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

[Kurtosis]

Imagine being so petty that you don’t want to watch amazing players play because it’s not set up the way you want it to be. In the almost 15 years I’ve been here some things never change.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

The players are taking it serious. The fans are taking it serious. That is good enough for me. These games are a lot better than some olympic games. Lets be serious besides russia. No team missing had a hope on Gods green earth of winning. N if your a best on best player you would be in the nhl period.

 

[1OApick]

This is the most interesting thing that has happaned to hockey in 20 years.

 

[mattihp]

Crosby is still incredible, but Canada was robbed of seeing him with McDavid in 2018. That decision seems more awful with each year.

 

[matsqq]

One thing I actually like about this is that ALL games mean something.

Not a long tournament where the first games hardly matters at all.

The down side of that of course is that one fluke game and you can be out.

But you won't have to see Canda beat Germany by 6 goals and the disappointment of your team playing so much to win the group and then fail immediately in the qualifiers because they were unlucky enough to have to meet Canada because of the tournament setup.

 

[Tuoppi]

International hockey is not about NHL. Its a celebration of hockey with countries like Latvia bringing their great fans. Canada has had tight games against countries like Switzerland in best on best tournaments.

 

[Barrie22]

The players are taking it serious. The fans are taking it serious. That is good enough for me. These games are a lot better than some olympic games. Lets be serious besides russia. No team missing had a hope on Gods green earth of winning. N if your a best on best player you would be in the nhl period.

And in this style where it is only nhl players, there is only russia left that could probably ice a full roster.

Finland is a top 5 nation in hockey and even they struggled to ice an entire team, as they only have 11 defensemen in the nhl league and a few of them are injured.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

International hockey is not about NHL. Its a celebration of hockey with countries like Latvia bringing their great fans. Canada has had tight games against countries like Switzerland in best on best tournaments.

If you don’t frame it as an “international hockey” event then what’s the problem? It’s replacing the NHL all star game, why not measure it against that?

 

[MrNasty]

The game tomorrow is becoming a game that is more than just hockey. It’s about pride.

 

[mattihp]

One thing I actually like about this is that ALL games mean something.

Not a long tournament where the first games hardly matters at all.

The down side of that of course is that one fluke game and you can be out.

But you won't have to see Canda beat Germany by 6 goals and the disappointment of your team playing so much to win the group and then fail immediately in the qualifiers because they were unlucky enough to have to meet Canada because of the tournament setup.

All games mean something, but when the tournament doesn't, it becomes boring for many of us Euros.

Not allowed to choose players outside of the NHL hurt Finland quite a bit when two defensemen were hurt. The replacements were quite ok, but still weird to see them there.

I wouldn't minded at all if Finland would have sat this out and Czechia was in and allowed to fill out the few spots they were missing with players in Europe.

 

[matsqq]

All games mean something, but when the tournament doesn't, it becomes boring for many of us Euros.

Not allowed to choose players outside of the NHL hurt Finland quite a bit when two defensemen were hurt. The replacements were quite ok, but still weird to see them there.

I wouldn't minded at all if Finland would have sat this out and Czechia was in and allowed to fill out the few spots they were missing with players in Europe.

All athletes particitating give their 100% and it shows - so for me this is best-on-best for THESE teams but

Anyone is entitled to their opinion but it doesn't change the athletes opinions and they are clearly in it for 110%

That said, it is just a few games, so any ref decision or lucky bounce can change the outcome , but that's the case in all international tournaments

BTW All teams have injuries: Heiskanen, Quinn Hughes, WIlliam Karlsson etc

 

[Tuoppi]

If you don’t frame it as an “international hockey” event then what’s the problem? It’s replacing the NHL all star game, why not measure it against that?

It was a response for some writers who would rather have this than the olympics.

I think these are musts for an international tournament:
1. You can take players from any league you want.
2. One league can not organize the tournament.
3. Refs can not be from the same country with the teams playing.
4. There must be more teams than four, rather more than eight.
5. You must be playing for something. For a trophy for a championship.
6. Teams qualify based on merit. Not based on number of NHL players or something like that.
These things are quite obvious to me.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I wouldn't minded at all if Finland would have sat this out and Czechia was in and allowed to fill out the few spots they were missing with players in Europe.

lol, I’m sure the Finns would have preferred the Swedes sat this one out as well, and had Czechia in.

