2016 World Cup of Hockey

[polak]

Originally Posted by Matata

Olympic hockey is great, but i have no problems with the world cup replacing it, it just seems to make a lot more sense: no team has to worry about star players getting hurt later in the season; getting all the star players to play in a tournament is a great way to hype the upcoming season; the quality of play so far has been on par with the olympics round robin; It's great to see team Canada more than once every 4 years and team NA is a great way to see how the young stars stack up against each other.

It doesn't make sense until every player plays for their own country and every country has a shot at qualifying. You know... like a WORLD cup should be? It's a joke that the NHL just decides who is worthy of being in it. A World Cup should never be an Invitational.

It should follow the same qualifying process as the World Championship and Olympics (There are a bunch of DIVs below the top division where teams try and win to get promoted).



And there should be ZERO bias towards taking NHL players and ZERO influence from the NHL regarding individual nations management.

Until it follows that call this the NHL Invitational Cup or some BS.

[HotHotHeat]

Mark spector with a garbage piece of writing on McDavid. Apparently no one is good enough to play with him

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/world...geron-mcdavid/

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Mark spector with a garbage piece of writing on McDavid. Apparently no one is good enough to play with him

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/world...geron-mcdavid/

McDavid is not the problem, it's the rest of the team that can't keep up with the Phenom. Remember guys, when McDavid goes on a 3 on 2, tries to deke out the opposing player with his great speed instead of passing and shoots wide of the net while being pushed to the outside, it's the rest of the team that is the problem.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by HotHotHeat

Mark spector with a garbage piece of writing on McDavid. Apparently no one is good enough to play with him

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/world...geron-mcdavid/

Didnt someone once say the same thing about Sven Beartschi?

"He isnt terrible, no one else can keep up with his awesomeness."

Yeah....no.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Mark Spector

Jonathan Drouin and Mark Scheifele gave way to the sexy duo of Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau. That worked so well that McDavid skated into the third pre-tournament game flanked by Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon.

Come on, it did work out well. Johnny Gaudreau, who is most definitely not Connor McDavid, was on that line, and finished the game with four points. He was the game's first star.

But I guess everything is a failure if it doesn't work out well for McDavid. Here's something to think about: maybe McDavid isn't the best player on his team? That night, he wasn't even the second-best player on his line. Honestly.

[Reaper]

People are getting way too hung up on the Under 23 North America, and Europe teams. They won't be at the next World Cup of Hockey. The NHL already said that the only reason that the two teams exist is that there was not enough time to plan and schedule a seeding tournament to determine the final two teams.

I get that it isn't a great setup but people seem to be unable to get past how much they dislike it. Is it weird? Yes. Is it perfect? No. Everyone needs to chill and accept that things aren't exactly how they want them. It seems odd to get bent out of shape out of a non-IIHF sanctioned pre-season tournament designed to make money for the NHL & NHLPA. Relax, its just a game.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Reaper

People are getting way too hung up on the Under 23 North America, and Europe teams. They won't be at the next World Cup of Hockey. The NHL already said that the only reason that the two teams exist is that there was not enough time to plan and schedule a seeding tournament to determine the final two teams.

I get that it isn't a great setup but people seem to be unable to get past how much they dislike it. Is it weird? Yes. Is it perfect? No. Everyone needs to chill and accept that things aren't exactly how they want them. It seems odd to get bent out of shape out of a non-IIHF sanctioned pre-season tournament designed to make money for the NHL & NHLPA. Relax, its just a game.

The only reason people are getting worked up is because they're tossing around the idea of replacing the Olympic hockey tournament with this nonsense.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by polak

It doesn't make sense until every player plays for their own country and every country has a shot at qualifying. You know... like a WORLD cup should be? It's a joke that the NHL just decides who is worthy of being in it. A World Cup should never be an Invitational.

It should follow the same qualifying process as the World Championship and Olympics (There are a bunch of DIVs below the top division where teams try and win to get promoted).

And there should be ZERO bias towards taking NHL players and ZERO influence from the NHL regarding individual nations management.

