World Cup Boycott

[habsrule4eva3089]

If NHL really wanna kill hockey in Europe i think this is the way to go

The nhl does not know anything about Hockey to begin with in the World.

Their world compromises only of the United States of America.

Their fanbase is quite lost there since most people there have no knowledge of the game whatsoever, and they are probably brainwashed into thinking this event is cared for across the Hockey world.

People live in a bubbly world where they imagine people around the World wake up to watch teams in American cities that we don't care about in the nhl. We have our own teams, every country has their own league, the nhl is not the centre of the Hockey world during the season.

Your national team is a matter of pride for your country. This isn't some every day useless Hockey of the nhl, there's immense pride and honour related to playing for your people, it's not only about Hockey, or sport, people across all areas tune in, people have pride for where they come from.

But the nhl is quite lost and doesn't comprehend the idea.

a World Cup with no promotion, no one telling people from Russia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia to come visit and celebrate the sport.

All the nhl is a business with no ambition other then to trick the people wearing suits in Toronto who will gladly waste their money.

Get it in your head people.

THIS

IS

NOT

AN

INTERNATIONAL

TOURNAMENT.

 

[kabidjan18]

If NHL really wanna kill hockey in Europe i think this is the way to go

If there's anything I've realized throughout this process of waiting and waiting and waiting for the decision is exactly how much the NHL really really wants to go to the Olympics. They've put up with so much spittle in the face from the IOC, and have stood with the IIHF more than ever before. Most of my friends were sure that by now the NHL would have withdrawn, and they may yet but no on can claim they have not tried. Sending players to play at 3AM the length of the globe away, millions of dollars in assets moved, running around with the IIHF to beg for insurance money to cover the players going, yeah they put on a tough face to bargain for the best deal they can and yeah they may end up feeling so royally screwed that they must withdraw but no one can claim they have not done their part in trying to stay in the Olympics.

We choose not to partake in the World Cup because it is idealogically confused. It's format is embarrassing and wrong, but where the Olympics is concerned one cannot blame the NHL for it's actions or for trying to establish a reasonable alternative to what is becoming brazen robbery by the IOC.

 

[tade]

But that's kindof implicit, since it's a JUNIOR Championship.

Yes, but not all junior players are available for the tournament.

Matter to who? If it is not best-on-best, then it really doesn't matter as far as I am concerned. But, I guess that is for everyone to decide individually. Like I said, if Russia wins gold because their KHL all-stars can beat the US or Canada's KHL/AHL/CHL/NCAA all-stars. Then great for them. Doesn't really mean anything for who is the top hockey nation.

Really? I would suggest you to check both, CAN and RUS rosters. Could be good for you next posting.

World Cup is also not best-on-best if we want to be precise, it sucks especially for team USA.

World Cup when compared to Olympics have absolutely no prestige, no history (especially this years edition), lacks national pride and worldwide coverage.

For example, here in Czech Republic, even World Hockey Championships means more than upcoming World Cup to most of our population. Who knows how many people in CR will know that there is some World Cup of hockey going on. Not that much.

If it is truly all what matters to you in hockey tournament / championships; best-on-best (which this World Cup won't be) and nothing more, then okay, I guess. Shows that real international hockey means nothing to you, and this NHL cash grab is aimed exactly for fans like you / and for North Americans fans/people in general.

 

[BruinLVGA]

With NHL participation the Olympics have been for hockey what the World Cup is for soccer.

But without NHL participation the Olympics would be for hockey the same as the Olympics are for soccer.

If NHL really wanna kill hockey in Europe i think this is the way to go

We shall overcome. The Olympics were going on before the NHL participation and will be going on after the NHL abandons them, in their quest for $$$.

Folks still love at 100% seeing their nation compete, irregardless of what the NHL does or doesn't do. National pride doesn't depend on what a bunch of fat cats headed by Bettman say. Americans especially don't understand this, because their nation is as big as a continent, so they pretty much have no neighbors to compete against. For Europeans instead, that's a highly coveted thing and I don't see that changing soon.

 

[BruinLVGA]

If there's anything I've realized throughout this process of waiting and waiting and waiting for the decision is exactly how much the NHL really really wants to go to the Olympics. They've put up with so much spittle in the face from the IOC, and have stood with the IIHF more than ever before. Most of my friends were sure that by now the NHL would have withdrawn, and they may yet but no on can claim they have not tried. Sending players to play at 3AM the length of the globe away, millions of dollars in assets moved, running around with the IIHF to beg for insurance money to cover the players going, yeah they put on a tough face to bargain for the best deal they can and yeah they may end up feeling so royally screwed that they must withdraw but no one can claim they have not done their part in trying to stay in the Olympics.

