World Cup 2016: Best On Best?

[Festinator]

This is obviously a best on best tournament. Is it a world cup though? No.

 

[Xokkeu]

Yup. Those links you posted were not things I had read. Im not saying every article Ive read praises the gimmick teams, but I have not read anything where people complain about the term best on best.

Well now you have

 

[TLeafsFan]

I'm not sure you understand how the NHL works south of the border. People generally only watch their local team, and really only start to pay attention around Christmas or whenever their NFL team is eliminated. (So maybe ratings for this will be great in Dallas )

I went to school in NYC.

ANYTIME Americans have a chance to shoot USA when it comes to one of their National sports teams, they pay attention.

 

[needle]

Well it is the best players in the world playing against each other. Isn't that the definition of best on best?

 

[JackSlater]

Well it is the best players in the world playing against each other. Isn't that the definition of best on best?

Just like the all star game and the NHL itself, right?

 

[Xokkeu]

I went to school in NYC.

ANYTIME Americans have a chance to shoot USA when it comes to one of their National sports teams, they pay attention.

Uh have you seen the WBC, Gold cup and FIBA World Cup ratings? Those don't even compete with the raiders.

 

[Elvs]

Well it is the best players in the world playing against each other. Isn't that the definition of best on best?

International best on best to me, and I'm guessing to everyone else who voted no, is when the best nations are having their best players. This isn't that.

I'll be fine with the World Cup when I start to take it for what it is. Obviously I just had higher expectations due to the name and the history of the tournament.

I'm just surprised of how little some care about the European audience. Are Canadians simply just happy with being the best in the world, and only showing it to the North American audience? Instead of showing it to erm, the world?

When there are gimmick teams, and the three final games are played 2 AM, 2 AM and 1 AM CET, the NHL are gonna get bad tv ratings here as casual fans won't tune in. I thought they wanted to use this tournament to showcase its players. But to who? To everyone who follows the NHL already?

 

[Acallabeth]

It is best on best as most of the world's top players will be representing their count... ugth... well, they will participate.

Doesn't make it as good as the tournaments with true national teams.

 

[Seanaconda]

International best on best to me, and I'm guessing to everyone else who voted no, is when the best nations are having their best players. This isn't that.

I'll be fine with the World Cup when I start to take it for what it is. Obviously I just had higher expectations due to the name and the history of the tournament.

I'm just surprised of how little some care about the European audience. Are Canadians simply just happy with being the best in the world, and only showing it to the North American audience? Instead of showing it to erm, world?

When there are gimmick teams, and the three final games are played 2 AM, 2 AM and 1 AM CET, the NHL are gonna get bad tv ratings here as casual fans won't tune in. I thought they wanted to use this tournament to showcase its players. But to who? To everyone who follows the NHL already?

Well we get bad times alot too. And they did do some exhibition games in Europe should of just called it nhl cup or something. Next winter Olympics are in China or Japan right ? See we have bad times for that . Just like the awful times we had for the last winter Olympics

 

[Gary Nylund]

Well now you have

No I haven't actually. Was there something about that in those links you shared? I have yet to read anywhere (except this forum) that the term best on best should not be used when talking about the world Cup.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Well we get bad times alot too. And they did do some exhibition games in Europe should of just called it nhl cup or something. Next winter Olympics are in China or Japan right ? See we have bad times for that . Just like the awful times we had for the last winter Olympics

Complaining about the game times is ridiculous. As if there is a time that would make everyone in the world happy.

 

[Elvs]

Complaining about the game times is ridiculous. As if there is a time that would make everyone in the world happy.

No but there are several games starting earlier, and I don't hear any North Americans complain about them. Why is it important that the third final match is played 7 PM ET when it's on a saturday? Plenty of NHL games are played earlier than that during weekends. Plenty of SHL games and other sports events here also starts earlier.

If Sweden was hosting a major event, and played against Singapore in the final, I'd see no problem with starting the final game 5 PM, if it means the people of Singapore could watch at 11 PM instead of 1 AM. Especially if Singapore also had nearly 100 players playing in the Swedish league of whatever sport this is.

 

[Gary Nylund]

No but there are several games starting earlier, and I don't hear any North Americans complain about them. Why is it important that the third final match is played 7 PM ET when it's on a saturday? Plenty of NHL games are played earlier than that during weekends. Plenty of SHL games and other sports events here also starts earlier.

If Sweden was hosting a major event, and played against Singapore in the final, I'd see no problem with starting the final game 5 PM, if it means the people of Singapore could watch at 11 PM instead of 1 AM. Especially if Singapore also had nearly 100 players playing in the Swedish league of whatever sport this is.

