LOL. I saw more emotion in the overtime period of NA vs. Sweden alone than in the entire Sochi olympics.
Well the players are competitors, even if its not quite clear what they're competing for. This was not a World Cup in the way that other sports have compelling world cups.
As has been stated this was hardly a tournament that really captured anyone's imagination. No water cooler talk about it at the office the next day, no blocking out other activities to watch it, no big gatherings. Are there any celebrations tonight in Canada?
Maybe the better word is soul. The tournament had no soul. It was just kind of an exhibition.
As has been stated there are a lot of people who are big hockey fans who just couldn't get up for this. And for a "world cup" that is not a good thing.
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A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
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It was fast, fun river hockey at the highest level. I could not disagree with you more. I was Highly entertained.
*shrug* I liked the digitized boards. I also liked the winning team graphics they used. Personal taste and all that.
To each their own I suppose, but you seem mighty worked up over a nothing tourney. I was entertained, hockey was played in September at a high level, Canada won so yay, and no Flames were injured during the tourney, so again Yay.
Well, you know, aside from Backlund's concussion.
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A 12-page game thread, 6 of which are filled with arguments about the validity of the tournament, tells me that very, VERY few people really gave a rat's ass about this whole thing. Hell, most Flames games have 20 pages by the end of the first period.
I did watch a bit of the tournament (especially when Team NA was playing due to Johnny), but put me into the category of people who didn't feel emotionally connected to neither the tournament or Team Canada.
I think the NHL attempting to do this before the season makes no sense. Before the season many players are still trying to work out the "kinks" from the summer which affects the play and emotion, their is no build up because summer just ended, fans are excited for the season to start but the majority aren't fully engaged till the regular season begins, your competing with the MLB playoff chase and the start of the NFL season.
Why not do it once every 4 years during a 2 week stretch in say January/February (much like the olympics) and scratch the all-star game?
1. You won't need as many pre tournament exhibition games (maybe have a camp in the summer if you want players to start building chemistry) 2. The season will be just past its midway point where the schedule starts to get a little redundant (this may help kickstart fan interest for the tournament and post tournament NHL play) 3. You actually have a build up for the tournament, fans and media will be interested in who should make the team/who shouldn't because they have the first 3 months of the season to debate over who is playing well and who isn't. 4. The players will be at the top of their game and emotionally invested having been actually playing at a high level prior. 5. Scratch the tournament format this year of top 2 make it from each division and a best of 3 final. Top 3 from each division make it with 1st from each group receiving a bye. Do or die final. 6. I would say scratch Team Europe and Team NA but NA was the most exciting team to actually watch. Maybe keep a World Under 23 team with the remaining teams being Canada, USA, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech, Slovakia (they did well in Vancouver). 7.Have the tournament in the 2 biggest markets in each country (Toronto & New York). This may help captivate the US crowd and both cities are a short flight distance away from one another so travel wouldn't be horrible for the players.
I guess the challenge would be players opting rather to have the 2 weeks off but I guess they could make it mandatory like they do the All Star game. From what it looks like players love representing their country so I don't think it would be a massive problem. Anyway thats my 2 cents.
Well the players are competitors, even if its not quite clear what they're competing for. This was not a World Cup in the way that other sports have compelling world cups.
As has been stated this was hardly a tournament that really captured anyone's imagination. No water cooler talk about it at the office the next day, no blocking out other activities to watch it, no big gatherings. Are there any celebrations tonight in Canada?
Maybe the better word is soul. The tournament had no soul. It was just kind of an exhibition.
I can speak anecdotally and tell you that there's plenty of talk around my office the day after games; that my mom, who is at most a casual NHL fan, texted me repeatedly during Canada's games; and that every hockey fan I know who watched any of Team NA games had their "imagination captured" by that team. Beyond my anecdotal experience, I also know that the tournament led every sports broadcast and was a huge part of every sports talk show right alongside the Jays' playoff drive.
What evidence do you have of the lack of enthusiasm? I do know that there were empty seats for game 1, but IMO that reflected more a bit of disinterest in Canada's opponent and an expectation that Canada would dominate, which doesn't go to a fundamental flaw in the World Cup itself as a concept.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Igottago
As has been stated there are a lot of people who are big hockey fans who just couldn't get up for this. And for a "world cup" that is not a good thing.
I'm not sure how you arrived at "a lot"... I will say that on this board, there seemed to be a sizable group who had decided before the tournament started that they weren't going to like it, mainly due to a mistaken belief that it meant a more certain end to the Olympics. You can't blame the NHL/NHLPA for pouty fans.
To each their own and you can't force anyone to care. But for all those who took the time to make multiple posts about how they don't care, it's contrived etc. You missed some very good hockey and it was pretty obvious to me that the players cared. I am a Flames fan first and foremost but for me, good hockey doesn't begin and end with my favorite club. I hope they do it again.
I'm not saying he didn't deserve it. Just that others could have got it as well and it's nice to see someone other than Crosby get recognition on these types of stages.
Then other players are going to have to step up and be better than Sid. Until that happens Crosby will continue to fill his trophy case.
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Meh - it was hockey played by some of the best players in the world. I will always gladly watch as much of it as possible.
For it being some contrived tournament - I am ok with it being contrived. All tournaments (or at least many) or contrived to start. History adds significance to them. As long as the NHL doesn't decide to axe this tournament and restart it in 10 years or more, then I feel it will just grow into an important tournament.
I also hope that this doesn't replace the Olympics. Look at international football - there are many league and international tournaments. Champions League every year (NHL Playoffs is where I draw the similarity), and then they have the World Cup every 4 years (Canada can start doing this now) and then the European Championships every 4 years as well, without mentioning the other continental championships (Olympics).
