World Cup Boycott

[caymanmew]

That's the problem. It isn't best on best.

How is it not best on best?

The top 6 countries are there with their best and then they kicked the weaker countries in favor of 2 special teams that will be competitive.

The level of competition will be higher then any Olympics has ever been.

 

[Hanji]

How is it not best on best?

The top 6 countries are there with their best and then they kicked the weaker countries in favor of 2 special teams that will be competitive.

The level of competition will be higher then any Olympics has ever been.

The US and Canada will be weakened by the inclusion of the North American Young Guns team. The US will be missing Gaudreau, Eichel, Larkin, and maybe Jones and Saad. McDavid for Canada. And who knows if the KHL will release players. Russia didn't include any KHLrs on their preliminary roster. This will weaken the Czechs as well, and, to a lesser extent, Finland.

 

[Kenadyan]

I'll watch, but as others have stated, I won't be as emotionally invested in this tournament as I would be the Olympics or the World Championships.

If Canada wins I'll be like, "meh".

If Canada doesn't win I'll be like, "Gold in three of the last four Olympics. Not to shabby."

For what it's worth, if it had been up to me, I agree with what somebody previously stated. This tournament would have been the big six (Canada, United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic) + Slovakia and Switerland.

The young American stars (Eichel, Gudreau) having a shot to make the US team, and McDavid having a shot to make team Canada.

As for Anze Kopitar (who I believe was the real reason Team Europe was created), I would have told him, "Sorry, your from Slovenia, but they're not good enough to be in this tournament." If that sounds cold, so be it.

 

[FiLe]

As for Anze Kopitar (who I believe was the real reason Team Europe was created), I would have told him, "Sorry, your from Slovenia, but they're not good enough to be in this tournament." If that sounds cold, so be it.

That's actually not cold at all, it's reality. The world is full of great individuals who excel in their chosen venue, but who will never take part in a major tournament because they come from a country where the level of sport is not so high overall. It's not just an issue with hockey, but all team sports.

And guess what? The world at large is perfectly fine with that.

 

[Danny__K]

Let's be honest the only international tournaments that really matter right now are the Olympics. Everything else is just a gimmick.

 

[caymanmew]

Let's be honest the only international tournaments that really matter right now are the Olympics. Everything else is just a gimmick.

If the NHL does not go (which i personally see as likely) then Olympic hockey is meaningless.

 

[JackSlater]

I some times wonder how long people who are against the World Cup have been paying attention to hockey. Some people seems to be completely ignorant to the previous versions of the World / Canada Cup, or the reason the NHL changed and went to the Olympics. Not to mention understanding where the next Olympics will be played (or the one after that) and what that means for game times in North American time zones

The issue with this World Cup is the inclusion of non-national teams, including one that weakens what could otherwise be full national teams. That issue has nothing to do with past Canada/World Cups.

 

[ForumNamePending]

That's actually not cold at all, it's reality. The world is full of great individuals who excel in their chosen venue, but who will never take part in a major tournament because they come from a country where the level of sport is not so high overall. It's not just an issue with hockey, but all team sports.

And guess what? The world at large is perfectly fine with that.

Or better yet you hold a qualifying tournament, and tell Kopitar when and where Slovenia will be playing. If Slovenia manages to qualify, like they did for Sochi (without Kopitar), that's great for Kopitar and Slovenian hockey. If not? Well life goes on. Soccer's last WCup was missing guys like Ibrahimovic, Bale & Lewandowski and yet the tournament still seemed to be a pretty big deal.

Not sure why some hockey fans feel the tournament needs to be limited to only teams with a chance of leaving with the big trophy. Other sports' big international tournaments generally include plenty of teams with no chance of winning, or even making it very far. Every year the NHL has many teams that have no chance of winning the SC, yet hockey fans still seem to care and enjoy the product.

EDIT: Yes... I realize that this is an NHL/NHLPA tournament and they can run it how they like.

