Tier list of 4Nations Faceoff teams I'm cheering for

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

At the right place and right time, absolutely nothing.

Yeah, and with more than just 4 teams. When was the last time you saw a tournament that only had 4 teams?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, and with more than just 4 teams. When was the last time you saw a tournament that only had 4 teams?

The Crowfoot PeeWee Div 2 Christmas Invitational.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Coach

The Crowfoot PeeWee Div 2 Christmas Invitational.

Well...everyone knows that the Crowfoot PeeWee Div 2 kids are jerks and dont have any friends so they couldnt invite more people!

[Wastedyouth]

Adding Doughty, who has barely played this year, is a stretch.

[GirlySports]

hockey canada again, old guy loyalty over fresh blood

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah, and with more than just 4 teams. When was the last time you saw a tournament that only had 4 teams?

Memorial Cup!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Memorial Cup!

Kind of, but that’s the final four for 60 CHL teams.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by blender

I don't understand why so many here are down on this tourney.
What's wrong with international hockey?

For me it's just a glorified version of an all-star game that will mean nothing in the end other than bragging rights.

To me the winners in all this are the players not selected who will get a 2 week vacation to rest up for the final stretch of the season.

[savardandjokinen]

Ristolainen drops out for Finland and is replaced by Matinpalo. Their defense looks something like this now

Lindell-Maatta
Mikkola-Valimaki
Jokiharju-Vaakanainen
Matinpalo

Big yikes

[Locke]

Originally Posted by savardandjokinen

Ristolainen drops out for Finland and is replaced by Matinpalo. Their defense looks something like this now

Lindell-Maatta
Mikkola-Valimaki
Jokiharju-Vaakanainen
Matinpalo

Big yikes

"Best on Best"

I've never even heard of half of those people!

[blender]

Originally Posted by Locke

"Best on Best"

I've never even heard of half of those people!

Guess you spend too much time on here complaining when you could be watching hockey!

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Icon

I'm looking forward to everyone being shocked when they play these games like the all star games instead of like the Olympics.

No hitting, no backchecking, no intensity, because there's nothing on the line... should be great.

I had some concern here too...but the way Canada built their roster (guys like Bennett, etc), it sure seems like they're planning on playing a more complete game anyway. Guess we'll see soon enough.

Like many here, I'm pretty blah on this tourney overall. Kinda cool I guess, but gimmicky with only 4 teams.

[Scroopy Noopers]

What the #### this thing is 2 weeks long!?!?

[browna]

This isn't international hockey, it doesn't follow IIHF rules for player eligibility or much else.

It's a NHLPA/NHL Hockey Related Revenue generating exhibition series under the marketing guise of patriotism.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think one reason, on this board, is it’s harder to cheer for Canada for a bunch of reasons including McDavid

Im curious if its hard to cheer for Canada because of McDavid if this was the Olympics...or this one included Russia and whatever other country.

Because he will also be on the Olympic team and any other foreseeable tournament for the next 10 years.

I do not understand it either. Since i started watching international hockey intently as a child, every iteration of Team Canada that included NHL players, has had players from rival teams that as a fan of team ___, you would loathe all other times.

Yet when they pull that Maple Leaf over their head, they aren't that anymore. They are Canadian players representing what most Canadians believe to be the greatest hockey country around.

You think Gretzky/Messier/Anderson and company were beloved in Calgary (or anywhere outside of Edmonton) in 1987 when they went toe to toe with the Soviets in the Canada Cup finals? No...but they were wearing "our" jersey, so that stuff doesn't matter.

Also i do not ever recall a version of Team Canada, ever, that played anything like an "all star" game, and pretty sure it wont start here.

Its an odd format to be sure, and missing one big team, but the players wont take it lightly, that much can be guaranteed.

This entire concept was the NHLPA's idea as much as anyone. Every guy on every team is a competition fanatic, they do not get where they are if they aren't.

Things will heat up on the ice very quickly IMO and evolve into a very good exhibition of the game at its highest level.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

2 week break from the hopeful<-->disappointed cycle of cheering for the Flames could be a blessing in disguise.

[Calgary]

Hopefully nobody gets hurt during this "Allstar" game

[WideReceiver]

I don’t care who’s on the team. I cheer for Canada; I’ll go back to hating teams and players later.

[Puppet Guy]

I just hope all four teams have fun.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Im curious if its hard to cheer for Canada because of McDavid if this was the Olympics...or this one included Russia and whatever other country.

Because he will also be on the Olympic team and any other foreseeable tournament for the next 10 years.

I do not understand it either. Since i started watching international hockey intently as a child, every iteration of Team Canada that included NHL players, has had players from rival teams that as a fan of team ___, you would loathe all other times.

Yet when they pull that Maple Leaf over their head, they aren't that anymore. They are Canadian players representing what most Canadians believe to be the greatest hockey country around.

You think Gretzky/Messier/Anderson and company were beloved in Calgary (or anywhere outside of Edmonton) in 1987 when they went toe to toe with the Soviets in the Canada Cup finals? No...but they were wearing "our" jersey, so that stuff doesn't matter.

Also i do not ever recall a version of Team Canada, ever, that played anything like an "all star" game, and pretty sure it wont start here.

Its an odd format to be sure, and missing one big team, but the players wont take it lightly, that much can be guaranteed.

This entire concept was the NHLPA's idea as much as anyone. Every guy on every team is a competition fanatic, they do not get where they are if they aren't.

Things will heat up on the ice very quickly IMO and evolve into a very good exhibition of the game at its highest level.

No player has ever been shoved down our throats like him and he will be a dominant narrative through the tourney
The absence of Russia (for all the right reasons) is also a factor for me. Just doesn’t seem the same

The tourney is not for me. But if others enjoy it that’s great