There really isn't any good reason to replace the Olympics with the World Cup. Seriously, why can't we have both? Every two years you get to watch high-level international competition that helps to grow the game world wide. I think it would be short-sighted of the NHL to pull itself out of the Olympics - though something has to give on the IOC end.
As a hockey fan, I can't get enough of hockey. I love soccer, but I don't have time to follow league play regularly, but there is no way I miss the World Cup and European Championship. I am sure that there must be some hard core soccer fans who also like the NHL, but are limited to big international tournaments mostly. The more hockey you show people internationally, the bigger the game gets, the more kids join hockey, and the better the game will become down the road (at least in theory).
I must admit, when the WCH was first announced, I was kind of excited. Watching hockey in September sounded sweet. But when the actual tournament came around, I was really apathetic to Team Canada.
I watched what I could of Team North America. After they were knocked out, I had no vested interest in any of the other teams, so really, it felt like watching a series of more intense exhibition games. I definitely didn't set aside time specifically to watch it, only if it's kind of on and nothing else was did I turn it on for a period here or there.
Even tonight, when Canada tied it, I was pretty much meh on it. I don't think I'm alone in feeling apathy towards most of the tournament. Team North America was exciting, and even that team kind of annoyed me with Mcllellan's crap coaching performance, and the networks cramming McDavid/Matthews down our throats.
So if I'm totally honest, I'm glad the tournament is over, and we can finally start the real NHL season soon.
I'm a hardcore hockey fan, I even watch Finnish and Swedish lower league games if they are on TV, I love Flames, I mostly get up at "wee" hours for a Flames game and get to work after the game.
I got up for every game in Vancouver (Even if it wasnt Finland playing), but this... This tournament with these made up teams... No thanks, I wanted to see Gaudreau playing with Team USA but he couldn't because he is under 23.. Lost me there.
Watching this clip of the winning goal and seeing the emotion of the fans, and especially the players, to a hockey game IN SEPTEMBER!!!, kicking off a new NHL season. . . . If you couldn't get any enjoyment out of this, you missed out.
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I got to watch the continuing brilliance of Sid Crosby, in his prime, on his greatest run of success ever. I would have paid admission to watch that alone, and I got to watch it for free in my home. In the last 15 months he has won a World Championship, the Stanley Cup complete with Conn Smythe, and a World Cup complete with mvp. Lol at the people bitching about having to watch hockey in September. It worked fine in 72,76,81,84,87...etc. It is the only month you can hold this type of tournament, other than the Olympics, which screws with the season far worse than this. This tournament was bonus high level sports viewing and it's greatest flaw was the ineptitude of USA Hockey.
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I watched the whole tourney. I really enjoyed it, and don't understand how people can come in here and say it was poor hockey. These guys were playing pretty damn good for only coming together in a couple weeks.
Sure its not as intense as say the playoffs but they haven't been playing hockey for 6+ months to get into the groove of things. Even the Olympics being held when they are mid season, at least the players have had time to skate for a couple months before coming together.
If you asked any of the players they would tell you 100% they would rather play in this tournament with the best in the world instead of training camp with AHLers. I'm guessing most of the guys will be a step above everyone else when the season starts.
Lastly, I love watching Canada dominate whether it be juniors/NHL/Olympics/Worlds. I don't care I cheer for Canada. Happy to see them raise that trophy.
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Meh - it was hockey played by some of the best players in the world. I will always gladly watch as much of it as possible.
For it being some contrived tournament - I am ok with it being contrived. All tournaments (or at least many) or contrived to start. History adds significance to them. As long as the NHL doesn't decide to axe this tournament and restart it in 10 years or more, then I feel it will just grow into an important tournament.
I also hope that this doesn't replace the Olympics. Look at international football - there are many league and international tournaments. Champions League every year (NHL Playoffs is where I draw the similarity), and then they have the World Cup every 4 years (Canada can start doing this now) and then the European Championships every 4 years as well, without mentioning the other continental championships (Olympics).
There really isn't any good reason to replace the Olympics with the World Cup. Seriously, why can't we have both? Every two years you get to watch high-level international competition that helps to grow the game world wide. I think it would be short-sighted of the NHL to pull itself out of the Olympics - though something has to give on the IOC end.
As a hockey fan, I can't get enough of hockey. I love soccer, but I don't have time to follow league play regularly, but there is no way I miss the World Cup and European Championship. I am sure that there must be some hard core soccer fans who also like the NHL, but are limited to big international tournaments mostly. The more hockey you show people internationally, the bigger the game gets, the more kids join hockey, and the better the game will become down the road (at least in theory).
It all comes down to money as you well know. In soccer the Champions League, World Cup and Continental Cups (ie Euro or Copa America) are cash tournaments. The Federation that wins the World Cup gets 40 Million dollars and that gets split between the players and some goes into grassroots (or into an executives pockets).
The NHL could never have a Champions League because where would the money go in a salary cap world? The Pittsburgh Penguins win the Champions League and get prize money? Then what? That's not fair in a parity league. In soccer it's all cash. I read a stat that Dundalk's (Irish Champions) earnings for one Europa League win yesterday were €3.08m, same as winning every domestic league until 2044!
Another issue is insurance. Johnny Gaudreau had the option to buy his own insurance. That's weird. In soccer again insurance goes to the club team because they are required to release the player for international matches. So if Messi goes and plays for Argentina in October and gets hurt, Barcelona will get some money. Of course the Barcelona fan will still be stiffed but that's the price of being a fan.
So for Olympic soccer, there is no prize money, no insurance and no requirement for teams to release players. It's a U23 tournament where the best U23s aren't even there. So really a hodgepodge tournament.
As you said something has to give on the IOC end. IOC is actually giving less to the NHL then in 2014. No way the owners go this time unless something changes.
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