[#-3]

I think when you look at the elite countries, Czechs and Slovaks should both be on the bubble, I think they are either both in or both out.

Aside from Jagr and Hasek I don't really see the Czechs as ahead of the Slovaks in any way, and those guys won't be playing in future world cups.

I think a way they could do it and minimize organization ahead of time.

Automatically in;
Canada
USA
Sweden
Finland
Russia

Then you have 4 game head to head summits the year before. Each countries Hockey federation organizes and hosts 2 games. The winner is in, the loser is out.
6 vs 15 (Czech vs Denmark)
7 vs 14 (Switzerland vs Slovenia)
8 vs 13 (Slovakia vs Germany)
9 vs 12 (Belarus vs France)
10 vs 11 (Latvia vs Norway)

Austria is 16th in the world rankings right now and doesn't fit my model.

This model could be expandable, if you get to where you want to include more teams you could have 2 summit rounds.

Top 5 in

6-10 buy into summit round 2.

11-20 play to get into summit round 2.