Until it follows that call this the NHL Invitational Cup or some BS.

It a shame that the NHL doesn't start it's season 2 weeks early then more players can go to the World Championships (ie. anyone not in the Stanley Cup Final). There is a World Championship format right there, don't even need a World Cup or Olympics.

But since the NHL can't control it, it's doesn't give two hoots about it.

Originally Posted by Reaper

People are getting way too hung up on the Under 23 North America, and Europe teams. They won't be at the next World Cup of Hockey. The NHL already said that the only reason that the two teams exist is that there was not enough time to plan and schedule a seeding tournament to determine the final two teams.

I personally love that the NA U23 team is in it but that reasoning from the NHL is totally bunk. Who forced them to have the tournament this year? It could have been the 2017 World Cup. They wanted McDavid in it.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by polak

It doesn't make sense until every player plays for their own country and every country has a shot at qualifying. You know... like a WORLD cup should be? It's a joke that the NHL just decides who is worthy of being in it. A World Cup should never be an Invitational.

It should follow the same qualifying process as the World Championship and Olympics (There are a bunch of DIVs below the top division where teams try and win to get promoted).

And there should be ZERO bias towards taking NHL players and ZERO influence from the NHL regarding individual nations management.

Until it follows that call this the NHL Invitational Cup or some BS.

Nothing is going to be perfect, but given the two options, I prefer the annual tournament . None of the top teams are too far off what they'd be if it wasn't NHL centric and it gives players the best opportunity to compete for their country by being a pre season tournament. If any of the team EU countries had a realistic shot at the top 4, they'd be competing on their own and Team EU gets more stars into the tournament overall. Countries like Slovenia may not get a fair shake under this system, but we all know the countries that matter. If Slovenia, or whoever, really gets their act together and could field a competitive team, they'd get consideration at that time.

e: just read about that they intend to do seeding in the future, thins out some of my arguments but I'm going to let it stand.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by polak

The only reason people are getting worked up is because they're tossing around the idea of replacing the Olympic hockey tournament with this nonsense.

Okay, so assuming no gimmick teams, tell me what the difference is between a World Cup and an Olympic tournament.

Do you know the time difference between Seoul and Calgary is 15 hours? At 4:55 pm Thursday, it's 7:55 in the morning Friday.

I barely made it out of bed for the gold medal game in Sochi. I'm not adjusting my life by 15 hours for a hockey tournament when we can throw one in Toronto or New York, get the same calibre of play, and call it a day.

The Vancouver gold medal game drew 15 million viewers in Canada. The Sochi gold medal game (at 5am) drew 5.7M. The Seoul Olympics will be watched by friends and family.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Okay, so assuming no gimmick teams, tell me what the difference is between a World Cup and an Olympic tournament.

Do you know the time difference between Seoul and Calgary is 15 hours? At 4:55 pm Thursday, it's 7:55 in the morning Friday.

I barely made it out of bed for the gold medal game in Sochi. I'm not adjusting my life by 15 hours for a hockey tournament when we can throw one in Toronto or New York, get the same calibre of play, and call it a day.

The Vancouver gold medal game drew 15 million viewers in Canada. The Sochi gold medal game (at 5am) drew 5.7M. The Seoul Olympics will be watched by friends and family.

If it is a "World" cup, then why would it always be in North America?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Cappy

If it is a "World" cup, then why would it always be in North America?

Because that's where all the hockey fans are.

[polak]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Okay, so assuming no gimmick teams, tell me what the difference is between a World Cup and an Olympic tournament.

Do you know the time difference between Seoul and Calgary is 15 hours? At 4:55 pm Thursday, it's 7:55 in the morning Friday.

I barely made it out of bed for the gold medal game in Sochi. I'm not adjusting my life by 15 hours for a hockey tournament when we can throw one in Toronto or New York, get the same calibre of play, and call it a day.

The Vancouver gold medal game drew 15 million viewers in Canada. The Sochi gold medal game (at 5am) drew 5.7M. The Seoul Olympics will be watched by friends and family.

