World Cup Boycott

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Yes this is right! But despite this amazing results is Finland the eternal Underdog.
I don t understand why? My opinion is that in NA hasn t so much clue about Hockey outside the NHL .

Good for the Finns though? They had a bad roster in 2014 but still got away with a medal.

 

[Lataba76]

Good for the Finns though? They had a bad roster in 2014 but still got away with a medal.

Yes Finland win in almost every "big to big" tournament a medal. But i have the feeling most "Experts" hs no clue why? What s wrong with the Hockey Experts? They looking only on NHL-Scorer lists?

 

[Poignant Discussion*]

Not that anything is being organized by any means, but any other fans like me just not going to watch because of the stupid North America/Europe idea?

Then you're not a hockey fan. Pretty simple

 

[therealdeal]

Yes Finland win in almost every "big to big" tournament a medal. But i have the feeling most "Experts" hs no clue why? What s wrong with the Hockey Experts? They looking only on NHL-Scorer lists?

Finland always does well because the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. Which is to say that when all the Finn's get together, they play such a strong team game that they will always be competitive, despite seeming to lack the same talent as other rosters.

Finland has always been my second favourite team to cheer for, but I really, really disliked how they played in 2014, left a sour taste in my mouth.

 

[JackSlater]

Yes this is right! But despite this amazing results is Finland the eternal Underdog.
I don t understand why? My opinion is that in NA hasn t so much clue about Hockey outside the NHL .

Finland's best players play in the NHL. Most North American fans are aware of Finland's best players, and those players are generally not as good as the best players from other top teams. Hence Finland is viewed as an underdog. Pretty simple to understand.

 

[Panteras]

Has there ever been an international tournament in any sport where these type of gimmick teams have been spontaneously created? I mean I only know of the caribbean cricket team which has been in place for decades if I'm mot mistaken and the old CIS team created after the collapse of the Soviet Union for the 92 Olympics I think...other than that I can't think of such made up gimmick teams for an international tournament. It's bizarre quite frankly, and stupid. Is there any financial gain for going or NHL punishment for declining ? I don't know any other reason why those selected to the "European team" would go. I would of said f off

 

[Xokkeu]

Then you're not a hockey fan. Pretty simple

Do you watch the World CHampionships?

 

[Xokkeu]

I see we devolved into another Canada is the greatest discussion, those are always productive.

But as far as this tournament, yeah I'm going to watch. Frankly I agree with all the complaints, having the Team Europe is stupid and insulting, having the Team North American is stupid and insulting, and it's all clearly a money grab.

That being said, I don't really care about the NHL anymore, I can't get into it. International hockey is all that I enjoy anymore that's not like local minor hockey. And you guys are always complaining and debating about what tournaments are the best and why the WHC don't matter or worth less, and I think that's silly. NONE of these tournaments matter. The only value that they're worth is what you get out of watching it. None of it proves anything. It's literally fully grown adults chasing a puck. Enjoy it for what it is.

The problem is when they rip your favorite team apart for no good reason. It's hard to watch or care.

 

[Lataba76]

Finland always does well because the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. Which is to say that when all the Finn's get together, they play such a strong team game that they will always be competitive, despite seeming to lack the same talent as other rosters.

Finland has always been my second favourite team to cheer for, but I really, really disliked how they played in 2014, left a sour taste in my mouth.

Yes okay! But i think the Finns win much board Fights or make much interceptions. Ihis are all values that you can t find in any statistics.
But i think you need fighting talent too. A talent to stand on right place and a talent to win fights(to win the puck).
Underrated skills?

 

[therealdeal]

The problem is when they rip your favorite team apart for no good reason. It's hard to watch or care.

Yeah for sure, if I was Swiss or Slovakian I wouldn't watch this tournament at all. And as a Canadian, seeing McDavid not play for Canada, and for some completely random team drives me nuts. But I just refuse to miss a game where Crosby is playing in a Team Canada jersey.

 

[PanniniClaus]

When the time comes, i will watch.

