World championship, new layout.

[GermanNuck]

To claim that the level of hockey is higher than that found in the Stanley Cup playoffs is also quite disingenuous.

I think that nobody claimed that. But better doesn't always mean more exciting.

 

[Nordic*]

You must live in a very small enclave of Canada if everyone you know likes the World Championship. It's a good little tournament, I like it myself, but barely anyone I know watches it and really none of them care about the result. As for your point about domestic leagues... there is no reason for anyone to care about if teams in Toronto have American players. Domestic leagues are not international competition.



Why should North Americans care just because Europeans care? That's as stupid as when people say that Europeans have to care about the Stanley Cup because North Americans do. The tournament is what it is. To claim that the level of hockey is higher than that found in the Stanley Cup playoffs is also quite disingenuous.

At least two teams are more stacked than any team in the NHL.

 

[garbageteam]

At least two teams are more stacked than any team in the NHL.

Indeed, I'm pretty sure the cap hit of Canada's team exceeds any team in the league. USA might be below the cap floor. Not sure about Russia (probably) or Finland's (probably not?)

 

[JackSlater]

At least two teams are more stacked than any team in the NHL.

Yes, though both teams (presumably Canada and Russia) would lose most games against the top NHL teams that have played together for years. Many other teams in this tournament are much worse than even the worst NHL team. That is the reality of this tournament though, and it isn't a huge problem.

 

[moon*]

Indeed, I'm pretty sure the cap hit of Canada's team exceeds any team in the league. USA might be below the cap floor. Not sure about Russia (probably) or Finland's (probably not?)

Canada's roster fits under the salary cap.

They have like 10 guys on entry level deals so that really helps.

Russia and Finlad too hard to say because of the European league guys.

 

[Exarz]

Hopefully someday the NHL and IIHF will together figure out a *real* hockey World Cup which can be held every four years, staggered with the Olympics, but the World Championship tournament has history and tradition and judging by the crowds, is very popular with fans in Europe.

Play it during the season, have every second tournament in North America where the NHL gets a certain % of the revenue (the revenue would be so much higher in North America in this format that I believe both the hosting federation and the IIHF could agree on it) and we got a great deal! I would still like it to be held every year due to tradition, but every second year is more reasonable than every fourth year as I believe both sides would want to ditch the idea of sending NHL players to the Olympics with this format.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Play it during the season, have every second tournament in North America where the NHL gets a certain % of the revenue (the revenue would be so much higher in North America in this format that I believe both the hosting federation and the IIHF could agree on it) and we got a great deal! I would still like it to be held every year due to tradition, but every second year is more reasonable than every fourth year as I believe both sides would want to ditch the idea of sending NHL players to the Olympics with this format.

Good idea.