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What's the point of the exhibition games?

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Cawz said:
Watching the games so far, I dont understand the need for the exhibition games. Management doesnt need to look at a full roster of prospects like they do in the NHL preseason and the players sure dont look like they need to shake off the rust. Whats the point of having the mean-nothing games before the round robin?
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Imagine the opposite scenario, no warm-ups and the players looked really rough and took 4-5 games to get up to speed. Ugly. Not worth the risk of that scenario happening, it would destroy the concept.
 
Why do orchestras need rehearsals? They could just go out and play, right? Right?:sarcasm:
 
Why not play the SC direct after the off season without any practice or seasons games?
 
It appears to be to have refs fix games so home countries can see wins.

Happened in Finland. Happened in Sweden. Happening now.
 
Money has nothing to do with it. You can't get in game shape without playing games. You can't gain cohesion with your lines through just practices. Pretty dumb question actually. Why do they play preseason games in the nhl or NFL or mlb? They should just jump straight into games and just play.
 
FLYLine27 said:
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Well, as I said before, they could actually make more money if they removed these exhibition games and extended the round robin.
me2 said:
Imagine the opposite scenario, no warm-ups and the players looked really rough and took 4-5 games to get up to speed. Ugly. Not worth the risk of that scenario happening, it would destroy the concept.
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What do you mean imagine the opposite scenario? I'm talking about whats happening right now. No imagining required.

Its a scenario where the players are trying hard, with big hits, cheap hits, hard shots, blocked shots, nice saves, fast skating, real injuries, etc. All we hear is how great these games are and how the players dont seem to be treating them as exhibition games and how they dont feel like exhibition games. So that begs the question why are they exhibition games? Its great hockey in every aspect except that it doesnt count.

What tangibly would be different for the games that have been played already if they counted? They are already faster and more intense than most regular season NHL games. The players obviously arent using these games to skate off their summer party-fat. They look great out there.
 
MikeModano9 said:
Those are the people that always find something to complain about in life usually. I just smile and nod.
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You could just call those people Europeans, as shown in this poll:

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2123659


Half of the NA people obviously just doesn't understand Europe, or can't see things from other peoples perspective. "Who cares what the European thinks? Canada rules hockey and thus North Americans deserve a 2nd team to root for", seems to be the common theme here.

I've said this before. They should have called it the NHL Cup or Canada Cup. Bettman is pissing all over Europe and thus shouldn't have named it the World Cup.

Sure I'll watch the tournament, but with guilt. The only reason I'm watching is because as a Swede I don't get to watch all these good players on my national team at the same time very often. It only happens every 4th year in the Olympics. And even then, it's rarely on the smaller ice surface.

But as a European, I can put myself into the perspectives of Slovaks and Swiss people, who are excluded. And who, along with the Germans, Danes etc were given a "Team Europe" that the clueless Bettman & co thought they would cheer for. But in reality, their fanbase isn't even the fraction of the Arizona Coyotes (no offence). Thus no exhibition games could be played with "Team Europe" on home ice. Where would they play? Where are their fans and their media coverage? In Brussels?
 
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I don't know. Just a waste of time. Get those players, who have not played a game for 5 months, immediately into playoff type of games.
 
Cawz said:
Well, as I said before, they could actually make more money if they removed these exhibition games and extended the round robin.
What do you mean imagine the opposite scenario? I'm talking about whats happening right now. No imagining required.

Its a scenario where the players are trying hard, with big hits, cheap hits, hard shots, blocked shots, nice saves, fast skating, real injuries, etc. All we hear is how great these games are and how the players dont seem to be treating them as exhibition games and how they dont feel like exhibition games. So that begs the question why are they exhibition games? Its great hockey in every aspect except that it doesnt count.

What tangibly would be different for the games that have been played already if they counted? They are already faster and more intense than most regular season NHL games. The players obviously arent using these games to skate off their summer party-fat. They look great out there.
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To test out stuff. How well can they implement the system, which goalies are looking the best, which line combination work with pressure. To experiment and put Datsyuk as an offensive line and Malkin a defensive line. The intensity is pretty much there but coaching is still in the experimental phase.
 
MastuhNinks said:
It's weird how many supposed hardcore hockey fans are so annoyed by amazing quality hockey in early September.
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I'm just baffled by this as well. The amount of negativity surrounding all things related to this event here on HF has been mindblowing to me. I was truly entertained by the NA/Europe game and both USA/CAN games so far. My 8 year old made me DVR the games and has watched them back twice already.

I truly don't care what the prize is at the end of this thing...they could give away a keg of Molson and a grill to the winners for all I care. I just think we're going to see elite athletes play at a highly competitive level every game because this is what they do...they compete. I'm actually willing to be that most of us here are going to be longing for these games come mid-January, when your favorite team is playing some meaningless Tuesday night game and going through the motions.
 
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Joetrick Roykic said:
Exactly number one is money. My question is that why do they play so intensively and more tight than they should for a 0 point exhibition game?
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to get ready for the real games perhaps? Oh my god, what a bunch of amateurs here. The nuber one reason is 100% not money. They need to play those games to get in shape. Having such a tournament at the start of the season without any preparation would be a joke. Every game in the group stage is basically you lose, you are eliminated. Almost. Because you can't really advance with only one win from three games. You need two. But what if the US loses the first game against Europe? Well, then they need to win against Canada, otherwise they are done. You don't want to go into such important games without any prepration, do you? No, you don't, if you care.
 
League is $$$, 16000 times $100 average is nice for an exhibition. Plays up the 'world cup' part of this too with games all over the world.

Players is to get in game shape. Maybe sell players to the public better. They are doing introductions for each game it looks like.
 
Want to give players a chance to get ready (though none seem to need it so far)

But I also worry about unnecessary injury. There's already been too many.
I'd do 2 exhibition games next time, only.
 
Jonas1235 said:
League is $$$, 16000 times $100 average is nice for an exhibition. Plays up the 'world cup' part of this too with games all over the world.

Players is to get in game shape. Maybe sell players to the public better. They are doing introductions for each game it looks like.
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perhaps it's a win-win sitatuation and has a lot of positives, but they need to play those exhibitions no matter what. It's not like money is the #1 reason, and they "don't have to" play it. They do have to.
 
Cawz said:
Ha ha, yeah I thought of that, but they could just make the round robin longer or something.
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The participating countries get one exhibition game at home where they get all the dough. Throw a dog a bone kind of deal.
 
For everyone saying money, are there any stats behind this? Yeah Columbus, Quebec, Pittsburgh, and wherever else are hosting games; the arena and franchise make some money off tickets and other sales, but it cant be anything to write home about.

The games aired on ESPN2 or ESPN3 mostly which isnt bad but not huge by any means. Maybe half practice for them to get the tech side right for the real deal?

I agree with the OP. What is the point? I wouldve preferred to see the hate and rivalries develop in the round robin games.
 
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