We choose not to partake in the World Cup because it is idealogically confused. It's format is embarrassing and wrong, but where the Olympics is concerned one cannot blame the NHL for it's actions or for trying to establish a reasonable alternative to what is becoming brazen robbery by the IOC.

Besides the fact that the NHL isn't treated differently from the other pro leagues (who are not complaining... Who are not trying to quit the Olympics... Who have always stopped their season for the Olympics...)... But at the end, it still boils down to 2 weeks every 4 years, with no loss of games for the NHL season. An immense sacrifice for the NHL, I know...
Next time they shut down the league for yet another lock out, I am sure everyone will still be on board with these poor misunderstood, noble souls of the NHL.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

We shall overcome. The Olympics were going on before the NHL participation and will be going on after the NHL abandons them, in their quest for $$$.

Folks still love at 100% seeing their nation compete, irregardless of what the NHL does or doesn't do. National pride doesn't depend on what a bunch of fat cats headed by Bettman say. Americans especially don't understand this, because their nation is as big as a continent, so they pretty much have no neighbors to compete against. For Europeans instead, that's a highly coveted thing and I don't see that changing soon.

I agree.

One of my life's greatest joys was being there in Sochi, listening to our national anthem and singing with pride, the sheer pure feeling of happiness is a sight to behold, I'll never forget Russians were coming up to us hugging us and congratulating us like we were the ones playing lol.

It won't make a difference if the nhl players are playing in Pyeongchang.

Everyone loves their country, it's a matter of pride, and I'm sure come 2018, schools, offices, public areas, restaurants, bars, homes, will be filled with people all coming together to support whoever represents us in February 2018 just like in February 2014.

In a country where we don't have many opportunities to get together as a population, the nhl can take away their players, but they can't take away our pride and that togetherness that only Team Canada Hockey brings nationwide.

As Henrik Lundquist says, The Olympics is so pure, in a World bogged down by artificial and material garbage, here we have a stage where dreams come true and dreams are made around the World. Your playing for nothing more, then love for your country and love for your sport. nothing else.

That's what this cash grab will never duplicate.

 

[kabidjan18]

Besides the fact that the NHL isn't treated differently from the other pro leagues (who are not complaining... Who are not trying to quit the Olympics... Who have always stopped their season for the Olympics...)... But at the end, it still boils down to 2 weeks every 4 years, with no loss of games for the NHL season. An immense sacrifice for the NHL, I know...
Next time they shut down the league for yet another lock out, I am sure everyone will still be on board with these poor misunderstood, noble souls of the NHL.

The NHL sends a significant amount more players than any other league. What's worse, the value of those players sent is significantly higher than any of those other leagues in monetary value. The NHL also has much less incentive for participation as they don't need the same marketing other leagues can do. If the government takes away 50% of all it's citizen's properties, a homeless man has infinitely less right to be upset than a working citizen with a large amount of existent capital. Take the World Cup for example. The 2022 Qatar world cup is going to be staged in the Winter. UEFA leagues have expressed extreme ire over this decision. Oh but hey, the MLS is fine with it!!! Why are UEFA leagues whining then? Come on you selfish UEFA leagues, get in line with the MLS and some other African leagues that totally support the movement of this event. You love trying to incriminate the NHL, but you hate when I flip the script. If you have little to lose, you have little to complain about, end of story.


There are a few stuck up hockey fans on HFboards who will be like "oh no NHL in the Olympics, sheesh kabob, I'm not watching the NHL anymore." Then there will be 100 others who the NHL can actively market to who are new to the sport of hockey without having to sacrifice an arm and a limb. The same debate is in every single major sports organization that feeds the IOC. The MLB is having this conversation, the NBA is having this conversation, FIFA already cut the Olympics out of major importance, all the leagues of importance are either having the insurance and profit discussion or have already done what the European based FIFA has done and snubbed the Olympics. Forgive the NHL then, they're just being greedy pigs like all the other major sports organizations with large amounts of capital that will be moved for this event.

 

[BruinLVGA]

I agree.