I just saw the sportsnet commercial and it was hard not to laugh when they started talking about crests on the jersey and you see the idiotic young guns and european all stars crests. What a farce they have made of this. This would not happen in baseball..... hell it would not happen in handball. You can be sure soccer would not touch this type of foolishness.

Hard to believe this was felt to be the way to go. It may make more money but if that is the end goal then call the tourney something else - the gordie howe cup or the garth butcher invitational.

This is not a world cup and they have lost the right to give it that name.

 

[Xokkeu]

When the time comes, i will watch.

I just saw the sportsnet commercial and it was hard not to laugh when they started talking about crests on the jersey and you see the idiotic young guns and european all stars crests. What a farce they have made of this. This would not happen in baseball..... hell it would not happen in handball. You can be sure soccer would not touch this type of foolishness.

Hard to believe this was felt to be the way to go. It may make more money but if that is the end goal then call the tourney something else - the gordie howe cup or the garth butcher invitational.

This is not a world cup and they have lost the right to give it that name.

I saw that ad as well and laughed. I'm sure McDavid and Eichel always grew up dreaming of donning the North America crest

 

[BayStreetBully]

I saw that ad as well and laughed. I'm sure McDavid and Eichel always grew up dreaming of donning the North America crest

It was amusing watching McDavid answer questions about the tournament. He said something along the lines of "it'll be great. The older players sometimes look down on the younger players and think we're not as good as them, so it'll be a good reason to play against them."

I mean, come on. Who believes that? I feel sorry for the kid, having to come up with things to say in front of the cameras.

 

[xxxx]

yep.

“It is unusual (playing against Canada), but it’s for a small bit and you don’t lose being Canadian,” said McDavid, who relishes the underdog role. “A lot of people don’t expect too much but when you see the first names, you can see the skill and the size on the back-end. We can be dangerous.”

“It’s going to be a cool dynamic and I want to see where we can take it,” he said.

There’s rivals like McDavid and Eichel, but Team North Amercia coach Todd McLellan shrugged that off.

“That’s not going to be an issue. When players put on equipment they put it on to win,” he said. “Wouldn’t surprise me if they develop a bond and a friendship that lasts for awhile.”

"Doesn't matter which tournament, it's huge honour," Ovechkin said. "It's nice to be in the list, and I'm proud to represent my country."

"He (Kuznetsov) was playing for the national team in world championship, but I think it's kind of different level of the tournament," Ovechkin said of the World Cup. "I think it's kind of (like) Olympic Games because all the best players are going to be there and it's — it's kind of something close to Olympic Games."

"I was a teenager then (in 2004) and I played in a couple games and it was an unbelievable experience for me just to see players from NHL," Ovechkin said. "You're just watching TV and reading the newspaper as a little guy and you play against them. It's a huge experience for young guys and a great time for experienced guys who represent their country. It's a big stage, so it's a big tournament."

"They are a great mixture of experience, talent, and open-mindness," Finland coach Lauri Marjamaki said. "For the players the World Cup is a huge thing. Their motivation is high and they all want to be part of the team."

"Our biggest challenge will be gaining respect," Ekblad said. "We're a young team and we don't have a lot of expectations going into it, but we do have a chance to win it. You look at some of the names on our team and we have some players who can do some damage. You see them doing it in the NHL. We are definitely a team you don't want to take lightly."

 

[Barrie22]

It was amusing watching McDavid answer questions about the tournament. He said something along the lines of "it'll be great. The older players sometimes look down on the younger players and think we're not as good as them, so it'll be a good reason to play against them."

I mean, come on. Who believes that? I feel sorry for the kid, having to come up with things to say in front of the cameras.

Because mcdavid and eichel are the only 2 players that even had a chance at making the big clubs and even those 2 weren't locks to do so.

The potential of this tournament not having mcdavid in it, is a lot higher then it having him in it on team canada.

 

[JackSlater]

Because mcdavid and eichel are the only 2 players that even had a chance at making the big clubs and even those 2 weren't locks to do so.

The potential of this tournament not having mcdavid in it, is a lot higher then it having him in it on team canada.

