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

[Summer Rose]

The finals might get Stanley Cup level viewership. This is so much better than the regular season or NBA's BS cup. We should take out a few regular season games for this.

I'd be slightly surprised if the final did, unfortunately, because it's locked on cable, at least here in the US. Saturday night's game at least had the boon of being on ABC.

 

[PhysicalGraffiti]

It really is not hyperbolic at all that Sweden, Finland and Czechia would not participate in a tournament with Russia right now. I can say with 100% certainty that Sweden would not participate.

I mean, even playing for a team in Russia officially gets you banned from the national team. And it's not only restricted to hockey either. It's a very popular stance. We don't owe anyone to play friendly international games with them, it's 100% peaceful pressure.

You can have opinions about whether it's right or wrong (not on Hfboards) but it is real.

I mean I'm not going to claim I'm an expert on the international relations between those countries, I would presume most are not happy with Russia right now. But does that mean it's a guarantee they'd hold that against a national team made up of NHL players from Russia?

And if I'm reading you properly, we do agree opinions aren't allowed on here. HF Boards of a late has become way too Reddit adjacent and discussions are not allowed.

You seem to imply that European nations might not boycott because their players surely would not think their Russian team mates and friends should not be allowed to play because of their president? As if the players' views are in any way relevant to the decision to play or boycott. The Finnish and Swedish ice hockey federations (and certainly the Czech federation, if the tournament involved more nations and the Czechs could actually participate) would not allow their national sides to play against Russia, and for a very clear reason. As long as sport has been around, it has been used for propaganda purposes, and autocratic nations like China and Russia use it a lot more as state propaganda than democratic ones do. Maybe that is why Russia has been sanctioned - completely unrelated to, and preceding, the current conflict - because of the most extensive state programme of systemised, government-sanctioned doping to bring glory and medals to the country. So yes, sadly sports and politics are related in a big way, autocratic countries use sports more than any other countries do as a tool of propaganda, and that is why taking a principled stance matters and is right. Does it mean that some players who are not supportive of the conflict don't get to play? Yes. Is it unfair to them? Yes. Does this outweigh the moral imperative of keeping a country that is actually occupying large parts of another and currently prosecuting such aggression out of sports and not normalising their status as long as the conflict rages? No.

I do believe there is a chance that not all European countries might not boycott. But I am admittedly not an expert on the international relations between other European countries and Russia, and if that would affect their willingness to play against Russia in hockey.

Just because the sport has been utilized in propaganda before, I don't see how disallowing some of the best NHL players to play together under their country of origin counts as propaganda. The NHL set up this tournament, would Russian players not be allowed to play together without a Russian blessing?

I fail to see as a person who is able to think for themselves how a gathering of Russian NHL players is propaganda or supporting Putin.

I've been to various countries over the years, including third world and oppressive. When you go to ground level and meet some of these people, most of whom want the same thing most people do, I don't find it applicable to claim punishing them equates to morality. I don't find find punishing innocent and uninvolved persons of a country a good way to claim the moral high ground.

Letting a group of athletes play together, as I spoke of above, hardly means that everyone supports what Russia is doing because of history and status as an autocratic nation.

 

[vorky]

I mean I'm not going to claim I'm an expert on the international relations between those countries, I would presume most are not happy with Russia right now. But does that mean it's a guarantee they'd hold that against a national team made up of NHL players from Russia?

And if I'm reading you properly, we do agree opinions aren't allowed on here. HF Boards of a late has become way too Reddit adjacent and discussions are not allowed.



I do believe there is a chance that not all European countries might not boycott. But I am admittedly not an expert on the international relations between other European countries and Russia, and if that would affect their willingness to play against Russia in hockey.

Just because the sport has been utilized in propaganda before, I don't see how disallowing some of the best NHL players to play together under their country of origin counts as propaganda. The NHL set up this tournament, would Russian players not be allowed to play together without a Russian blessing?

I fail to see as a person who is able to think for themselves how a gathering of Russian NHL players is propaganda or supporting Putin.

I've been to various countries over the years, including third world and oppressive. When you go to ground level and meet some of these people, most of whom want the same thing most people do, I don't find it applicable to claim punishing them equates to morality. I don't find find punishing innocent and uninvolved persons of a country a good way to claim the moral high ground.

Letting a group of athletes play together, as I spoke of above, hardly means that everyone supports what Russia is doing because of history and status as an autocratic nation.

President of the Swedish Hockey Association Anders Larsson recently said that Sweden would NOT boycott the matches against Russia at the 2026 Olympics, He said it days before the 2025 February´s decision on Russian participation done by IIHF. Source in Swedish.

 

[OilerMcLord]

I totally agree with the OP.

This “tournament” is nothing more than a cash grab. As an Oilers fan, I hated when I heard that McDavid, Arvidsson, and Ekholm were going to play.

The last thing that the Oilers need before wasting another year to potentially win the cup is an injury in a nothing tournament.

If I was Vegas, in would be pissed about Theodore.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

If you aren't watching this tournament you are missing out It's been fantastic.

I only wish the final was a best of 3 or best of 5 so we get more of it.

I wish They've would cancel the allstar game and do this every non Olympic year.

Or at least some version of this.

The allstar game is worthless

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...this will be the only one, and it's far more entertaining than the All Star Game...just a showrunner for the World Cup...