One of my life's greatest joys was being there in Sochi, listening to our national anthem and singing with pride, the sheer pure feeling of happiness is a sight to behold, I'll never forget Russians were coming up to us hugging us and congratulating us like we were the ones playing lol.

It won't make a difference if the nhl players are playing in Pyeongchang.

Everyone loves theirs country, it's a matter of pride, and I'm sure come 2018, schools, offices, public areas, restaurants, bars, homes, will be filled with people all coming together to support whoever represents us in February 2018 just like in February 2014.

In a country where we don't have many opportunities to get together as a population, the nhl can take away their players, but they can't take away our pride and that togetherness that only Team Canada Hockey brings nationwide.

Amen, brother.

I envy your experience in Sochi. I have never been to the OG, but I have seen a World Championship and the camaraderie with other nations' fans is a cherished memory.

You know, when I hear some fans saying "all that matters is best on best", it is to me as alien a concept as it can be. Especially knowing that those fans hear their anthem played all the time. Does it really matter nothing to them? No national pride?
In my youth I had the chance once to play a game (not hockey) where the national anthems were played (it is not usually done in Europe for club teams... But that game was a friendly game for the inauguration of a new stadium, so they did things in a solemn way) and standing on the field, when I heard the anthem, I felt like I was 10 feet tall, heart pumping in my chest like mad.
I just can't fathom anyone not caring in the least for things like this.

 

[aphyro]

The NHL sends a significant amount more players than any other league. What's worse, the value of those players sent is significantly higher than any of those other leagues in monetary value. The NHL also has much less incentive for participation as they don't need the same marketing other leagues can do. If the government takes away 50% of all it's citizen's properties, a homeless man has infinitely less right to be upset than a working citizen with a large amount of existent capital. Take the World Cup for example. The 2022 Qatar world cup is going to be staged in the Winter. UEFA leagues have expressed extreme ire over this decision. Oh but hey, the MLS is fine with it!!! Why are UEFA leagues whining then? Come on you selfish UEFA leagues, get in line with the MLS and some other African leagues that totally support the movement of this event. You love trying to incriminate the NHL, but you hate when I flip the script. If you have little to lose, you have little to complain about, end of story.

You dont see the difference? who the **** play football in the middle of the winter? and beside UEFA can't do a **** to stop anything... and i hope you know the clubs in football can't stop their players to go and play for the national team and i can asure you that. the money this guys making is more in one week than Crosby earns in a year.

 

[kabidjan18]

You dont see the difference? who the **** play football in the middle of the winter? and beside UEFA can't do a **** to stop anything... and i hope you know the clubs in football can't stop their players to go and play for the national team and i can asure you that. the money this guys making is more in one week than Crosby earns in a year.

The reason they can't stop it is because the system football is under is vastly different. UEFA is only a branch of FIFA, and have uneven power but not unilateral or stand alone power. In the worlds of hockey, football, or basketball though the power does belong with the leagues, so they will use it just like La Liga or the EPL would if they were able. FIFA itself recognized that it was getting assaulted for cash by the IOC and basically turned that tournament into a prospects tournament. If a sports league, or in FIFA's case federation, recognizes that it's getting robbed blind and decides to protect itself you can't blame the organization...

I really don't think many of us are shedding tears for the actual Olympics and IOC committee. I think we all just want a real best on best international tournament. If the Olympics gives us that then I will wish hard for the NHL to comply. If the NHL provides that then I will forget about the Olympics and just watch the NHL product. Right now one is in question and the other is a joke, so we are all reasonably nervous...

 

[BruinLVGA]

The NHL sends a significant amount more players than any other league. What's worse, the value of those players sent is significantly higher than any of those other leagues in monetary value. The NHL also has much less incentive for participation as they don't need the same marketing other leagues can do. If the government takes away 50% of all it's citizen's properties, a homeless man has infinitely less right to be upset than a working citizen with a large amount of existent capital. Take the World Cup for example. The 2022 Qatar world cup is going to be staged in the Winter. UEFA leagues have expressed extreme ire over this decision. Oh but hey, the MLS is fine with it!!! Why are UEFA leagues whining then? Come on you selfish UEFA leagues, get in line with the MLS and some other African leagues that totally support the movement of this event. You love trying to incriminate the NHL, but you hate when I flip the script. If you have little to lose, you have little to complain about, end of story.


