snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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I would be torn having my favourite player play against his country. But of course Canada comes first so I would be cheering for Canada.
Hopefully that scenario just doesn't happen.
World Cup Boycott
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I would be torn having my favourite player play against his country. But of course Canada comes first so I would be cheering for Canada.
Hopefully that scenario just doesn't happen.
Zine
Registered User
- Feb 28, 2002
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Maybe it's just me, but I doubt most people want to see all the best players in an international tourney, they want to see only the best players each individual country produces.
Me thinks the quality of hockey will suck and there won't be any magic because there is nothing on the line. Few people will be emotionally invested, nor is a Josi, Kopitar or Chara gonna go 100% putting body on the line to ensure a Team Leftovers victory against a weakened team USA or whoever...especially with the NHL season around the corner. I mean the same can't even be said for the World Championships, especially for a European.
This world cup blows. Thanks NHL.
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How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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Fair points.
I certainly think the criticism is valid, because the tournament had the chance to be "best-on-best" and now we can't really call it that because Canada and especially the USA will be missing players to draw from.
Yeah part of me wants a YoungGunz vs Euro Leftovers final, just to expose the event as a total sham, but I would like to see Canada get some practice for 2018 if the NHL doesn't ruin that too.
Team USA will be especially weakened due to the horrible age limit.
The NHL should at least have had the decency of letting Canada and USA have first pick of ALL their players, and then assemble a joke team from whoever is left.
Bettman is such absolute scum.
I struggle with international sports. But am enough of a sports fan to usually know what is going on. The lack of meaning with the NHL/PA Money Grab might actually be a draw for me, but probably less so than the timing (just before hockey season starts) and the location (I can watch the game live).
Meanwhile the other three international "ice" hockey tournaments to which I pay some attention too are:
- The European Spring Invitational - My acknowledgement is definitely helped by cheering for a crappy NHL team. This tournament is where I can try and build some next year hope. In general, I don't watch the games (I work), but I likely know the Canadian results (fairly soon). Will check out how Oiler players are playing and the message boards. Plus I might check out some highlights and curse while trying to find a box score.
- The TSN Year End/Start Hullabaloo - I actively try to not watch games. Usually find out the scores. Might check the message boards and might check out some replays.
- The Quadrennial Noblest Lies - I intentionally do not watch any sport. Probably know the hockey scores. Might check the message boards. Probably won't watch highlights, because it requires human sacrifices to obtain them.
Meanwhile the other three international "ice" hockey tournaments to which I pay some attention too are:
- The European Spring Invitational - My acknowledgement is definitely helped by cheering for a crappy NHL team. This tournament is where I can try and build some next year hope. In general, I don't watch the games (I work), but I likely know the Canadian results (fairly soon). Will check out how Oiler players are playing and the message boards. Plus I might check out some highlights and curse while trying to find a box score.
- The TSN Year End/Start Hullabaloo - I actively try to not watch games. Usually find out the scores. Might check the message boards and might check out some replays.
- The Quadrennial Noblest Lies - I intentionally do not watch any sport. Probably know the hockey scores. Might check the message boards. Probably won't watch highlights, because it requires human sacrifices to obtain them.
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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I will be livid if the NHL doesn't let the guys go. Ovechkin has already said he's going to the 2018 Olympics either way, hopefully that holds some sway.
Everyone wants to play in the Olympics. It's the one true hockey tournament that all hockey nations take seriously.
JackSlater
Registered User
- Apr 27, 2010
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Funny thing is, the media reported that even the NHL, the tournament's organizing body, doesn't want the Young Gunz taking on Canada or USA, given how ridiculous the optics would be. Pretty bad when even the organizer roots against its own gimmick.
Yes, if it was just about having the best players, then don't pretend it's an international tournaments. The best players don't always participate in even best on best tournaments - that's life.
At that point any normal person would reassess the original idea. But not the morons at the NHL. Full steam ahead!
