[News] Sean Monahan injured; out for World Cup

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

It is.

It's just that some of the countries will have some of their best players playing against them on jumbled up nation-less teams.

And realistically, how many players are we talking about? How many Team North America players would have made Team Canada or USA?

Gaudreau certainly. Anyone else?

[Soliak]

[nik-]

I don't really understand how someone thinking that this tournament doesn't mean a whole lot equates to whining to some people

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Mike F

And realistically, how many players are we talking about? How many Team North America players would have made Team Canada or USA?

Gaudreau certainly. Anyone else?

McDavid?

Just the fact there are players playing against their own countries rubs me the wrong way.

I don't understand how there is a group of people on here angry that some people aren't as equally excited as they are. I'll watch with a degree of interest, but I'd also watch the Spengler Cup if it was played in September. It's getting to that time of year when I'm jonsin for hockey.

But -especially in Canada- there is always a certain degree of excitement that comes when our best players are going out there battling for true international supremacy. And this tournament just isn't the same. It feels gimmicky. It's not whining, it's just calling it what it is. The fact a large group of people here feel they'd rather see Flames sitting it out as to not get injured just speaks further to that.

If there are those here who are super excited, that's great. There's no need to feel diminished because some aren't viewing it with the same level of excitement and interest.

[TheScorpion]

Eichel probably could've made Team USA.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

McDavid?

Just the fact there are players playing against their own countries rubs me the wrong way.

I don't understand how there is a group of people on here angry that some people aren't as equally excited as they are. I'll watch with a degree of interest, but I'd also watch the Spengler Cup if it was played in September. It's getting to that time of year when I'm jonsin for hockey.

But -especially in Canada- there is always a certain degree of excitement that comes when our best players are going out there battling for true international supremacy. And this tournament just isn't the same. It feels gimmicky. It's not whining, it's just calling it what it is. The fact a large group of people here feel they'd rather see Flames sitting it out as to not get injured just speaks further to that.

If there are those here who are super excited, that's great. There's no need to feel diminished because some aren't viewing it with the same level of excitement and interest.

McDavid is probably good enough but Canada would never have taken him.

Corey Perry didn't make the initial roster - there's no way Yzerman and Babcock take a kid who doesn't have 60 career GP over the other guys who've earned the right to go.

Eichel could have made Team USA. But they also didn't pick Kessel, so who knows.

Gaudreau though, is the only U23 player who's loss might negatively impact his country's chances of winning.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

McDavid?

Just the fact there are players playing against their own countries rubs me the wrong way. . . .

But -especially in Canada- there is always a certain degree of excitement that comes when our best players are going out there battling for true international supremacy. And this tournament just isn't the same. It feels gimmicky. It's not whining, it's just calling it what it is. . . .

So you'd be more excited if the tournament had Canada playing Germany, which would only be close if Germany trapped all of the offense out of the game, because that would be the best Canadians vs. the best Germans, rather than Canada vs. a team of the most exciting young players in the game?

[Zarley]

I don't see any issue with wishing the tournament to fail. The worse it does ratings and attendance wise, the better the chance NHLers continue to attend the Olympics.

Based on that, I hope this contrived gimmick bombs.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Zarley

I don't see any issue with wishing the tournament to fail. The worse it does ratings and attendance wise, the better the chance NHLers continue to attend the Olympics.

Based on that, I hope this contrived gimmick bombs.

You do understand that the Olympics aren't this white knight bringing the games just out of kindness. They want their cut and from what I know they don't pay the NHL or their players much. The NHL and the players do it to promote the game and that's about it.

The World Cup will return money to the NHL and to the Players Association. Yeah I guess it's just another money grab but at least it goes to the people responsible for building the game and not some Irish Olympic committee big wig scalper.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Mike F

So you'd be more excited if the tournament had Canada playing Germany, which would only be close if Germany trapped all of the offense out of the game, because that would be the best Canadians vs. the best Germans, rather than Canada vs. a team of the most exciting young players in the game?

Yes I would.

What you're describing (in recent years) is the Olympics, which is a best on best format with countries playing against one another for true international hockey supremacy with an Olympic gold medal on the line.

The part about one of the possible match-ups in the above mentioned format being Canada against a lesser country in preliminary play takes nothing away from it and is just you being obtuse and or trying to trivialize what I'm getting at.

The fact that this current tournament can come down to a game winning goal against Canada being scored by a group of Canadians takes away some of the grandeur for me.

I fail to see what's so difficult to comprehend about that.

[indes]

I'm in the camp that doesn't take this seriously. Like GoJetsGo said, having a Canadian score goals against team Canada pretty much undermines the legitimacy of the whole tournament. Behind this is players representing "Europe". I'm sure it's been their life goal to win a championship for their continent.

[doctajones428]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

Yes I would.