 

[Matty Sundin]

The 2016 World Cup got criticized but it was very entertaining. Even the gimmick teams were fun. These players take playing for your country very seriously and not gonna play pond hockey like an all star game. These games have honestly been the highest level of hockey since the 2010 Olympics.

I do think if they do it every year, you might have some years that look like a pre season game or players sitting it out but I doubt it will ever be like an all star low level intensity.

 

[hangman005]

I totally agree with the OP.

This “tournament” is nothing more than a cash grab. As an Oilers fan, I hated when I heard that McDavid, Arvidsson, and Ekholm were going to play.

The last thing that the Oilers need before wasting another year to potentially win the cup is an injury in a nothing tournament.

If I was Vegas, in would be pissed about Theodore.

Don't worry, we are.

 

[Urbanskog]

It's a bit of a unique tournament because again, there hasn't been best on best in almost 10 years, and even then, the US and Canadian teams were weakened by the presence of Team North America.

Would it have the same impact if there had been NHL players participating in 2018 and 2022?

I think the owners will be happy that it's a one-off given the risk of injury and they can collectively look to 2028 and 2032.

It'll be regular All-Star games in between the international events.

There hasn't been a best-on-best since Sochi 2014 and this isn't one either.

 

[Faterson]

Yes there is exactly zero reason for the NHL to shut down to accommodate this fantasy.

It's not a fantasy but a veritable tradition of many decades, comparable to the Stanley Cup play-offs.

You've just grown so accustomed to the NHL sabotaging international hockey for decades, that you consider that perversity normal, even necessary, and consider calls for a return to normalcy "fantasy".

Saying there doesn't need to be a best-on-best international hockey tournament every year is like saying that the Stanley Cup play-offs only need to happen every 2 or every 4 years, or otherwise the players wouldn't be motivated enough to play in them.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

It's not a fantasy but a veritable tradition of many decades, comparable to the Stanley Cup play-offs.

You've just grown so accustomed to the NHL sabotaging international hockey for decades, that you consider that perversity normal, even necessary, and consider calls for a return to normalcy "fantasy".

Saying there doesn't need to be a best-on-best international hockey tournament every year is like saying that the Stanley Cup play-offs only need to happen every 2 or every 4 years, or otherwise the players wouldn't be motivated enough to play in them.

LOL, no.

Look at soccer. If the World Cup was every year, it would lose what makes it special.

 

[Matsun]

LOL, no.

Look at soccer. If the World Cup was every year, it would lose what makes it special.

The Champions League and Super Bowl is every year though and they do fine.

 

[Coffee]

I’m with you.

I couldn't care less about it

Could not care less. But maybe if they keep this tradition going long term it could eventually feel important and become exciting. Also, no Russia is a negative.

How bout now ?

I don’t like how they just left the Czechs out. Ridiculous.

@Aladyyn

 

[daver]

Forget the Four Nations, how about another Mission Impossible movie coming out this year? I have very little interest in that. Discuss.

 

[muddywaters]

Yes I'm interested

 

[Devilsfan118]

The Champions League and Super Bowl is every year though and they do fine.

Those games actually mean something

 

[Bard Marchand]

How bout now ?




@Aladyyn

Tbh, I have been watching all the games except for that 1pm Monday game because wtf, 1pm on a Monday, are you insane, NHL????

I'm not gonna lie - it has been great hockey, especially Canada/USA game. At this point, I'm looking forward to the final.

I still have my doubts about whether such a good tournament can happen again outside of Olympic play. I think the reason 4 Nations is so good this year is specifically because for the past 11 years there has been no best on best international hockey, so all of the guys have been dying to play and it is showing in their intensity now.

Even if we get the announced 8 Nations thing next year, I am not sure if it will be as exciting as this has been.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

The Champions League and Super Bowl is every year though and they do fine.

Those are club competitions, not international.

Apples and hand grenades.

Tbh, I have been watching all the games except for that 1pm Monday game because wtf, 1pm on a Monday, are you insane, NHL????

It was President's Day. Don't blame them because where you work isn't with the times.

Also Family Day in Canada.

 

[Bard Marchand]

Those are club competitions, not international.

Apples and hand grenades.


It was President's Day. Don't blame them because where you work isn't with the times.

Also Family Day in Canada.

I didn't work that day. I literally just missed the game completely because I didn't expect there to be a game on at 1pm on a Monday. Nah, I'll still blame them lol.

 

[NyQuil]

There hasn't been a best-on-best since Sochi 2014 and this isn't one either.

I agree completely.

The Champions League and Super Bowl is every year though and they do fine.

Both club championships.

 

[The Shadow]

How can anyone not be pumped to watch Canada vs USA on Thursday???

 

[NyQuil]

How can anyone not be pumped to watch Canada vs USA on Thursday???

They dislike Canada or the USA or both.

 

[The Shadow]

They dislike Canada or the USA or both.

It’s still great hockey. Far more entertaining than the NHL regular season product.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

The players are going to play their asses off on thursday and people are still calling it meaningless lol

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I wasn't very interested in the tourney to start, but the quality of the games drew me in. It's been fantastic hockey, with real fire and investment from the players.

It's not a best on best, but the competitors are sure treating it like one. Canada/US was spectacular.