What intensity do you expect the players to play the 4 Nations Tournament?

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Not at all expecting playoff intensity. Yeah they have a lot of pride playing for country, but nothing close to winning a cup.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Like an All Star game, because it’s literally the All Star game with new branding, and everyone knows it.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Like an All Star game, because it’s literally the All Star game with new branding, and everyone knows it.

You’ll be disappointed then, if you think it’s will be like an all-star game.

 

[AvroArrow]

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul level

It's a BS gimmick tournament. Not even best on best, no team Russia.

Expecting it to be like a regular season type of atmosphere, maybe playoff hockey for the final but that's it. It's a meaningless tournament the league just made up out of nowhere and excluding a top 3 hockey country.

 

[Eternal Leaf]

Weegar and Doughty are basically begging to be on the team.

Would they do the same for an all-star game?

I just don't see all-star game intensity as being realistic. I think it will be playoff intensity (especially Canada-US game and final).

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

It’s going to be pretty intense, especially from the swedes and Finnish. They are notoriously passionate about playing for their country.

 

[authentic]

It's a BS gimmick tournament. Not even best on best, no team Russia.

Expecting it to be like a regular season type of atmosphere, maybe playoff hockey for the final but that's it. It's a meaningless tournament the league just made up out of nowhere and excluding a top 3 hockey country.

I just hope we have a good finals with USA and Canada. I think they’ll try harder than many are imagining here.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I think it'll be regular season. It's a multi-day tournament unlike the All Star game, but I guess lately that was a mini-tournament too. Plus nationalism plays a big role in how hard players play.

 

[MikeyMike01]

I find it completely mind-boggling that the players would care about such a goofy gimmick

 

[Drake1588]

I think the Swedes and Finns will care a great deal. I don't think the Americans will care that much. I'm torn on the Canadians.

I'm also really curious to see how the Montreal fans treat players wearing the stars and stripes. Hoping it's just a lot of positivity and cheering for the home team. Afraid it's going to be the level of booing and negativity that we now see at Canada-based WJCs when USA plays.

Jingoism is my least favorite phenomenon in hockey. At least these aren't kids.

I think it'll be situational. I think Crosby plays and the Crosby-McDavid-MacKinnon Canadians romp to a title, so that could impact intensity if they're blowing out their opponents. I think the Sweden-Finland game should be awesome.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Regular season early on and then ramp it up

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

High intensity regular season game for the early round and playoff game for gold medal

Weegar and Doughty are basically begging to be on the team.

Would they do the same for an all-star game?

I just don't see all-star game intensity as being realistic. I think it will be playoff intensity (especially Canada-US game and final).

I feel like most people are forgetting how intense the world cup was which was called a gimmick as well.

If you're attending the tournament, you're not going to go easy.

 

[kevsh]

I saw the Canada vs. Europe game live at the last tournament thingy the NHL tried and while they were definitely playing to win it was much closer to an all-star game-level of intensity than Summit Series of '72 (to use two extremes).

This one I expect to be more intense and physical than that series, but I expect each game will require someone to set the tone before we see it. (And on that note, if I'm coaching USA I put the Tkachuks out on the very first shift each game for that very reason).