There are a few stuck up hockey fans on HFboards who will be like "oh no NHL in the Olympics, sheesh kabob, I'm not watching the NHL anymore." Then there will be 100 others who the NHL can actively market to who are new to the sport of hockey without having to sacrifice an arm and a limb. The same debate is in every single major sports organization that feeds the IOC. The MLB is having this conversation, the NBA is having this conversation, FIFA already cut the Olympics out of major importance, all the leagues of importance are either having the insurance and profit discussion or have already done what the European based FIFA has done and snubbed the Olympics.

You know, there is one major thing to consider: international hockey is not about numbers. It's about showcasing the sport world wide. A greater exposure of the sport can only be beneficial to everyone, especially knowing that hockey is such a marginal sport world wide. And bottomline, we are still and always talking about 2 weeks every 4 years, anyway.

Your example of UEFA complaining about the 2022 World Cup being in winter, it's not exactly the same as the NHL situation.
First of all, there's absolutely ZERO chance that UEFA could / would impede participation of players to the World Cup. There's no whatsoever indication that they even thought about impeding participation of players, never mind having the power to do so, which I believe they don't.
Second, playing in summer in Qatar would anyway be impossible because summer temperatures in that part of the world would make it impossible to play. That would endanger the players' health.
Last and definitely most importantly, all European soccer leagues have factored in stops for: international club competitions' qualifiers and the competitions themselves, friendly international nations test games, qualifiers for international nations competitions. As the schedule stands, there are enough stops already that another big one could feasibly be extremely difficult to fit in.

On the other hand, the NHL is probably going to stop players from participating, there's no question about anything being a danger to the players in Korea, and the NHL doesn't stop for anything besides a measly week end for the ASG.
So, no, not the same. At all.

I repeat: 2 weeks / 4 years =/= a sacrifice of an arm and a limb. If that would be, what are the lockouts, armageddon?

About soccer, FIFA and the Olympics, there's one little thing you did not consider: there's the World Cup of soccer and the Olympics. The Olympics don't even remotely have the same quality of players. But the World Cup does have the top players.
Hockey has the World Championship and the Olympic Games: one, the WC, is like soccer's Olympics... The Olympic Games are like soccer's World Cup. Same situation. But the NHL is trying to bring the level of players at the OG down to WC level.
FIFA is keeping 1 out of 2 international competitions the best it can be, the NHL is trying to make that an 0 for 2 for hockey from that point of view. Not so similar anymore...

 

[tade]

You dont see the difference? who the **** play football in the middle of the winter? and beside UEFA can't do a **** to stop anything... and i hope you know the clubs in football can't stop their players to go and play for the national team and i can asure you that. the money this guys making is more in one week than Crosby earns in a year.

You are exaggereting here. Yes, it is significantly more, but the difference is not as big as you try to imply.

 

[aphyro]

You are exaggereting here. Yes, it is significantly more, but the difference is not as big as you try to imply.

26.5 million GBP Messi

12 million USD Crosby

You do the math

 

[kabidjan18]

You know, there is one major thing to consider: international hockey is not about numbers. It's about showcasing the sport world wide. A greater exposure of the sport can only be beneficial to everyone, especially knowing that hockey is such a marginal sport world wide. And bottomline, we are still and always talking about 2 weeks every 4 years, anyway.

Your example of UEFA complaining about the 2022 World Cup being in winter, it's not exactly the same as the NHL situation.
First of all, there's absolutely ZERO chance that UEFA could / would impede participation of players to the World Cup. There's no whatsoever indication that they even thought about impeding participation of players, never mind having the power to do so, which I believe they don't.
Second, playing in summer in Qatar would anyway be impossible because summer temperatures in that part of the world would make it impossible to play. That would endanger the players' health.
Last and definitely most importantly, all European soccer leagues have factored in stops for: international club competitions' qualifiers and the competitions themselves, friendly international nations test games, qualifiers for international nations competitions. As the schedule stands, there are enough stops already that another big one could feasibly be extremely difficult to fit in.

On the other hand, the NHL is probably going to stop players from participating, there's no question about anything being a danger to the players in Korea, and the NHL doesn't stop for anything besides a measly week end for the ASG.
So, no, not the same. At all.

I repeat: 2 weeks / 4 years =/= a sacrifice of an arm and a limb. If that would be, what are the lockouts, armageddon?