 

[Xokkeu]

I some times wonder how long people who are against the World Cup have been paying attention to hockey. Some people seems to be completely ignorant to the previous versions of the World / Canada Cup, or the reason the NHL changed and went to the Olympics. Not to mention understanding where the next Olympics will be played (or the one after that) and what that means for game times in North American time zones

Haven't seen a team North America at any tournament ever. Guess I just haven't been paying attention.

 

[Xokkeu]

That's actually not cold at all, it's reality. The world is full of great individuals who excel in their chosen venue, but who will never take part in a major tournament because they come from a country where the level of sport is not so high overall. It's not just an issue with hockey, but all team sports.

And guess what? The world at large is perfectly fine with that.

I hope FIFA makes up random teams for the next World Cup to accommodate Ibrahimovic

 

[FiLe]

But like I said, most people I have heard complain about the World Cup have no idea this is what the NHL did before they wasted our time at the Olympics

Plain wrong. Those earlier iterations of the Canada/World Cup were 100% national team affairs. No gimmick teams. Just the best countries in the world figurin' out who's the top dog. So this is not at all the same the league has done before. Period.

Or what goes into the record as the winning country of this tournament if one of the collection teams wins it all? The United States of North American Young Guys? The Kingdom of European Leftovers? What's their flag? What's their anthem? Where is their capital so they can have the parade?

 

[Canuckistani]

I actually think it's better. Kopitar is great, but there is no reason to have teams like Latvia or Slovenia.

Was there a reason to have Belarus at the 2002 Olympics?

Was there a reason to have Latvia in Sochi (where they took Canada to the wire in the QF)?

But like I said, most people I have heard complain about the World Cup have no idea this is what the NHL did before they wasted our time at the Olympics

As you understand it, what did the NHL do before the Olympics?

Are you under the impression that the Canada Cups featured something other than national teams?

 

[Xokkeu]

I actually think it's better. Kopitar is great, but there is no reason to have teams like Latvia or Slovenia. Make a combo team, and give th egood players of all those nations a chance at something. The youngsters team is great too. Players that would have been over looked for more experienced will get to show what they have, with no pressure

But like I said, most people I have heard complain about the World Cup have no idea this is what the NHL did before they wasted our time at the Olympics

It seems like you are the one who has no idea what the Canada cups were

 

[jj cale]

I am not crazy about the gimmicky format either but I figure I may as well watch it and try to enjoy it.

I do not see the point in doing otherwise.

It has been talked to death what we do not like about it, maybe we should now try to wait for the hockey played and see if there is anything that we will enjoy about it.

At least that is how I see it, complaining rarely does much good.

 

[FiLe]

I am not crazy about the gimmicky format either but I figure I may as well watch it and try to enjoy it.

I do not see the point in doing otherwise.

The thing is, the league has no means of making a distinction between those who watch because they find the tournament exciting in and of itself, and those who don't like its gimmicky nature but watch anyway. And even if they did, they would most certainly choose to ignore it. If you watch, you're going to get chalked into "it's a success" column no matter what.

Sure, one might say there's little point in not watching since you're just one little piece among millions, but if enough of those millions chose not to watch either, there WOULD be a statement.

And, at the very least, if I don't watch, and they choose give this idiotic idea another go (or pull out of the olympics as a result), at least I have the moral high ground when expressing my displeasure about that. The little lambs who don't like it, but chose to watch anyway, do not.

 

[jj cale]

The thing is, the league has no means of making a distinction between those who watch because they find the tournament exciting in and of itself, and those who don't like its gimmicky nature but watch anyway. And even if they did, they would most certainly choose to ignore it. If you watch, you're going to get chalked into "it's a success" column no matter what.

Sure, one might say there's little point in not watching since you're just one little piece among millions, but if enough of those millions chose not to watch either, there WOULD be a statement.

