WC: Which tournament is more important and more interesting?

[jekoh]

As fans, we want a best on best tournament and the Olympics give us that. However, the league has no benefits what so ever to do that. Non hockey fans will watch the Olympics but they won't watch the NHL afterwards, there has been no benefits for the league since 1998. They risk their assets to let the corrupt IOC makes loads of money with them. It's the equivalent as Apple letting someone use their developpers to make a brand new program and only the latter get the benefits, not Apple.

And what's wrong with that? Apple developpers can and do work for someone else when they're not working for Apple, and that someone does get the benefits.

Besides, why would an average fan care which organization gets the money anyway? It makes no difference to a fan.

 

[jekoh]

Neither is Ivan Hlinka. Finns and Swedes often pick the best players from that age group to play with the U-20 team in Lake Placid.

Even if they did pick the top players from that age group, that still wouldn't be best-on-best. That's not what best-on-best means.

 

[tinozz]

I just hope team europe and team north america advance to semifinals atleast so we can see the crying and whining on hfboards when real national teams dropout because of gimmicks

 

[tony d]

I've always preferred the World Championships.

 

[Frank the Tank]

??? What a statement. Learn something about it....

The IIHF championships remain a Euro-focused event, hosted in Europe almost exclusively and constructed around the European hockey schedule to maximize interest and revenues from European fans. If not a corporate event in name, the IIHF runs the event like a corporation trying to maximize revenue.

 

[FiLe]

The IIHF championships remain a Euro-focused event, hosted in Europe almost exclusively and constructed around the European hockey schedule to maximize interest and revenues from European fans. If not a corporate event in name, the IIHF runs the event like a corporation trying to maximize revenue.

One thing to keep in mind though is that Hockey Canada/USA Hockey have shown little interest in taking part on developing the event besides sending the annual team. The fact that the tournament is technically always in Europe is not due to the IIHF favoring Europeans, but that the NA-based federations are simply not interested in organizing it.

A case in point: The one time Hockey Canada applied for the event, to have it back in 2008, the IIHF granted it to them in a heartbeat.

 

[JackSlater]

One thing to keep in mind though is that Hockey Canada/USA Hockey have shown little interest in taking part on developing the event besides sending the annual team. The fact that the tournament is technically always in Europe is not due to the IIHF favoring Europeans, but that the NA-based federations are simply not interested in organizing it.

A case in point: The one time Hockey Canada applied for the event, to have it back in 2008, the IIHF granted it to them in a heartbeat.

It's pretty easy to see why the North American federations would have little interest considering the antagonistic approach the IIHF took toward them for half a century or so. The event is always in Europe because the IIHF schedules it at a time that makes it nearly impossible to host the event in North America. The IIHF though has clearly been interested in strengthening the relationship with Hockey Canada and USA Hockey in recent times though.

 

[FiLe]

It's pretty easy to see why the North American federations would have little interest considering the antagonistic approach the IIHF took toward them for half a century or so. The event is always in Europe because the IIHF schedules it at a time that makes it nearly impossible to host the event in North America. The IIHF though has clearly been interested in strengthening the relationship with Hockey Canada and USA Hockey in recent times though.

I thought the scheduling issues are the other way around - leagues set their own, and the IIHF tries to juggle between them as best as it can. There's clearly a trend going on where they're trying to accommodate the NHL better, given how the tournament has been pushed back a full month, almost a month and a half over the past 20 years.

And yet, it's not like it's all ideal for Europe either, given how the KHL's regular season ends in late February/early March. That leaves a sizable bunch of potential players to fiddle their thumbs for two months.

That being said, the way the IIHF could mend the issue is surprisingly simple, especially if the NHL drawing out of the Olympics leaves them without a marquee event. Namely, organize their own tournament in the same timeframe the World Cup is held in (but not in the same year, of course). They don't have to move the WHC permanently to early autumn, but hold it there at times. I've mused of a 3-1 cycle, as in, have the tournament in its usual spring slot three years in a row, then every 4th year in autumn.

It could also be a neat way to ensure we don't see World Cup gimmicks ever again - if the IIHF's autumn tournament gets an overwhelmingly positive response from hockey fans, the NHL ought to be inclined to take some notes.

