - all be it, by one goal in each.

Sweden managed to beat a mangled U.S. squad. - which was a shocker and almost came back to haunt Canada.

Finland, after a slow start, played well.

**

I would have preferred more teams and a semi final.

 

[WiLBoY]

It was very entertaining and I was very invested.

However, I don't know if a tournament like this yearly would be good. There's too many injuries.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Final should have been in Montréal , nice of the US to care about hockey for a few days but the crowd was dead and filled with red anyways.

 

[tfwnogf]

that Canada is the best when it matters most.

 

[daver]

Still not as exciting as Kucherov's legendary acts of indifference.

 

[NyQuil]

I think the one thing that is going to be scrutinized are the injuries. There were a lot of key injuries to star players.

That and the bizarre substitution rules.

 

[MarkWheeler]

Short term: Canada is the best hockey nation in the world.
Long term: always has been and always will be.

 

[Revansky]

US has an amazing young team, but Canada still prevail because of their best players.

The tournament was way more entertaining than expected. Kudos to the players that were playing playoff hockey.

I wish it was a six nations tournament with Russia and Czech added with two groups and two semi-finals. Maybe add a few days to the tournament.

 

[Ice9]

North American hockey is in pretty good shape?...

 

[waitin425]

Add 4 more teams and 1 more game (semifinal)

Pool A - in Montreal

Canada
Sweden
Czech
Slovakia

Pool B - in Boston

US
Russia
Finland
Germany

Semifinals - in Montreal

Winner Pool A plays 2nd place Pool B
Winner Pool B plays 2nd place Pool A

Finals.......in Montreal

 

[north21]

Forget the pools, 8 team tournament, let the coaches seed the top 5 teams, random draw the rest.

Top 7 nations and a rest of the world team.

 

[Ice9]

These programs should scrimmage each other at EVERY level ALL the time! Iron sharpens iron! Tournaments should start with the thought of "Its not which continent wins but rather a coin flip between Canada and US". This Tournament was basically a coin flip.
These young men from these programs sure didn't disappoint REGARDLESS of our preferred outcomes!...

 

[NyQuil]

International hockey involving the best players is more compelling for casual fans.

The NHL would do well to remember that going forward.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Final should have been in Montréal , nice of the US to care about hockey for a few days but the crowd was dead and filled with red anyways.

Usa
Usa
Usa

 

[Frank Drebin]

You can’t do something like this every year
The fact that we haven’t seen something like this for over 10 years is what makes it special . Plus the stars aren’t going to want to add a round of playoffs every year

Perhaps every 4 years, staggered with the olympics. Would still be a lot

 

[dirtydanglez]

hopefully the death of the allstar game

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

You can’t do something like this every year
The fact that we haven’t seen something like this for over 10 years is what makes it special . Plus the stars aren’t going to want to add a round of playoffs every year

Perhaps every 4 years, staggered with the olympics. Would still be a lot

I agree it would be alot but sometimes its OK to have nice little treats in life

 

[BobbyClarkeFan16]

As long as there's no Russia, the tournament holds very little water. The fact the Russian players are being punished because of something they have no control over is ridiculous.

 

[JackSlater]

Not much to take away long term. 25 man rosters always going forward.

 

[centipede2233]

Final should have been in Montréal , nice of the US to care about hockey for a few days but the crowd was dead and filled with red anyways.

I agree but I think playing in Boston helped, less preasure for Canada and players can just play.

 

[karhukissa]

This was a tournament of great stories. Tkachuk brothers, Binnington being the public enemy number one and then becoming a hero. Crosby - MacKinnon together. Canada vs USA intensity.

I usually couldn't give two f's after Finland is out, but i stayed up until 6am to watch that incredible final. Intensity and level of skill through the roof. Matthews had the chance to be the hero and then McDavid showed who's the real alpha here.

Again, great tournament and deserved win for Canada.