 

[Jakey53]

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?

Why not have a Canada-USA tournament, like the 1972 Summit series. 8 games. One time tournament. Other years, give the players a break, no all star game, nothing.

 

[mattihp]

lol, I’m sure the Finns would have preferred the Swedes sat this one out as well, and had Czechia in.

If Finland is in, Sweden needs to be there. It gives SOME meaning to it at least.

 

[Pucklington]

Don't care the slightest.

 

[Bocephus86]

These games have been outstanding so far. Dare I say the NHL actually made a good decision?

 

[mattihp]

These games have been outstanding so far. Dare I say the NHL actually made a good decision?

I would say they made a better decision than last time. Which was not that hard to do. Still missing Czechia..

 

[Golden_Jet]

If Finland is in, Sweden needs to be there. It gives SOME meaning to it at least.

lol, earlier you said you would of preferred Finland sat this one out.

I wouldn't minded at all if Finland would have sat this out and Czechia was in and allowed to fill out the few spots they were missing with players in Europe.

 

[Miro4Norris]

I would say they made a better decision than last time. Which was not that hard to do. Still missing Czechia..

Lol you really think Czechia is better than Finland tho? Especially as you cant predict that our most valuable player by far gets Hurt days before tournament.

We are still going to kick your a*s tomorrow even without Miro. We might not have Defense but Sweden doesnt have centers and real elite players

 

[DumbManHockey]

This tourney has rocked so far for fans of the sport of hockey. If you felt disinterested before, hopefully you are willing to give it a chance now!

 

[mattihp]

Lol you really think Czechia is better than Finland tho? Especially as you cant predict that our most valuable player by far gets Hurt days before tournament.

We are still going to kick your a*s tomorrow even without Miro. We might not have Defense but Sweden doesnt have centers and real elite players

Not better, but they also perform above their expectations time and time again.

Heiskanen being out speaks AGAINST my country, not for it.

lol, earlier you said you would of preferred Finland sat this one out.

Yes, read what you are quoting. IF Finland is in, Sweden need to be in it too.

 

[Lenny Levino]

Lol you really think Czechia is better than Finland tho? Especially as you cant predict that our most valuable player by far gets Hurt days before tournament.

We are still going to kick your a*s tomorrow even without Miro. We might not have Defense but Sweden doesnt have centers and real elite players

Plenty of elite players in Sweden. Dahlin, Karlsson, Raymond, Bratt, Kempe, Forsberg, Nylander.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

One thing I actually like about this is that ALL games mean something.

Not a long tournament where the first games hardly matters at all.

The down side of that of course is that one fluke game and you can be out.

But you won't have to see Canda beat Germany by 6 goals and the disappointment of your team playing so much to win the group and then fail immediately in the qualifiers because they were unlucky enough to have to meet Canada because of the tournament setup.

Yup.

Ive argued many times that that is a really underrated reason why the NFL is such a successful league despite playing a tiny fraction of the games as done any other major sports league in NA. Games 1-17 all have meaning (unless youre like 0-5 5 weeks in). Playoff games (not series) all carry a ton of meaning.

Yes, it’s more prone to flukes, but that’s another part of what makes it exciting.

It’s hard to prove one way or the other without being able to apply a direct control, but it does make you wonder if a league adding games (even if it creates an immediate gain on paper) is not a more lucrative strategy in the long run. I mean, as a baseball fan growing up, I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t even think about the games until September rolls around. Why am I setting aside time and money to watch game 48 out of 162?

 

[LTIR]

Why not have a Canada-USA tournament, like the 1972 Summit series. 8 games. One time tournament. Other years, give the players a break, no all star game, nothing.

Or a Can vs US series AND a Fin vs SWE series. Reduce it to best of 3 series so it's over in a week.
Add Russia vs Europe if needed.