 

[Hpe0415]

I love the World Championships and watch almost every game every year. But the I am extremely hyped about the World Cup. I am taking it as serious as the Olympics and love the we get to see the best face off every second year, if the World Cup and the Olympics hold on to this schedule. Every game of the World Cup will be awesome and I will watch them all. Including the "gimmick" teams don`t matter to me that much to me, every game will count.

 

[kaiser matias]

I thought the scheduling issues are the other way around - leagues set their own, and the IIHF tries to juggle between them as best as it can. There's clearly a trend going on where they're trying to accommodate the NHL better, given how the tournament has been pushed back a full month, almost a month and a half over the past 20 years.

And yet, it's not like it's all ideal for Europe either, given how the KHL's regular season ends in late February/early March. That leaves a sizable bunch of potential players to fiddle their thumbs for two months.

That being said, the way the IIHF could mend the issue is surprisingly simple, especially if the NHL drawing out of the Olympics leaves them without a marquee event. Namely, organize their own tournament in the same timeframe the World Cup is held in (but not in the same year, of course). They don't have to move the WHC permanently to early autumn, but hold it there at times. I've mused of a 3-1 cycle, as in, have the tournament in its usual spring slot three years in a row, then every 4th year in autumn.

It could also be a neat way to ensure we don't see World Cup gimmicks ever again - if the IIHF's autumn tournament gets an overwhelmingly positive response from hockey fans, the NHL ought to be inclined to take some notes.

The problem again is the European leagues start rather early. The KHL regular season begins in late August, with training camp and the like starting even earlier. So using this World Cup as an example, it would be after the KHL has been playing for a couple weeks already.

That is the problem with trying to organise any tournament. The European leagues start earlier, and thus finish earlier, than the NHL, and vice versa. Neither of them is going to adjust their schedule to line up with the other for various reasons, so the question then becomes do you want to alienate the NHL or the Europeans. In the case of the IIHF, there are more European votes, and more money, so they win out in that regard. And that's why the NHL will have its World Cup when it does, because they don't care when the Europeans play, its the best timing for themselves.

 

[Lepardi]

There's clearly a trend going on where they're trying to accommodate the NHL better, given how the tournament has been pushed back a full month, almost a month and a half over the past 20 years.

I'm not sure how much this is about the NHL. I think it's more about European domestic leagues increasing the number of games to be able to pay their players. 30 years ago the regular season in Finland and Sweden was 36 games, and in the NHL it was 80 games. Nowadays it's 52 in Sweden, 60 in Finland and 82 in the NHL.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I prefer the World Cup to the World Championships but we will have to see how it plays out. Certainly there will be more talent at the newly formed World Cup. Putting it in the middle of Olympic cycles and continuing that moving forward is something I think they should do.

In any event I like watching hockey, so I watch both tournaments. There will be more talent in Toronto though so it has an edge in terms of my interest. Totally understand those that disagree, the World Championships are a different thing for most Europeans than it is for North Americans. That is great, because it is good for the game anytime people care a lot about a hockey tournament.

The World Cup may have its gimmick elements that people are upset about. However, I am excited to watch this tournament and I am sure there are others. In my opinion that is good for the sport, I hope both tournaments are a huge success. Hockey as a sport isn't in a position to sabotage good events that help build the game. I think crushing either event has its dangers in terms of what are we really rooting for as hockey fans. I support both massively, just my personal opinion is I am more excited for the World Cup.

 

[Jablkon]

The IIHF championships remain a Euro-focused event, hosted in Europe almost exclusively and constructed around the European hockey schedule to maximize interest and revenues from European fans. If not a corporate event in name, the IIHF runs the event like a corporation trying to maximize revenue.

IIHF top division is full of european teams except Belarus, Kazachstan, USA, Canada. Its constructed around hockey schedule of all world leagues except one. Sure it maximize interest and revenues from european fans for the reasons mentioned in first sentence. Countries ussually organize WC in 8-10 years period. I guess USA, Canada are very much welcome to be in that circle... If IIHF wants just to maximize revenue it would organize it just in few countries, but sure they have been doing pretty good job in this area recently. And I quite admire it considering they organize it every year and couldn't skip some teams or their rosters....To be honest right now its even fun to watch France and slovenian team....