You have to understand that this isn't some altruistic venture. Playing let's say the final at say 1PM instead of 7PM so Euros could watch would mean an enormous drop in TV ratings. Consider also that it's far from clear how many Euros would be interested in watching anyway. Possibly the biggest problem with your idea is that leaving scheduling until the last minute to see first who's in the final is simply not possible with venues like the ACC.

 

[TLeafsFan]

Its funny to see how many people have no problem voting no, despite being blatantly wrong.

Regardless of ones feelings on the matter of this tournament, its still a best on best tournament.

Your no vote on these boards won't change that fact.

Keep on keeping on.

 

[Jon Riley]

Its funny to see how many people have no problem voting yes, despite being blatantly wrong.

Regardless of ones feelings on the matter of this tournament, its still not a best on best tournament.

Your yes vote on these boards won't change that fact.

Keep on keeping on.

 

[Elvs]

You have to understand that this isn't some altruistic venture. Playing let's say the final at say 1PM instead of 7PM so Euros could watch would mean an enormous drop in TV ratings. Consider also that it's far from clear how many Euros would be interested in watching anyway. Possibly the biggest problem with your idea is that leaving scheduling until the last minute to see first who's in the final is simply not possible with venues like the ACC.

I'm not suggesting the games should start at 1 PM ET. I'm saying playing the finals at 4 PM or 5 PM makes a huge differance for the European audience, versus starting them at 8 PM. Clearly this shouldn't be problem, when several games in this tournament starts 3 PM and one starts 3.30 PM.

It's just obvious that the NHL is using this tournament to promote the NHL in North America before the season starts. I'll live with it if NHL players will remain part of the Olympics. Because right now, that's the only tournament where we (hockey fans of European countries) can watch our best players.

 

[Jon Riley]

ment to promote the NHL in North America before the season starts.

Exactly. Which is fine if the nhl will send the players to the olympics anyway.
In any case I am pretty sure that this tournament could have been really a huge event, if properly organized.
This way is basically huge (but is it?) in Canada only.
If the NHL does not want the european money, fair enough. Their loss.

 

[Gary Nylund]

I'm not suggesting the games should start at 1 PM ET. I'm saying playing the finals at 4 PM or 5 PM makes a huge differance for the European audience, versus starting them at 8 PM. Clearly this shouldn't be problem, when several games in this tournament starts 3 PM and one starts 3.30 PM.

It's just obvious that the NHL is using this tournament to promote the NHL in North America before the season starts.

Sorry but you clearly don't know much about TV ratings if this is what you think. There are afternoon games of course, how else can they fit all the games in to the schedule? Have you even looked at the schedule? There are 5 days, the 8PM games are the 3 Team Canada games and the other two 8PM slots went to team NA. Do you think that's just coincidence?

And again, most Euros don't care about the tournament anyway so there's zero reason to expect the NHL to adjust the schedule just to please them.

 

[xxxx]

European fans complaining about time-schedule for a tournament they say they don't care about. [mod]

 

[Elvs]

Sorry but you clearly don't know much about TV ratings if this is what you think. There are afternoon games of course, how else can they fit all the games in to the schedule? Have you even looked at the schedule? There are 5 days, the 8PM games are the 3 Team Canada games and the other two 8PM slots went to team NA. Do you think that's just coincidence?

And again, most Euros don't care about the tournament anyway so there's zero reason to expect the NHL to adjust the schedule just to please them.

If the NHL had such a problem with these afternoon games, they would have set up the tournament in two arenas. And when are the afternoon games that forces the final games to start 8 PM?

Most Euros don't care because the format was set up so they wouldn't. Do you have any idea how popular ice hockey is in Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and Latvia? When the best players plays, people want to watch. That's just evident from the exhibition games.

European fans complaining about time-schedule for a tournament they say they don't care about. Adorable.

Please find the post where I said I don't care about the World Cup. I care a great deal about the World Cup, would I be here otherwise?

I also care about the growth of the game. I'm tired of today's generation of kids growing up with Linus Omark and Johan Harju as their hockey idols. My own generation got to see guys like Sundin and Forsberg often on the national team. These are the guys Erik Karlsson, Filip Forsberg, OEL, Victor Hedman etc etc had to look up to. Would you not say those players makes the NHL a better product?

NHL clubs are already doing what they can to stop their players from playing in the World Championships. Now the NHL doesn't want its players in the Olympics. And instead we are given this 'World' Cup that's apparently only meant to generate tv ratings in North America. Yeah, I wonder why Europeans don't like it...

We are apparently not supposed to see our best players play ever, unless we are die hard NHL fans. But to watch a best-on-best hockey tournament with family and friends who are more casual hockey fans? Forget that I guess.

 

[me2]

Its funny to see how many people have no problem voting no, despite being blatantly wrong.

