Who else has very little interest in the Four Nations tournament?

Golden_Jet

Registered User
Sep 21, 2005
26,069
13,465
I don't care even a little about a 4 team tourney that takes place mid season. The players likely don't care either and most won't want to risk injury playing hard to win a meaningless tournament.
They’ll definitely play hard, don’t kid yourself.
 

Tawnos

A guy with a bass
Sep 10, 2004
29,332
11,127
Charlotte, NC
This is a one off tournament. Not something the NHL is committed to holding every couple/few years. So, totally get fans not being that interested. Only interest is from fans that want to see best of best with McDavid and the guys who have not played in the Olympics since the 2014 rosters. Pretty much all of the 201X onwards draftees.

The NHL's idea here is not for this to be a one-off tournament. It's to get it off the ground and expand it to the rest of the international community down the road. Preferably as soon as 2028.
 

SladeWilson23

I keep my promises.
Sponsor
Nov 3, 2014
26,794
3,300
New Jersey
I'm not a fan of the Olympic format.

Take the 6 best international teams. USA, CAN, RUS, SWE, FIN, and CZE.

Play a 10 game "season". Top 4 teams make the playoffs. Have two best of 3 series for the Semis and have a best of 5 (or 7) for the Finals.
 

CharlestownChiefsESC

Registered User
Sep 17, 2008
1,260
437
Laurence Harbor NJ
I'm pumped beats the asg which has gotten progressively worse. I have tickets to USA vs Sweden in Boston and were trying to get Canada vs Finland as well. Happy to see them using Boston too as its basically been forgotten about in best on bests.
 
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Ianturnedbull

Registered User
Jun 11, 2022
6,053
5,465
I'll say it, this is borderline exhibition hockey to me. The 2026 Olympics will be a blast. I can't wait. I don't like the idea of Russia not playing in it as it takes away what could be such great hockey, and it penalizes a lot of players that have nothing to do with anything going on in the world. Too many great players in the NHL on Russia not being able to showcase their talent or play for their country either in the 4 Nations in 2025 or possibly even the Olympics. Not good. So that alone makes it less competitive for me and I for one have never liked boycotting and not allowing a country to compete in things like this.

Secondly, how much of an exhibition-like feel will this have? Is McDavid going to go full out for this tournament? Will Makar and MacKinnon play hard against Rantanen two days after playing together in Colorado? I think there is more to lose with the Olympics but my thought is that this won't be the competitive tournament in 2025 that some might think it will be. The Olympics is the Olympics. Mario and Yzerman certainly cost themselves a bit healthwise by playing in 2002. But it was worth it. Would anyone do this in 2025?

Thoughts?
You will change your tune so fast it'll will make your head spin.
 
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The Gr8 Dane

L'harceleur
Jan 19, 2018
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Montréal
Yep. USA has the best roster by far. My expectation is "it's not the Olympics who cares" is a big narrative to dismiss their win.
It really depends on the product , I think everybody wants the tournament to be worthwhile but its really up to the players. Will they treat it like a regular season game?


If the players go hard everybody will like it
 

HockeyVirus

Woll stan.
Nov 15, 2020
19,422
29,691
It really depends on the product , I think everybody wants the tournament to be worthwhile but its really up to the players. Will they treat it like a regular season game?


If the players go hard everybody will like it

Sadly maybe that night, but a week later the narrative will be what it is and a month after no one really remembers the games just the result, so they can spin their own BS.

This is going to take a few laps around and a few countries winning to start meaning something. When you've done it 5 times and USA won 3 times, Sweden once, Canada once, all of a sudden it means more to most fans and therefore to the players.
 

The Hanging Jowl

Registered User
Apr 2, 2017
10,542
11,826
I agree with the OP but only because of the limited countries involved. Kind of makes hockey look bush league. I realize many of the countries that participated in past Olympics and World/Canada Cups past have been weak but there are always surprises.

I do take issue with this comment though: "Will Makar and MacKinnon play hard against Rantanen two days after playing together in Colorado?"

How's that any different from any other international tournament in hockey or any other sport?
 

Dead Meat

Registered User
Apr 27, 2004
733
979
Even Ivan Drago was allowed to compete in America:

Ludmilla: Good Luck. I hope, we can be friends.
Mrs. Creed: I hope so.
Ludmilla: Of course, they're sportsmen, not soldiers.
[Shakes, Mrs. Creed's hand]
 

CaptBrannigan

Registered User
Apr 5, 2006
4,299
1,630
Tampa
Has less clout and importance than the Olympics and World Championships imo, feels very manufactured. Who’s broadcasting it? I’ll watch it because hey it’s hockey but not if I have to jump through hoops to get it.
 
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