Apparently you aren't very familiar with the available American players.

 

[BayStreetBully]

Because mcdavid and eichel are the only 2 players that even had a chance at making the big clubs and even those 2 weren't locks to do so.

The potential of this tournament not having mcdavid in it, is a lot higher then it having him in it on team canada.

Huh? What I mean is McDavid is forced to say something, anything, positive about the World Cup. Did you see what he said? Who in their right minds sees that as a realistic reason for him to be pumped about the WC?

 

[BayStreetBully]

yep.

McDavid called it a cool dynamic, and Ekblad said you don't want to take them lightly. That's about the best thing they can say about the World Cup?

 

[moon*]

I would rather watch decent talent playing for U-23 and Europe than watch the crap teams put out by Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia etc.

I would rather watch Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Anze Kopitar than Milos Crapbag, Joni Pylon and Dieter Sieve any day of the week.

 

[Panteras]

I would rather watch decent talent playing for U-23 and Europe than watch the crap teams put out by Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia etc.

I would rather watch Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Anze Kopitar than Milos Crapbag, Joni Pylon and Dieter Sieve any day of the week.

so then you would rather just watch a gimmick than an actual international tournament. You must love all star weekend lmao

 

[tade]

I would rather watch decent talent playing for U-23 and Europe than watch the crap teams put out by Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Latvia etc.

I would rather watch Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Anze Kopitar than Milos Crapbag, Joni Pylon and Dieter Sieve any day of the week.

Shows how little you know about international hockey and countries like Switzerland or Slovakia and their players.

But that's okay, this tournament is exactly for people like you, who cares only about the NHL and don't see much more.

I am fan of both - NHL and international hockey, obviously. But I will never be a fan of the tournament where the real national teams are involved alongside to some pointless fantasy teams. Like what's the purpose? Exhibition, showcase of talent? Then okay, no problem, but nothing more for me. Can't take this tournament seriously. This is simply not the real international tournament, just NHL and its showcase of talent. And they try to make it look like it is real international tournament which is even worse because it is not.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

How can there be a boycott if nobody cares about the tournament originally, even the players deep inside know it's meaningless when no one in their countries even acknowledge it.

Way I see it, it will be the laughing stock of the sporting World, and it's a laugh we can all share together. So let's enjoy this comedy show!

 

[moon*]

so then you would rather just watch a gimmick than an actual international tournament. You must love all star weekend lmao

Not really since the All-Star game isn't real hockey so it really has nothing to do with this at all.

I would like to watch the best hockey possible. If we are removing crap teams and adding in teams that are likely more competitive than how is that a bad thing?

 

[moon*]

Shows how little you know about international hockey and countries like Switzerland or Slovakia and their players.

But that's okay, this tournament is exactly for people like you, who cares only about the NHL and don't see much more.

I am fan of both - NHL and international hockey, obviously. But I will never be a fan of the tournament where the real national teams are involved alongside to some pointless fantasy teams. Like what's the purpose? Exhibition, showcase of talent? Then okay, no problem, but nothing more for me. Can't take this tournament seriously. This is simply not the real international tournament, just NHL and its showcase of talent. And they try to make it look like it is real international tournament which is even worse because it is not.

How does it show I know little about international hockey?

Outside of 1-2 fluke runs Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia etc. routinely finish at the bottom of these tournaments. They are never a threat at all to win and looking at the numbers they are clearly below the other 5 (6 I guess you have to include Czech but not sure for how much longer) teams.

But you are right that I don't care about crappy Euro leagues or crappy Euro players. If they get left out I couldn't care less.

This tournament has a lot more legitimacy and interest from me than the crap that is the World Championships even though that has "real" countries in it.

It may not be the Olympics but who cares we already have the Olympics. This tournament is much better with the U-23's and Europe than it would be with 2 3rd rate European teams in it.

 

[tade]

Well, I am not going to bother and argue about it with you, since you have clearly different opinion and approach about this.

But I will just remind you about player named Artemi Panarin who just came from "crappy Euro League and as a crappy Euro player".