About soccer, FIFA and the Olympics, there's one little thing you did not consider: there's the World Cup of soccer and the Olympics. The Olympics don't even remotely have the same quality of players. But the World Cup does have the top players.
Hockey has the World Championship and the Olympic Games: one, the WC, is like soccer's Olympics... The Olympic Games are like soccer's World Cup. Same situation. But the NHL is trying to bring the level of players at the OG down to WC level.
FIFA is keeping 1 out of 2 international competitions the best it can be, the NHL is trying to make that an 0 for 2 for hockey from that point of view. Not so similar anymore...

Actually no, poorly spoken. First of all, you're missing the concept trying to attack the analogy when I set about 4 or 5 different analogies side by side. You basically repeated what Aphyro said and I addressed that.

Stops have nothing to do with anything. The NBA, NFL, MLS, and NHL all have stops for the all-star break and basically nothing else. Again you seem incapable of comprehending the comparison. The only aspect being compared was the homeless man and the working man comparison, the shifting of capital in response to an arbitrary introduced event.

One of the weakest ways to address an argument is to go for one of half a dozen examples. Even if you successfully took down one example (which you haven't because you didn't even address the aspect I was comparing, Aphyro did or at least tried), I have plenty of other examples, and plenty more I can conjure up in the spot. Attacking examples is the moral of the myth of Herakles and the Lernaean Hydra. One example you think you cut down, I bring 2 back up. Address the root of my argument instead please. The concept that they are moving larger assets and more capital.

Second the NHL is trying to go 1 out of 2 with the World Cup...so regardless of your opinion on the world cup they are similar.

 

[kabidjan18]

26.5 million GBP Messi

12 million USD Crosby

You do the math

The soccer season is longer than 3 weeks bro...

 

[aphyro]

The soccer season is longer than 3 weeks bro...

:faceplam: The point is still there that the football players is more valuable than hockey players if you count like you do...

Messi earns like 250milion more than Crosby during a season... and Ronaldo was offered 2,5 billion. but gee i dident really thougt ppl would take that statement on the word but i forgot this was HFboard.

 

[kabidjan18]

:faceplam: The point is still there that the football players is more valuable than hockey players if you count like you do...

Messi earns like 250milion more than Crosby during a season... and Ronaldo was offered 2,5 billion. but gee i dident really thougt ppl would take that statement on the word but i forgot this was HFboard.

Wow, 2.5 was over how many years? You said he was offered why would he ever turn down...

 

[aphyro]

Wow, 2.5 was over how many years? You said he was offered why would he ever turn down...

Why? because the offer was from MLS and you know player at that level prefer to play in Europe with the big boys like the hockey players prefer to play in NHL with the big boys, they already got the money so thats not an issue.

 

[aphyro]

Wow, 2.5 was over how many years? You said he was offered why would he ever turn down...

forgot to say but it says 10years

 

[kabidjan18]

Why? because the offer was from MLS and you know player at that level prefer to play in Europe with the big boys like the hockey players prefer to play in NHL with the big boys, they already got the money so thats not an issue.

Lool, that's right, good choice. How the MLS scraps up so much money I'll never know (I mean, I know, Parent companies that own EPL teams, but why...). There was so much excitement for highest paid signing at the time Kevin Doyle who was like decent in the Championship league,

But a real comparison would be Thomas Vanek to Daniel Oberkofler. Losing Thomas Vanek for one game would be losing more capital than losing Daniel Oberkofler for the rest of the existing season and then the entire next season.

 

[JackSlater]

The nhl does not know anything about Hockey to begin with in the World.

Their world compromises only of the United States of America.

Their fanbase is quite lost there since most people there have no knowledge of the game whatsoever, and they are probably brainwashed into thinking this event is cared for across the Hockey world.

People live in a bubbly world where they imagine people around the World wake up to watch teams in American cities that we don't care about in the nhl. We have our own teams, every country has their own league, the nhl is not the centre of the Hockey world during the season.

Your national team is a matter of pride for your country. This isn't some every day useless Hockey of the nhl, there's immense pride and honour related to playing for your people, it's not only about Hockey, or sport, people across all areas tune in, people have pride for where they come from.

But the nhl is quite lost and doesn't comprehend the idea.

a World Cup with no promotion, no one telling people from Russia, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovakia to come visit and celebrate the sport.

All the nhl is a business with no ambition other then to trick the people wearing suits in Toronto who will gladly waste their money.

Get it in your head people.

THIS

IS

NOT

AN

INTERNATIONAL

TOURNAMENT.