Welcome to what every non-North American major sport fan has to deal with all the time?

The difference is the following the tournament has. The prestige. What's the point of winning a world cup if the world doesn't actually give a ####? It's going to be awesome when Canada beats the US or Sweden and you talk to an American or a Swede about your country's epic win in the World Cup and they won't even know what you're talking about.

If you keep this tournament NHL centric, and don't include proper countries and let them develop (ala Switzerland), and if you never host the tournament outside of North America, it will never grow into a tournament that matters like the Olympic tournament does.

So to your point, if this ever has the chance to become a legitimate world cup that is a big deal in places like Russia or Czechia, you're going to have to get up at stupid times to watch it anyways. Hell Japan and Korea are both in the division right under the big guys in the IIHF rankings. Maybe they'll host it one day.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by polak

The only reason people are getting worked up is because they're tossing around the idea of replacing the Olympic hockey tournament with this nonsense.

The Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Championship will not be replaced by the World Cup of Hockey. It will still continue on without the involvement of NHL players if, in the event, that happens.

Whatever significance you assign to the World Cup of Hockey is of your own mind. The NHL and NHLPA have not said that the WCOH will be the substitute for NHL pros in Olympic Hockey. However, if NHL pros end up not participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics it will be nice to have an international tournament format at the ready. Until then, try the decaf and enjoy the bonus hockey.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I personally love that the NA U23 team is in it but that reasoning from the NHL is totally bunk. Who forced them to have the tournament this year? It could have been the 2017 World Cup. They wanted McDavid in it.

Us Earthlings don't like international non-annual sporting events in odd numbered years.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Reaper

The Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Championship will not be replaced by the World Cup of Hockey. It will still continue on without the involvement of NHL players if, in the event, that happens.

Whatever significance you assign to the World Cup of Hockey is of your own mind. The NHL and NHLPA have not said that the WCOH will be the substitute for NHL pros in Olympic Hockey. However, if NHL pros end up not participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics it will be nice to have an international tournament format at the ready. Until then, try the decaf and enjoy the bonus hockey.

If they keep NHL'ers at the Olympics, I'm all for this tournament in whatever silly format they want to use.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by polak

If they keep NHL'ers at the Olympics, I'm all for this tournament in whatever silly format they want to use.

You realize that they're not interconnected, eh? The drama...

[polak]

Originally Posted by Reaper

You realize that they're not interconnected, eh? The drama...

I was responding to the comment that the this is a worthy replacement of the Olympics...

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by polak

I was responding to the comment that the this is a worthy replacement of the Olympics...

The that the this projection of the WCOH will replace the Olympics is an assertion made by you not by me. This tournament is about profit generation. Take it for what it is.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by polak

Welcome to what every non-North American major sport fan has to deal with all the time?

The difference is the following the tournament has. The prestige. What's the point of winning a world cup if the world doesn't actually give a ####? It's going to be awesome when Canada beats the US or Sweden and you talk to an American or a Swede about your country's epic win in the World Cup and they won't even know what you're talking about.

If you keep this tournament NHL centric, and don't include proper countries and let them develop (ala Switzerland), and if you never host the tournament outside of North America, it will never grow into a tournament that matters like the Olympic tournament does.

So to your point, if this ever has the chance to become a legitimate world cup that is a big deal in places like Russia or Czechia, you're going to have to get up at stupid times to watch it anyways. Hell Japan and Korea are both in the division right under the big guys in the IIHF rankings. Maybe they'll host it one day.

What's the point of doing anything if the rest of the world doesn't care?

It seems the biggest problem people have with this event is the name. "World Cup". Call it the Canada Cup and move on. But if the IOC isn't going to pay to insure NHL players, I don't see how this is the NHL's fault. Team Canada took $150 million worth of players to Sochi.

Is the NHL really supposed to eat the cost of insuring eight teams, getting no revenue, and shuttering their league for three weeks in the interest of 'exposure'? They're a multi-billion dollar industry, not a freelance writer.