littleD
Registered User
One open to all hockey playing countries. Where countries actually have to qualify?
Or are you happy with the fake version?
Or are you happy with the fake version?
SwisshockeyAcademy said:I have been harping on this concept for years but it falls on deaf ears because there is basically nobody of high ranking in the hockey World pushing for it. It could happen some day but the NHL is so dominant in the hockey world that it expects to be put before all else. With the World Cup of Soccer you get even the non fans poking their heads in to watch. I highly doubt you get many for hockey in the current form- a 16 team World Cup complete with qualifying would bring some minnows onto the World stage on its own- not competing against other sports in the Olympics. Hockey would be the focus. It should be hosted or co hosted and qualifying groups would be set up after four ( perhaps eight) countries are seeded. Qualifying could be late August/early September the year prior to the actual event. It could be a success but has no backing so we'll have to be happy with the invitational for now. I think we have the eight best countries at present but the line is getting blurry. The teams from 9 -16 are not that different.
Rabid Ranger said:I think it's a nice idea in theory, but hockey is very differant from soccer when it comes to the number of competitive teams. There are 8 top teams in hockey (and that's pushing it), and what, at least 30-40 competitive teams (probably more) in soccer. A very differant dynamic.
I agree with you on where we are now. I am thinking of the games appeal to the masses with a more global World Cup and i am thinking of where some of these national teams could yet be with even more exposure to the top levels. Denmark, Norway, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia, France and Italy have more to give. Its 8 top teams now and who's to say a program cannot get stronger and pull some upsets along the way? We have no Belarus in this event but they slayed Sweden. I still think its worth doing and i'm INSPIRED by what Soccer has-I'm not deterred by its competitive balance.Tretiak said:Yep, that's exactly right.
On a more personal note, I think they should get rid of the World Cup (and that friggin trophy ) and bring back the Canada Cup once and for all.
Jasper Nuguya said:Well, if there was a "real" World Cup, chances are, one of the countries in this one would win it. Of course, if there was a "real" World Cup, it would certainly be interesting to see what would happen. Upsets like Belarus beating Sweden in the Olympics a few years ago are always surprising.
How exactly would qualifying go though? In Europe, it would make sense because there is more than enough countries there who play hockey. I can't imagine there would be much point in having Team Canada vs. Team Mexico, for instance. Besides Japan, are there any Asian/Oceanic countries that have anything resembling a credible hockey team(China? South Korea? Australia?)
I think it would be an interesting idea enough though for the future.
I am detecting a clear hate for all that is NHL. What would it take to make it an international competition in your opinion? You do not have to be a member of the NHLPA to participate.ChickFlick said:This world cup is pointless, it's not an international competition, just exhibition of nhl.
WTF? NHL and NHLPA still choose who can play and who can't. This simply is not the best players available tournament...SwisshockeyAcademy said:You do not have to be a member of the NHLPA to participate.
Give me a list of those omitted that should be there.Korkki said:WTF? NHL and NHLPA still choose who can play and who can't. This simply is not the best players available tournament...
Simple, Jere KaralahtiSwisshockeyAcademy said:Give me a list of those omitted that should be there.
That is what i thought. This is a battle over a man who has it all and pisses it away. Will he be on the Finnish Olympic team?Korkki said:Simple, Jere Karalahti
colonel_korn said:There's no way they can have as many countries involved as for soccer, but I think there's enough depth to increase the number of teams from 8 to 12. Say have two pools of six with the top 4 from each pool advancing. Something like
Canada, USA, Sweden, Russia, Czech, Slovakia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belarus, Latvia.
While not superpowers, the last 5 teams there still have fairly solid hockey programs/players.
I guess then the question becomes, at what point do they bring in qualifying? Do the "Big 7" get a bye and the rest have to qualify? You would have a tough time getting the NHL to accept players playing qualifiers as well as the tournament itself, IMO.
SwisshockeyAcademy said:That is what i thought. This is a battle over a man who has it all and pisses it away. Will he be on the Finnish Olympic team?
ChickFlick said:do they teach math in Finland
Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belarus, Latvia.
Those are the last 5
So Karahlati's omission is enough to label this tournament a bust? It has more credence than the last two Olympics. Slovakia and Germany were unable to go at full strength.Finn said:Probably
SwisshockeyAcademy said:That would depend on what you call value. If you are referring to the World Championships as value then we clearly disagree on the term. The IIHF is as much a joke as the NHL with their foolish rankings and farcical changing of formats every year.
I don't mind you saying it but at least come with an argument and evidence to back up the claim.Finn said:I think the IIHF is a way better organization than the NHL
littleD said:One open to all hockey playing countries. Where countries actually have to qualify?
Or are you happy with the fake version?