None of the reasons you listed indicate that this isn't an international tournament. You are correct that it isn't an international tournament, but the reason is very simple: it is not a tournament contested solely between nations.

Really? I would suggest you to check both, CAN and RUS rosters. Could be good for you next posting.

World Cup is also not best-on-best if we want to be precise, it sucks especially for team USA.

World Cup when compared to Olympics have absolutely no prestige, no history (especially this years edition), lacks national pride and worldwide coverage.

For example, here in Czech Republic, even World Hockey Championships means more than upcoming World Cup to most of our population. Who knows how many people in CR will know that there is some World Cup of hockey going on. Not that much.

If it is truly all what matters to you in hockey tournament / championships; best-on-best (which this World Cup won't be) and nothing more, then okay, I guess. Shows that real international hockey means nothing to you, and this NHL cash grab is aimed exactly for fans like you / and for North Americans fans/people in general.

It's purely a matter of perspective whether this tournament has prestige or history. Obviously the tournament has been mismanaged, but the Canada/World Cup is (was) the first best on best tournament and the first tournament to bring the world's best players together. It has featured some of the greatest hockey of all time. For another example of perspective, as a Canadian I can't be bothered to care about Olympic hockey history prior to 1998 for a variety of reasons. It's too bad that this edition of the tournament is an unabashed embarrassment though.

The reason they can't stop it is because the system football is under is vastly different. UEFA is only a branch of FIFA, and have uneven power but not unilateral or stand alone power. In the worlds of hockey, football, or basketball though the power does belong with the leagues, so they will use it just like La Liga or the EPL would if they were able. FIFA itself recognized that it was getting assaulted for cash by the IOC and basically turned that tournament into a prospects tournament. If a sports league, or in FIFA's case federation, recognizes that it's getting robbed blind and decides to protect itself you can't blame the organization...

I really don't think many of us are shedding tears for the actual Olympics and IOC committee. I think we all just want a real best on best international tournament. If the Olympics gives us that then I will wish hard for the NHL to comply. If the NHL provides that then I will forget about the Olympics and just watch the NHL product. Right now one is in question and the other is a joke, so we are all reasonably nervous...

This position is reasonable. I really don't understand how many people, most of whom I assume are soccer fans, cannot see how the Olympics are not intrinsically the be all and end all in sports.

 

[Canuck21t]

They should have teams based on their zodiac signs.

Team Taurus vs Team Gemini

This would actually be more interesting. Either go all gimmick and have fun with it or have a serious professional INTERNATIONAL tournament among real national teams. Having something in between is idiotic.

I'm not sure why there are several posts assuming the World Cup is intended to be a replacement for the Olympics, and that's why they're so upset. At this point it should be viewed as a nice little cash grab for the NHL and PA and nothing more. The NHL will likely not decline participation in future Games, it would be very short sighted and I'd be shocked to see it happen.

Even if this upcoming World Cup has no effect on future Olympics, this concept is a joke of a tournament. I know of no other sport that has such an embarrassing concept of a tournament.

How do you know the players won't care? You don't think Ovechkin, Malkin, and Kovalchuk would kill to beat a REAL Team Canada, IN CANADA? Or skate around the ice with their medals and World Cup Trophy in the ACC? Look at how they acted when they won the World Championships, when Russia had most of their best players, yet none of the other big 6 had theirs. Give me a break. Will be the same for the Swedish, Finnish, the Czechs and Americans, as well. Yes, I also think the Euro left overs is a dumb idea. However, when the puck drops, those guys will be playing to win, as well. The U23's would love nothing more than to beat "their older brothers" on Team Canada and Team USA.

Now, whether FANS in Finland, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic will care about the tourney is another issue. Whether fans in Slovakia will care about Team Euro is another issue. Do the European fans care that many in Canada and almost all of the US do not care about the World Championships? If Russia wins it all, are the Russian fans going to care that more than 99% of the US population didn't watch?

(MOD) The Russians love to win for their country, but only in legitimate international competitions. It boggles my mind how some can't see what a big joke this tournament is. A real international tournament is ALWAYS between national teams. Team U23 North America and Team Europe are not national teams. With those gimmick teams, right away the NHL has made the World Cup a laughingstock to everyone except for some clueless people.

Hockey will never grow as a sport if we continue to be so narrow-minded. Would it hurt that much to let two other national teams join the tournament? How the heck will lesser teams get better if we don't let them play in tougher competition? Beside, on paper they're lesser teams, but Slovakia almost beat Canada in a Olympic game. The NHL is one of the most short-sighted organizations I've ever known. It's all about money SHORT TERM instead of looking to the future. What a pathetic league.