What you're describing (in recent years) is the Olympics, which is a best on best format with countries playing against one another for true international hockey supremacy with an Olympic gold medal on the line.

The part about one of the possible match-ups in the above mentioned format being Canada against a lesser country in preliminary play takes nothing away from it and is just you being obtuse and or trying to trivialize what I'm getting at.

The fact that this current tournament can come down to a game winning goal against Canada being scored by a group of Canadians takes away some of the grandeur for me.

I fail to see what's so difficult to comprehend about that.

How could Germany vs. Anyone be considered best on best any more than Canada vs. NA? Germany would struggle against most AHL teams, while NA has a legitimate shot at winning the whole damn tournament

It's not the Olympics, it's not trying to be the Olympics and it never will be the Olympics, so why do you feel it should be anything like them? If you don't like the tournament don't watch it and quit trying to ruin it for the people who do like it. Simple.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

It's just an opinion, I don't think they're trying to ruin anything for anyone.

[driveway]

I don't understand why people who are supposedly hockey fans are against the idea of getting to watch more good hockey.

Who the flipping freak cares what's on the jersey if the games are good?

[bubbsy]

My issues with this tournament :
1. It's an attempt to create a national interest similar to the Olympics, without any real history or drama.

2. A tournament setup putting top hockey nations up against one another seems like a good idea I suppose but then what are the team north America and team Europe all about?!?

3. We see a lot of injuries in training camp as players who have trained one way all offseason get into full hockey stuff (pulled tweaked groin, etc). Easing these guys through a month long training camp is one thing but jumping into a tournament like thus right off the bat is another. The injury risks are not worth it for the players from the team I cheer for.

4. I think the above point has a lot to do with more and more players pulling out which also hurts the "best on best" this tournament is supposed to represent.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

My issues with this tournament :
1. It's an attempt to create a national interest similar to the Olympics, without any real history or drama.

2. A tournament setup putting top hockey nations up against one another seems like a good idea I suppose but then what are the team north America and team Europe all about?!?

3. We see a lot of injuries in training camp as players who have trained one way all offseason get into full hockey stuff (pulled tweaked ground, etc). Easing these guys through a month long training camp is one thing but jumping into a tournament like thus right off the bat is another. The injury risks are not worth it for the players from the team I cheer for.

4. I think the above point has a lot to do with more and more players pulling out which also hurts the "best on best" this tournament is supposed to represent.

Good post. To give my 2 cents:

1) would you feel differently if it was called the Canada Cup?
2) Team Europe idea works really well in the Ryder Cup. The concept change for that competition worked perfectly. As for team NA, they are the most interesting team in the tournament
3) when can you do it?
4) no one likes to see players drop out. Of course the '72 series missed a lot of great players due to NHL/ WHA

I see your point in everything. I figure why not give it a chance and see how seriously the players take it? I remember the Canada Cups very fondly. Granted teams weren't in the Olympics then, but I have no issue with more international hockey.

[Zarley]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

You do understand that the Olympics aren't this white knight bringing the games just out of kindness. They want their cut and from what I know they don't pay the NHL or their players much. The NHL and the players do it to promote the game and that's about it.

The World Cup will return money to the NHL and to the Players Association. Yeah I guess it's just another money grab but at least it goes to the people responsible for building the game and not some Irish Olympic committee big wig scalper.

What does that have to do with my comment? I don't care about where the money goes, my problem is that the tournament is a joke with made up teams, no history, and nothing at stake. Players are going to phone it in and the whole thing feels like an overly corporate contrivance being forced upon fans.

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Good post. To give my 2 cents:

1) would you feel differently if it was called the Canada Cup?
2) Team Europe idea works really well in the Ryder Cup. The concept change for that competition worked perfectly. As for team NA, they are the most interesting team in the tournament
3) when can you do it?
4) no one likes to see players drop out. Of course the '72 series missed a lot of great players due to NHL/ WHA

I see your point in everything. I figure why not give it a chance and see how seriously the players take it? I remember the Canada Cups very fondly. Granted teams weren't in the Olympics then, but I have no issue with more international hockey.

Great points. I feel everyone gets prickly discussing this mainly because of Team North America and Team Europe. Like you said, they're the teams generating the most interest. While very gimmicky, it's the most feasible way to ensure all the stars players get a chance to play in the tournament. It'd never work having all the B-list countries play in a qualifying round for the last couple spots, so that means some star players (Kopitar, Chara, Hossa) would never be eligible to make it. Also, longer term, it helps grows the game a bit in Europe when a smaller country has one star on Team Europe they can cheer for, and they actually have a chance to go farther than they otherwise would.

[Enoch Root]

I think the young guys that would have made it are:

McDavid, Gaudreau, Eichel and possibly Ekblad as the #7 to give him the international experience for next time.

[calgarygeologist]

As in NHL tournament, a best on best format should only have four team (Canada, USA, Russia and Europe.) Let them battle for the World Cup.