The NHL is gambling on the YoungGunz failing to beat two of the three teams they'll face, since Canada and USA are clearly favoured to advance from their pool.
Hoping their own team fails - that's how bad the idea is.
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With the Young Gunz in a pool with Russia, Sweden, and Finland you have to think it'll be tough for them to finish ahead of 2 of those 3 teams to make it to the playoff round.
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For posterity, we can't officially label this "best-on-best". Each country does not have unfettered access to their talent pool (USA being affected more than Canada).
While the best players may be playing, it's not best-on-best international hockey in the strict sense of how we've traditionally defined it because of the hybrid teams unfortunately.
The quality of play will be exceptionally high though, and lots of people who say they won't watch eventually will. Their love of hockey will make it irresistible.
No kidding. I'm amazed how many people ***** about this. If you don't want to watch it then fine. But don't tell the people who enjoy watching high level competitive hockey to boycott it.
This is intended to be a replacement for the NHL's participation in the Olympics so no, this will not bring more "high level competitive hockey" for you to watch. I hope that everyone who cares about the sport boycotts this joke of a tournament.
Would you want to see Team "Rest-of-the-Conference" in the NHL playoffs? What about Team "U-23 North American rookies?" Would those be cool teams worthy of replacing the 7th and 8th seeds?
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snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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Still holding out hope for the NHL guys going. If they let them go, all is forgiven with the gimmick teams at the World Cup.
Asia is a big market, the NHL is always trying to grow the game. Untapped market potential? I don't know. I'll be so mad like everyone else if they don't let the guys go. It would be a huge short-sighted mistake by the NHL.
Anyone who doesn't want to see this garbage replace the Olympics had better damn well boycott it.
If this thing is a success then we can expect an endless torrent of similar gimmicks in the future.
habsrule4eva3089
Registered User
- Nov 22, 2008
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People will actually watch this?
High quality Hockey.
let's see, no one in Finland,Sweden,Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Latvia, Switzerland will be watching. No one is talking about it.
Average Americans don't even know what Hockey is for the most part apart from people who think the World ends at the nhl, and there's there Canada.
Judging by the laughter around the country, everyone knows this is just a money grab.
It's not a high quality tournament.
It's not a meaningful tournament.
It's
a
money
maker
for
an
American
company.
Hockey supremacy can only and will only ever be decided at the Olympic Games.
Just like Football has the World Cup
Rugby has their World Cup
Cricket has their World Cup
We're fortunate to have the Olympics. The most meaningful Hockey tournament. Where everyone watches our game, the only time Hockey is on a global spotlight like those other sports.
The nhl is barely watched in any country apart from Canada.
What does a tournament run by this company matter if the rest of the Hockey countries let alone the World doesn't give a ****
Does anyone realize in how many countries the game is played now because of Hockey at the Olympics? How many kids around the World take a look at those games and tell their parents they want to try playing Hockey.
The nhl doesn't do crap, it's the International game that grows the game. Will anyone in Japan, China, India, New Zealand, Australia, or Western European country be watching like they do the Olympics?
Use your brains.
High quality Hockey.
let's see, no one in Finland,Sweden,Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Latvia, Switzerland will be watching. No one is talking about it.
Average Americans don't even know what Hockey is for the most part apart from people who think the World ends at the nhl, and there's there Canada.
Judging by the laughter around the country, everyone knows this is just a money grab.
It's not a high quality tournament.
It's not a meaningful tournament.
It's
a
money
maker
for
an
American
company.
Hockey supremacy can only and will only ever be decided at the Olympic Games.
Just like Football has the World Cup
Rugby has their World Cup
Cricket has their World Cup
We're fortunate to have the Olympics. The most meaningful Hockey tournament. Where everyone watches our game, the only time Hockey is on a global spotlight like those other sports.
The nhl is barely watched in any country apart from Canada.