 

[tade]

It's purely a matter of perspective whether this tournament has prestige or history. Obviously the tournament has been mismanaged, but the Canada/World Cup is (was) the first best on best tournament and the first tournament to bring the world's best players together. It has featured some of the greatest hockey of all time. For another example of perspective, as a Canadian I can't be bothered to care about Olympic hockey history prior to 1998 for a variety of reasons. It's too bad that this edition of the tournament is an unabashed embarrassment though.

Yes, I agree, it is matter of perspective, but it is almost everything in this thread, probably the only one thing we can all agree is that this is not real international tournament. Some people see it as no problem, some think it is really stupid, me included.

I remember only 2004 World Cup, and yes, it was threat to watch, fantastic tournament. The most I remember is Canada vs Czech Republic semifinal game, that was one of the best hockey games I have ever seen and I became even more of hockey fan after that, I think. It was at least REAL international tournament.

It was already 12 years ago... The fact that the World Cup have basically no scheduled timetable in terms of placement... that's where it somehow lacks history and prestige. Also, what is the trophy that the team wins? There is no specific 1 as far as I know. And almost always different composition of tournament/teams, or some rules.

I think we will see another super awesome hockey if players take it seriously, which they probably will, and I will watch some games, but the importance of this tournament will be for me at very low.

At some point after we won 2010 WCH or 2005 WCH I cried due to happiness. I can't imagine that I would have the same emotions if we won 2016 World Cup, just no. It would be cool, nice to see but I would fastly move on. It's the prestige, pride, history what makes hockey and championships that much better for fans. This is not what the World Cup can offer, at least not to most of european hockey fans.

We want bigger picture not just cool best-on-best. Olympics is what is the best for all of us, sadly maybe there will be no NHL Olympics in our closest future.

 

[Kalzu]

We shall overcome. The Olympics were going on before the NHL participation and will be going on after the NHL abandons them, in their quest for $$$.

You mean the IOC's quest for $$$? I totally understand if the NHL wants a compensation for having an Olympic break and letting the players to an event that generates money for the IOC. As much as I'd like to see the NHL participation continue at the Olympics, I understand the NHL's stance here.

For sure I'll watch hockey at the Olympics even without NHL players. But hockey wouldn't stand out from the Olympic program the way it's done with NHL players; it'd just be an Olympic event among others. I'd much rather see Finland winning the best-on-best World Cup or the U20 Worlds than non-best-on-best Olympic tournament.

 

[BruinLVGA]

You mean the IOC's quest for $$$? I totally understand if the NHL wants a compensation for having an Olympic break and letting the players to an event that generates money for the IOC. As much as I'd like to see the NHL participation continue at the Olympics, I understand the NHL's stance here.

For sure I'll watch hockey at the Olympics even without NHL players. But hockey wouldn't stand out from the Olympic program the way it's done with NHL players; it'd just be an Olympic event among others. I'd much rather see Finland winning the best-on-best World Cup or the U20 Worlds than non-best-on-best Olympic tournament.

Eh, I don't. Because 1) I don't see the IOC compensating ANY other league either... So it's either everybody or nobody... 2) the players are under contract to train + play 82 games + playoffs + eventually pre season games for their NHL clubs, everything else is not something that should be regulated by the NHL unless it DIRECTLY goes against the obligations the players have... it's not slavery... 3) international hockey is about the sport itself, about its growth world wide... Squabbling between a regional league and the highest authority for that competition can only be negative in that regard. Makes everyone involved lose credibility.

Lastly... 2 weeks every 4 years... That's the effort required from the NHL. It's not like asking them to carve their own hearts out and offering them to the IOC. If stopping business 2 weeks every 4 years is that unbearable, I would like to hear the explanation why they don't lose any sleep about shutting down the league for extended periods of time during lock outs, including an entire season. Making an analogy, it's like someone crying foul in disgust and outrage at being scratched by a finger nail (= two weeks stoppage every four years, with no loss of games) and then turning around and shooting someone in the head (= cancelling an entire season at a time. FYI, in a given season 1,230 games are played. Since 1994 they cancelled 1 season fully and had two seasons roughly half cancelled. That makes it over 2 THOUSAND games down the drain...). It doesn't make sense to me.