Dramatic changes to the World Cup?

[waner]

Originally Posted by Weitz

So what happens when the KHL doesn't send any players since its in their season?

Nobody, except I guess Russia, gives a crap.

Its not like stacking their teams with KHL guys has been giving Russia great results anyways.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by waner

Nobody, except I guess Russia, gives a crap.

Its not like stacking their teams with KHL guys has been giving Russia great results anyways.

But don't all the teams outside of Canada and USA have players on their Olympic teams that played in the KHL?

Why would Russia or Sweden or anyone want to send players to a tournament that likely doesn't benefit them.

[Dan02]

Idea for the NHL, just go to the ####ing Olympics.

I want to see the NHL players in a best on best format in mid season form, not pre training camp.

The owners complain about losing star players to injury from the Olympics. Somehow they're going to be immune to this at the WC?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Idea for the NHL, just go to the ####ing Olympics.

I want to see the NHL players in a best on best format in mid season form, not pre training camp.

The owners complain about losing star players to injury from the Olympics. Somehow they're going to be immune to this at the WC?

They aren't, obviously, but the WC has to major mitigating factors:
1. Any injury suffered has the full summer to recover from.
2. The WC does not interrupt the NHL schedule.

And hell,
3. Many North American players don't give a damn anyway.

[waner]

Originally Posted by Weitz

But don't all the teams outside of Canada and USA have players on their Olympic teams that played in the KHL?

Why would Russia or Sweden or anyone want to send players to a tournament that likely doesn't benefit them.

Same reason they did in the Canada Cups and previous World Cups the players want to play and it promotes hockey which does help them.

Finland had 8 guys, two of which are now in the NHL on their team and they were all low level guys. I don't know enough about Finnish hockey to know how bad they would be hurt by switching out Petr Kontiola with the next best guy from the Finnish League or Sami Lepisto with a guy who can actually play defense.

The Czechs had 4 guys including their 3rd string goalie and left off Hudler and Vrbata which likely could replace the KHL guys easily.

Sweden and Switzerland both had nobody from the KHL.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

They aren't, obviously, but the WC has to major mitigating factors:
1. Any injury suffered has the full summer to recover from.

It's being put on in September right before training camp, not June...

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The Canada Cup was big coming off the Summit Series and Canada vs. Russia novelty during the Cold War. Things have changed in the almost 40 years since it was introduced, and in the 20 years since it was held. NHL players can compete in the Olympics and World Championships now, for example. But yes, Alan Eagleson's embezzlement scheme sure was romantic.

The World Cups that followed the Canada Cups were rendered meaningless trivia when Olympic participation was allowed starting in 1998. Especially 2004, which was a last chance to fill the war chests prior to the work stoppage.

But the NHL is almost certainly pulling out of the Olympics. So the World Cup will once again be the premiere best-on-best international tournament. And once it's going again, Canadian hockey fans will care about it just as much as they've cared about the Olympic Gold in recent years. There will be all the hype. All the anticipation. And the hockey will be just as good.

[CanadaMatt]

This thread is 5 pages long and noone has mentioend Iginla yet, wtf is wrong with you people.

I agree with the post above, for what it's worth.

[goodyear]

As far as international hockey goes, the biggest stage should be the Olympics.

If the NHL does decide to pull out and put on a best on best, I think the idea proposed won't be bad...I just don't like having a mixed Euro team, a KHL champion in the "World Cup". Call it the Bettman Cup of Global Hockey Excellence but the world cup title should be used only on a country vs country basis.

I like the idea of two Canadian teams...perhaps players can be selected similar to the Australia State of Origin series in rugby league...where you select the players based on where they got their start in the sport?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Origin_series


Quebec or Francophone Canadians can have their own team.

Angelea Merkel can be the honouary captain of the Mixed Euros.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by goodyear

As far as international hockey goes, the biggest stage should be the Olympics.

If the NHL does decide to pull out and put on a best on best, I think the idea proposed won't be bad...I just don't like having a mixed Euro team, a KHL champion in the "World Cup". Call it the Bettman Cup of Global Hockey Excellence but the world cup title should be used only on a country vs country basis.

I like the idea of two Canadian teams...perhaps players can be selected similar to the Australia State of Origin series in rugby league...where you select the players based on where they got their start in the sport?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Origin_series


Quebec or Francophone Canadians can have their own team.

Angelea Merkel can be the honouary captain of the Mixed Euros.

Interesting idea with Origin (which is the only League I make a point of watching).

I still don't like the idea of 2 Canadian teams.

