[GT] Team Canada vs. Team USA - Nationwide Arena - 5:00 MST

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by MattyC

What bothers me is people keep jumping to Germany, or Denmark.

This tournament is missing Slovakia, and the Swiss, both have put together decent to great teams in the past (especially Slovakia).

I actually agree with you. What I would have liked is they get rid of NA, put Solvakia in (haven't they medaled at the Olympics recently) and do the team Euro with the rest of the Nations.

Agreed the Swiss are on the rise, and maybe in a few short years they could do an 8th legit nation qualifying, likely the Swiss. But for now what I suggested above would have been my preference.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I actually agree with you. What I would have liked is they get rid of NA, put Solvakia in (haven't they medaled at the Olympics recently) and do the team Euro with the rest of the Nations.

Agreed the Swiss are on the rise, and maybe in a few short years they could do an 8th legit nation qualifying, likely the Swiss. But for now what I suggested above would have been my preference.

Slovakia has never medaled in the Olympics.

Granted they are only a 24 year old country as it pertains to hockey. They were part of Czechoslovakia previous to that.


they did win the Worlds once many years ago however.

[Magnum PEI]

Slovakia got destroyed in Sochi. Maybe if they had done better there they would have been included but they suck now.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I think what I was remembering is them playing Canada in the semis in 2010.

[RougeUnderoos]

EDIT: wrong thread

[doctajones428]

I would have done:

Canada
United States
Russia
Sweden
Finland
Europe

[Coach]

Yeah I think Slovakia had some decent teams in the 2000-2010 range, when guys like Demitra, Chara, Hossa and Gaborik were at the top of their game.

Just looking at a list of current NHL Slovaks, I would think they could put together a team that could be competitive. They don't have the top end of the top 5 teams, and they'd have to sprinkle in some Euro-league players, but they could be a solid team that could surprise.

And the Swiss, while very likely getting a pretty good butt-kicking tournament wise, could probably keep most games pretty close.

The point for me is more that, young players from those lower nations are more likely to watch if they have a team in the games, and therefore build more interest in being a competitive player in these tournaments, and maybe they eventually start churning out better players as years go on.

There are a lot of maybes there, but they don't exist under a Team Europe thing IMO.

[GirlySports]

they won the 2002 World Championships led by Satan and Bondra

[getbak]

With the NHLPA as a co-owner of the World Cup, it's obvious the main reason for Team Europe and Team NA is to maximize the number of NHL players in the tournament.

Beyond the top six countries, no other nation has enough NHL players to ice even half a roster, so they would have had a lot of non-NHL players. Instead, with the EU and NA teams, they get two full rosters of NHL players.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

they won the 2002 World Championships led by Satan and Bondra

I didn't realize Kesler played for them in 2002. ZING!

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by getbak

With the NHLPA as a co-owner of the World Cup, it's obvious the main reason for Team Europe and Team NA is to maximize the number of NHL players in the tournament.

Beyond the top six countries, no other nation has enough NHL players to ice even half a roster, so they would have had a lot of non-NHL players. Instead, with the EU and NA teams, they get two full rosters of NHL players.

Hard to believe this isn't more obvious to a collective group of somewhat knowledgeable hockey fans

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by getbak

With the NHLPA as a co-owner of the World Cup, it's obvious the main reason for Team Europe and Team NA is to maximize the number of NHL players in the tournament.

Beyond the top six countries, no other nation has enough NHL players to ice even half a roster, so they would have had a lot of non-NHL players. Instead, with the EU and NA teams, they get two full rosters of NHL players.

I'm pretty sure Russia has some KHL players on their team, didn't know they were part of the NHLPA or NHL.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by getbak

With the NHLPA as a co-owner of the World Cup, it's obvious the main reason for Team Europe and Team NA is to maximize the number of NHL players in the tournament.

Beyond the top six countries, no other nation has enough NHL players to ice even half a roster, so they would have had a lot of non-NHL players. Instead, with the EU and NA teams, they get two full rosters of NHL players.

Makes total sense. I'd still prefer it to be Nations only, but I'm sure you've nailed the logic behind the chosen format.

[Coach]

Of course it's obvious. It doesn't mean we have to like it.

It's amazing how many people think that because you're against something, you don't understand it.

Part of the reason I (and presumably the others) don't like it is exactly that point. It's all about money. That leaves a bad taste in some people's mouths. SHOCKER!

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by trublmaker

I'm pretty sure Russia has some KHL players on their team, didn't know they were part of the NHLPA or NHL.

He said team Europe and Team North America.

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

He said team Europe and Team North America.

I get that I just don't get how if its an NHL/NHLPA tourney how come KHL players are involved on a team that can easily fill it with NHL players.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by trublmaker

I'm pretty sure Russia has some KHL players on their team, didn't know they were part of the NHLPA or NHL.

Yes, between Russia, the Czech Republic, and Finland, there are 10 non-NHL players in the World Cup (3 of the Czechs were injury replacements of NHL players, and Datsyuk was an NHL player when the roster was announced).

If the final two teams had been Slovakia and either Switzerland or Germany, there would have been an additional 20+ non-NHLers. NA and EU are all NHLers.

[calumniate]

Any word on giroux?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Hard to believe this isn't more obvious to a collective group of somewhat knowledgeable hockey fans

What makes you think many weren't aware. Just because they understand the motivation, doesn't mean they'd prefer something different.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by getbak

With the NHLPA as a co-owner of the World Cup, it's obvious the main reason for Team Europe and Team NA is to maximize the number of NHL players in the tournament.

Beyond the top six countries, no other nation has enough NHL players to ice even half a roster, so they would have had a lot of non-NHL players. Instead, with the EU and NA teams, they get two full rosters of NHL players.

Originally Posted by Tyler

Hard to believe this isn't more obvious to a collective group of somewhat knowledgeable hockey fans

What's obvious to me is that the NHL and NHLPA want to maximize the competitiveness and excitement of the games, thus maximizing attendance and TV viewers.

I know I'm way more likely to go out of my way to watch Team NA vs. Team Europe than Slovakia vs. Switzerland or Slovakia vs. Team Europe, and I fully expect a Team NA vs. Canada game to be much more exciting than Slovakia vs. Canada.

No need to go beyond those motivations, IMO.