And, at the very least, if I don't watch, and they choose give this idiotic idea another go (or pull out of the olympics as a result), at least I have the moral high ground when expressing my displeasure about that. The little lambs who don't like it, but chose to watch anyway, do not.

I see your angle, all fair points.

Maybe it is best to show the NHL that what it did was wrong by simply not watching. I doubt I will be able to help myself though.

Who knows, you've got a good point here, maybe I need to reconsider my attitude towards this thing.

 

[Jablkon]

According to interview with Connor McDavid in czech newspapers he was super excited with the call from team Canada. "I wanted to be here since the first time they called me and represent my country....."

Go Connor, do it. And beat your country later in September. Just be a good pro (or should I say robot?) and don't think about it too much.

There will be no better story picturing this tourney...

 

[JackSlater]

According to interview with Connor McDavid in czech newspapers he was super excited with the call from team Canada. "I wanted to be here since the first time they called me and represent my country....."

Go Connor, do it. And beat your country later in September. Just be a good pro (or should I say robot?) and don't think about it too much.

There will be no better story picturing this tourney...

But but but... the Young Gunz are going to be super competitive! Bill Daly told me so!

 

[DrunkPerrinFan]

McDavid scoring the game winning goal in the finals in Toronto, against Team Canada, to the.. cheers? silence? of the crowd. That would be the perfect end to this tournament.

 

[EbencoyE]

lol, this ^

I'll be cheering for Team NA and Team Europe, because a gimmick tournament should have a gimmick winner that we can celebrate as "the best hockey country!.... that isn't actually a country"

Also, I will only be watching on illegal streams, if at all. **** the NHL

 

[Canuckistani]

As much of a laugh it would be to see the kids or euro rejects being crowned "best hockey nation in the world" while skating around with the glass flower vase...

One has to remember that this event could very well replace the olympics (the latest is that IIHF-IOC-NHL negotiations are faltering) so it's imperative that these two travesty teams never return. Bettman has sold the idea as offering "parity" and the best way for that to blow up in his vile face would be for them both to get completely destroyed.

 

[Thebesthockey]

no NHL'rs in olympics
no problem ...usher the world juniors give it to them

much much better entertainment


as for the world cup...i will take a pass

meaningless dribble with nhl stars certainly not wanting to hurt themselves before beggining of a new season...

 

[varsaku]

McDavid scoring the game winning goal in the finals in Toronto, against Team Canada, to the.. cheers? silence? of the crowd. That would be the perfect end to this tournament.

That would be the ultimate PR fail trying to draw new hockey fans. I told my friend who knows nothing about hockey about the World Cup and laughed when I mentioned the gimmick teams.

As much of a laugh it would be to see the kids or euro rejects being crowned "best hockey nation in the world" while skating around with the glass flower vase...

One has to remember that this event could very well replace the olympics (the latest is that IIHF-IOC-NHL negotiations are faltering) so it's imperative that these two travesty teams never return. Bettman has sold the idea as offering "parity" and the best way for that to blow up in his vile face would be for them both to get completely destroyed.

I am still surprised that they thought it was a good idea to stick that trophy design. It looks so bad.

 

[Jablkon]

no NHL'rs in olympics
no problem ...usher the world juniors give it to them

much much better entertainment


as for the world cup...i will take a pass

meaningless dribble with nhl stars certainly not wanting to hurt themselves before beggining of a new season...

So what kind of tournament would you prefer as a dominant one? No one? Olympics with wolrd junior wouldn't be funny in any case, so as soccer olympics. That's why they allow you to have several senior players there..

 

[Xokkeu]

That would be the ultimate PR fail trying to draw new hockey fans. I told my friend who knows nothing about hockey about the World Cup and laughed when I mentioned the gimmick teams.



I am still surprised that they thought it was a good idea to stick that trophy design. It looks so bad.

The only people that seem to think it's a good idea are the ones who view this as an all star game and like that concept