What does a tournament run by this company matter if the rest of the Hockey countries let alone the World doesn't give a ****
Does anyone realize in how many countries the game is played now because of Hockey at the Olympics? How many kids around the World take a look at those games and tell their parents they want to try playing Hockey.
The nhl doesn't do crap, it's the International game that grows the game. Will anyone in Japan, China, India, New Zealand, Australia, or Western European country be watching like they do the Olympics?
Use your brains.
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Zine
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That's another point. From a casual fan's interest perspective in the USA, I'm no expert, but this time of year sucks. It's jam–packed. And nobody will care in Europe either. Maybe its why its being held exclusively in Toronto?
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How cold? I’m ice cold.
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I'm curious, if say Switzerland and Slovakia made up the 7th and 8th team, do you think there would be more interest in Europe? It would then be proper best-on-best international hockey.
habsrule4eva3089
Registered User
- Nov 22, 2008
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Some North Americans have a weird perception of what meaningful means.
This isn't every day sport, this is international sport. It's a completely different sphere compared to what a sports league offers.
There's a matter of pride, your representing the country in which your parents raised you, where you learned the game, your representing everything your culture is about, your identity when you lace up with your fellow country men.
You can't make international sports into a mockery like this. It's an insult to each nation.
Can you imagine asking the likes of McDavid and any European that they have to lace up with their enemies instead of putting on the sweaters of your home.
It's an insult, and i'm sure away from the microphones they absolutely would destroy bettman for creating this mockery.
It's not the players that make an event, it's the people around the World.
5 billion people watched world cup 2014
3 billion people tuned into Sochi 2014 Olympics
The event is what makes sports special, International sports is about promoting the game as much as it is about the show on the ice, this is the best our game can offer and this should be shown to the World.
This is only going to be promoted and seen in Canada. i didn't know Canada was the only country on this planet.
We already have an event that includes our sport that reaches everywhere, and you want to replace with an event organized by a league that no one knows about and follows globally?
This isn't every day sport, this is international sport. It's a completely different sphere compared to what a sports league offers.
There's a matter of pride, your representing the country in which your parents raised you, where you learned the game, your representing everything your culture is about, your identity when you lace up with your fellow country men.
You can't make international sports into a mockery like this. It's an insult to each nation.
Can you imagine asking the likes of McDavid and any European that they have to lace up with their enemies instead of putting on the sweaters of your home.
It's an insult, and i'm sure away from the microphones they absolutely would destroy bettman for creating this mockery.
It's not the players that make an event, it's the people around the World.
5 billion people watched world cup 2014
3 billion people tuned into Sochi 2014 Olympics
The event is what makes sports special, International sports is about promoting the game as much as it is about the show on the ice, this is the best our game can offer and this should be shown to the World.
This is only going to be promoted and seen in Canada. i didn't know Canada was the only country on this planet.
We already have an event that includes our sport that reaches everywhere, and you want to replace with an event organized by a league that no one knows about and follows globally?
snipes
How cold? I’m ice cold.
- Dec 28, 2015
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Olympic hockey means everything to Canadians. It is the most watched hockey in our country. Every Canadian hockey fan I know wants the NHL players to play in the Olympics.
If we win Gold in 2018, that would be Gold medals in 4 out of 5 Olympic Games, in true best-on-best hockey. Not to mention we swept Mens and Womens Gold in hockey in both 2010 and 2014. Our women have won 4 straight Olympic Gold medals.
Want to see how much we care about Olympic hockey? Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Roughly 80% of the country watched this game live or saw moments of it live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuJH2WXJGHI
Zine
Registered User
- Feb 28, 2002
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In Europe?..probably not. At least not in Russia I can say.
Any non-IIHF 'best on best' likely won't be received well in Europe. However, this World Cup format (unlike past world cups) ensures that it also won't be received well in the USA too, imo. Poor time of year, and no games in America.
In addition to the gimmick teams, another sad fact is that the NHL appears to be catering to the Canadian (more specifically, Toronto) market only.
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