[calgarygeologist]

I'm torn on the issue of NHL players in the Olympics. It has been awesome to watch the "best" Canadians play against the "best" from other countries but at the same time disrupting the regular season play for approximately two weeks is not good. The Olympics would be just as good if the teams were filled with players from the Junior ranks, KHL (assuming that league would be okay with it), AHL and other European leagues.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I'm torn on the issue of NHL players in the Olympics. It has been awesome to watch the "best" Canadians play against the "best" from other countries but at the same time disrupting the regular season play for approximately two weeks is not good. The Olympics would be just as good if the teams were filled with players from the Junior ranks, KHL (assuming that league would be okay with it), AHL and other European leagues.

I disagree.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I disagree.

I find a tournament like the World Juniors to be more exciting to watch than the last few Olympic games involving NHL players.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

I find a tournament like the World Juniors to be more exciting to watch than the last few Olympic games involving NHL players.

I just disagree. While I find the juniors enjoyable, it does not compare to best on best games. That is my opinion.

It is one of the things that bothers me about hockey, the lack of international games.

I wish we saw more.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I just disagree. While I find the juniors enjoyable, it does not compare to best on best games. That is my opinion.

It is one of the things that bothers me about hockey, the lack of international games.

I wish we saw more.

I wouldn't mind if the IIHF and NHL (and whatever other leagues) came together and did a World Junior and World Senior tournament during the week between Christmas and New Years. They could run the tournament every second year. This would also give the few young players in the NHL who are eligible to play in the World Juniors a chance to play without requiring team and league approval.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The Olympics would be just as good if the teams were filled with players from the Junior ranks, KHL (assuming that league would be okay with it), AHL and other European leagues.

I don't know about that. The Olympic hockey tournament was kind of lame before the NHL players got involved. Those teams had a lot of guys who couldn't cut it in the NHL. It was not "best vs. best", which is usually the, umm, best.

Of course there were big moments like the Miracle On Ice and Forsberg torching Cory Hirsch, but it was more like the Spengler Cup than the World Cup.

When the Olympics were in Calgary, it was downright boring. Bryan Leetch and Jim Peplinski were the biggest names I remember. There were probably some big-name Soviets, who eventually won the gold medal, but the best players in the world were playing in the NHL while the tournament was on.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by troutman

This has been discussed in other threads, and I think it is a long way off.

How it could work - 6 best teams from the NHL in September tournament vs 6 best teams from Europe (would replace training camp for NHL teams). I agree the NHL will be reluctant to shorthen the regular season, but they might be willing if there was a prospect of big Euro revenues.

How do you replace training camp? Do you take the entire huge roster into the tournament and use the Champions League games like pre-season? Not exactly top quality competition. Or does a team start camp much earlier? Not going to happen.

Originally Posted by troutman

I'm not sure I agree talent is spread evenly across UEFA. Since 1996 only one team not from Spain, Italy, Germany or England has won it. And you see the same dozen teams over and over.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._League_finals

I didn't say (or mean to imply) it was spread evenly across all of UEFA. But it certainly is spread amongst more leagues that talent in hockey. I don't see any teams from any European leagues being a challenge to the top NHL teams, let alone having champions coming from 4 different hockey leagues.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Dan02

It's being put on in September right before training camp, not June...

Sorry. I'm so used to WC being shorthand for the World Championships.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Idea for the NHL, just go to the ####ing Olympics.

I want to see the NHL players in a best on best format in mid season form, not pre training camp.

The owners complain about losing star players to injury from the Olympics. Somehow they're going to be immune to this at the WC?

Motivation is an important factor as well. For most players their #1 commitment is to the NHL, the guys that sign their paycheques.

To get them to be committed and motivated to something else is difficult, but the Olympics have the right amount of external pressure to get the best against the best giving their best.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by goodyear

As far as international hockey goes, the biggest stage should be the Olympics.

It actually the other way around. Only sports that can't hack it in the real world make the Olympics their top event.

Sports where their Olympic version sucks - Soccer and Tennis
Sports where there isn't even an Olympic version - Baseball, Football, Rugby, Cricket
Sport where Olympics and World Cup are the same: Basketball (although they are trying to make the World Cup bigger)

Hockey had an event (Canada Cup/World Cup) that most sports dream about having and threw it away to go backwards into the Olympics. Baseball is now trying with the WBC and it's not even close.

It's hard to recover something you've lost. Hockey will struggle to recover the World Cup after a 12 year absence.

That said, Have two more teams Quebec and the Rest of Europe.
Although I'm not sure what the Rest of Europe national anthem would be!