World Cup 2016: Best On Best?
- Thread starter Jack Butler
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TLeafsFan
A True BeLeafer
You're right, they are a monster!
Honestly might be North America v Canada final
Still an absolute joke that there is a Team Europe and NA. Should have been Slovakia and Switzerland. I met some Slovak fans today in downtown Toronto, and they are not to pleased about it, but still enjoying Toronto and the games.
Hockey Canada's next step would be to ask some of those American players on Team NA- if they want to possibly make a permanent switch over, and play for Team Canada in the future. I am sure a couple of those American Players feel more "Canadian" after playing with an essentially future Team Canada, and if so- they should be fast tracked for Canadian Citizenship. I would like to see that happen, and Hockey Canada needs to be aggressive in that area, to lure some of these young American players over to Canada (i.e. more recognition and exposure in Canada, more endorsements, etc.).
Canuck21t
Registered User
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
The NHL certainly knew the countries that qualified automatically for the Olympics and easily could've issues invitations to them.
Sadly, the NHL is the only organization that can take a World Cup concept and screw it up so badly.
Well, it's simply not best on best: for example the USA was prevented to have its best team in the tournament - I think it would be totally legitimate if they would not count it among their best on best tournament history.
DoyleG
Reality sucks, Princesses!
Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,174
Yes they can. I mean, they had ONE JOB! Just one. All they had to do was have 8 countries with the normal format. Heck, have 6 again and have each play one another once. But this gimmicky format? It just gets worse and worse, even more so now that North America won pretty convincingly today. Can you imagine the lack of rivalry and intensity if it is a Canada/North America final? It might happen. In fact, it might be favoured to happen.
Crosby, Toews, Doughty, Price, etc. sold the fans out. Bettman, Fehr and the owners and NHLPA sold us out too, but we expect that from them. We don't from the players. This is something that the players should have immediately shot down. A simple comment from Crosby such as "I don't want to waste my summer playing in a gimmicky format like this". That would have done the trick. Honestly, you think Ovechkin didn't push the 2014 Olympics along faster by saying he was playing regardless? You think the NHL won't be there in 2018? You have elite players wanting to go and not so elite players wanting a two week vacation. They'll be there.
I will enjoy the Canada games and pretend that there is not a North American team on the other side to the best of my abilities because I truly want to see great hockey that isn't gimmicky. But I am afraid I won't be able to pretend if these two meet in the final. It will be sad. I mean genuinely sad is what it will be.
Panteras
Stanley Cup Champs 2024
Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,174
What makes matters worse is that TSN is now drinking the Kool-Aid and betraying the fans by promoting this format. It is obvious the NHL is putting pressure on them and other news sites to not speak ill of the format. They wrote an article asking - in an excitable way - how the under 24 team would have looked in 1987. Mario, Robitaille, Roy, Tocchet, Neely, etc. It is pathetic. Are they suffering from dementia? Do they not realize the greatest hockey that was ever played happened between Canada and Russia in 1987 BECAUSE of the normal format and not the gimmicky one? There would be no Gretzky to Lemieux with that silly format. Which would be awful, but don't tell the clowns at TSN that, they think it would have been NEAT to watch!
Can we just make a Canada cup for fans who clearly don't care about international hockey. Well play it in February. Mid season. Pick the best players. Assign them teams like North America and Europe and have them play each other
Well ESPN might have topped that. John Bucigross commented that team North America jerseys are a great investment because in international hockey players never switch teams.
I agree as well. Slovakia was one goal post away from tying Canada in the 2010 Olympics Semi-Finals. They have beaten Canada in the WHC in the past. Same with Switzerland. They always play Canada tough, and have beaten Canada in the Olympics and WHC. It is absolutely ridiculous that Switzerland and Slovakia are not fielding their own teams. They would have put forward a good fight in these games. Anyways, it is what it is.
I have to add- that it is great to see the many good hockey fans from around the world that have come to downtown Toronto. Met a lot of great fans from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Russia and the US in the World Cup of Hockey Fan Village, and at the Air Canada Center watching the games. Amazing atmosphere, and this is more of a best on best tournament, than the WHC would ever be. However- it is not a True Best on Best.
Why? My NFL team won today and my college team was yesterday. Add in some exhibition hockey and I had a good sports weekend.
aufheben
#Norris4Fox
I'm not in Canada. It's been a nice tournament I don't understand why everyone is getting bent out of shape.