 

[helax]

1# Olympics
2# WJH
3# World Cup
..
..
..
The rest..

 

[Xokkeu]

I love the World Championships and watch almost every game every year. But the I am extremely hyped about the World Cup. I am taking it as serious as the Olympics and love the we get to see the best face off every second year, if the World Cup and the Olympics hold on to this schedule. Every game of the World Cup will be awesome and I will watch them all. Including the "gimmick" teams don`t matter to me that much to me, every game will count.

Except this isn't the best

 

[Lataba76]

1. Olympics
2. WJC
3. WHC
4. WC

Normally is the WC for me more important than WHC. But this WC 2016 is for a ridiculous event(Team NA and Europe).

 

[FiLe]

The problem again is the European leagues start rather early. The KHL regular season begins in late August, with training camp and the like starting even earlier. So using this World Cup as an example, it would be after the KHL has been playing for a couple weeks already.

That is the problem with trying to organise any tournament. The European leagues start earlier, and thus finish earlier, than the NHL, and vice versa. Neither of them is going to adjust their schedule to line up with the other for various reasons, so the question then becomes do you want to alienate the NHL or the Europeans. In the case of the IIHF, there are more European votes, and more money, so they win out in that regard. And that's why the NHL will have its World Cup when it does, because they don't care when the Europeans play, its the best timing for themselves.

Yeah. There is no ideal solution. The only month all players are available is July, which is far from ideal for a venue that's considered a winter sport. Well, unless hockey was a big thing in the southern hemisphere as well.

However, if the IIHF was to have a WHC in early Autumn, something tells me that trying to mend things with the KHL would still be a cakewalk when compared to the slugfest it takes to get the NHL to release its players to the Olympics, or any tournament...

I'm not sure how much this is about the NHL. I think it's more about European domestic leagues increasing the number of games to be able to pay their players. 30 years ago the regular season in Finland and Sweden was 36 games, and in the NHL it was 80 games. Nowadays it's 52 in Sweden, 60 in Finland and 82 in the NHL.

It's hard to tell what's cause and what's consequence. Has the IIHF postponed its tournament due to the euro leagues' seasons expanding - which, incidentally, also allows more NHLers to participate - or have these leagues expanded their seasons because of the WHC being moved back, due to the IIHF wishing to accommodate the NHL better?

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

I didn't even know WJC existed until 2012 and now it's one of my favorite tournaments. The WJC 2016 final was probably the most stressful match I have ever watched.

And winning the world cup would be as big achievement as winning the OG because all the best players are there.

 

[FiLe]

And winning the world cup would be as big achievement as winning the OG because all the best players are there.

Yeah, it's bound to be a big thing too in the Kingdom of European Leftovers or the United States of North American Young Guys if they happen to win.

 

[holyprime]

Easy to answer.

Most people from NA probably say WC
Most people from europe probably say WHC

We're more people here, so it's the WHC

 

[gwh]

1. Olympics
2. IIHF WC
3. WJC
4. NHL money grab with made up countries.

 

[Xokkeu]

Easy to answer.

Most people from NA probably say WC
Most people from europe probably say WHC

We're more people here, so it's the WHC

Real World Cup is better than worlds. But this farcical World Cup I don't see how anyone can think it's better

 

[tade]

Real World Cup is better than worlds. But this farcical World Cup I don't see how anyone can think it's better

1. Olympics
2. IIHF WC
3. WJC
4. NHL money grab with made up countries.

Very well said! I would have a real World Cup easily above WHC but I absolutely will not consider this 'fantasy showcase' as a better tournament... even with the best players available. It's simply not a real international tournament, just NHL show with main goal to earn even more money for themselves.

 

[1Gold Standard]

1. NHL Olympics.
2. World Juniors
3. Canada/World Cup (I do still hope the NHL decides someday to revive the Canada/World Cup. The monstrosity they have planned for September 2016 is not that.
4. The Annual IIHF spring tournament is a good warm-up for that evening's NHL playoff action.

 

[xxxx]

Maybe I am a freak but I will rather watch Finland vs Sweden with their best players at a high tempo on NHL ice that they are used to, than Finland vs Sweden with their C rosters at the worlds. I must be completely out of my mind. Who on earth would watch a better quality hockey with better players and with high and intense tempo. Only a freak like me.