Regardless of ones feelings on the matter of this tournament, its still a best on best tournament.

Your no vote on these boards won't change that fact.

Keep on keeping on.

If countries are forbidden from icing their best teams they aren't really best on best by country.


Otoh If you say it isn't about countries (4 teams that are best of country teams) just about getting the best players then where are the best players like PK and Hall etc

 

[JackSlater]

Its funny to see how many people have no problem voting no, despite being blatantly wrong.

Regardless of ones feelings on the matter of this tournament, its still a best on best tournament.

Your no vote on these boards won't change that fact.

Keep on keeping on.

You are the poster whose definition of best on best applies to the WJC, Ivan Hlinka, and childhood hockey tournaments. Needless to say, what you consider a best on best is laughably wrong. I agree that the results of this poll are completely irrelevant to whether or not it is a best on best tournament though.

I'm not suggesting the games should start at 1 PM ET. I'm saying playing the finals at 4 PM or 5 PM makes a huge differance for the European audience, versus starting them at 8 PM. Clearly this shouldn't be problem, when several games in this tournament starts 3 PM and one starts 3.30 PM.

It's just obvious that the NHL is using this tournament to promote the NHL in North America before the season starts. I'll live with it if NHL players will remain part of the Olympics. Because right now, that's the only tournament where we (hockey fans of European countries) can watch our best players.

Obviously the NHL is trying to promote its product, which is why the gimmick teams exist. The times of the games has nothing to do with whether the tournament is a best on best though. The 1998 Olympics were inconvenient for 99% of hockey fans, and that was clearly best on best. I understand your displeased with the situation though.

 

[TLeafsFan]

You are the poster whose definition of best on best applies to the WJC, Ivan Hlinka, and childhood hockey tournaments. Needless to say, what you consider a best on best is laughably wrong. I agree that the results of this poll are completely irrelevant to whether or not it is a best on best tournament though.



Obviously the NHL is trying to promote its product, which is why the gimmick teams exist. The times of the games has nothing to do with whether the tournament is a best on best though. The 1998 Olympics were inconvenient for 99% of hockey fans, and that was clearly best on best. I understand your displeased with the situation though.

Ummmmm, no. What's laughably wrong is NOT considering the WJC a best on best at the JUNIOR level. The best JUNIORS form a team to represent their NATION.

Not a province or territory or state within a nation. The entire NATION.

Now I'm sorry that team Germany or team Kazakhstan or France or Italy don't have enough players to form a team to represent their nation and have any HOPE of being a competitive in this tourney.

Because that's what was clearly very important to the NHL who organized the event. It was important that all teams competing have the best chance possible at winning games and being competitive. Be it the Hockey Stronghold Nations (only six in the world really do exist), the best future stars, or the best players scattered around the rest of Europe.

No, you're right. It isn't a best on best tournament. It's even better. Give your head a shake.

Your still laughably wrong.

 

[Gary Nylund]

If the NHL had such a problem with these afternoon games, they would have set up the tournament in two arenas. And when are the afternoon games that forces the final games to start 8 PM?

Most Euros don't care because the format was set up so they wouldn't. Do you have any idea how popular ice hockey is in Sweden, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland and Latvia? When the best players plays, people want to watch. That's just evident from the exhibition games.

There is no "problem" with afternoon games, they just put games that there's less demand for in those slots. There's nothing that "forces" the final games to start at 8PM, but as I've said several times, that's when they'll get the most viewers.

In Toronto, hockey is a night time thing. That's the way it has always been, the occasional afternoon game non-withstanding and that's why Team Canada games are always in the evening. If that means Euros aren't interested that's just life I guess. When the Olympics are in a time zone that makes watching hard for me I deal with it. Whether that means watching when I would normally be sleeping, taping the games and watching them later or not watching at all, that's up to me but I deal with it. Same thing for Euros and this tournament. If people decide not to watch, that's their decision but there's no reason to expect to the schedule to be re-arranged for your benefit.

 

[TLeafsFan]

There is no "problem" with afternoon games, they just put games that there's less demand for in those slots. There's nothing that "forces" the final games to start at 8PM, but as I've said several times, that's when they'll get the most viewers.

In Toronto, hockey is a night time thing. That's the way it has always been, the occasional afternoon game non-withstanding and that's why Team Canada games are always in the evening. If that means Euros aren't interested that's just life I guess. When the Olympics are in a time zone that makes watching hard for me I deal with it. Whether that means watching when I would normally be sleeping, taping the games and watching them later or not watching at all, that's up to me but I deal with it. Same thing for Euros and this tournament. If people decide not to watch, that's their decision but there's no reason to expect to the schedule to be re-arranged for your benefit.

Well put.