2016 World Cup of Hockey

[GirlySports]

The sentiment in this thread is not surprising. It's really hard to reboot something after 12 years (and after 8 years before that). Peoples viewing habits change. And that's on the NHL.

[lazypucker]

With China getting the Winter Olympics in 2022, I think they will push hard (with $$$) to get NHL players to play there.

But again, I do think the World Cup and Olympics can co-exist (both with NHL players) if they are done right.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Interesting to see the variance of opinion on this. Some hate the made-up teams, some thought TNA was the only compelling part.

For me, the thing that made it less compelling was that it wasn't overly competitive. Team Canada was expected to win, and they did. However, the issue isn't because it is hockey in September, or that the tournament is somehow a "made-up" tournament and a cash grab. Of course it is a made up tournament and a cash grab. They all are, including the Olympics.

It would have been different had it been more competitive. The 72 Summit Series was made up and presumably a cash grab (although I don't know who got paid, Eagleson?). Awesome because the Russians took it to Canada, when no one expected it. How about the New Year's Eve game of USSR vs Canadiens? (maybe 1980 or so?). Awesome game, and I HATE the Canadiens. Best in-arena experience I ever had was the 1984 Canada cup, where I was fortunate to be there for the semi against the USSR. Incredible game, incredible atmosphere for a made up tournament and cash grab. So good, I was actually cheering for Paul Coffey. Too bad nothing like that captured our imaginations this time around, but I don't think it is the concept that is to blame.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

I doubt that, even the media seemed fatigued about the event. The players seemed to be into it, not so much the fans. As it was the attendance was very poor for the first final game agains the EU team.

Out side of Toronto this gets Hitmen size crowds.

come on now this is a sellout in most canadian markets

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Interesting to see the variance of opinion on this. Some hate the made-up teams, some thought TNA was the only compelling part.

For me, the thing that made it less compelling was that it wasn't overly competitive. Team Canada was expected to win, and they did. However, the issue isn't because it is hockey in September, or that the tournament is somehow a "made-up" tournament and a cash grab. Of course it is a made up tournament and a cash grab. They all are, including the Olympics.

It would have been different had it been more competitive. The 72 Summit Series was made up and presumably a cash grab (although I don't know who got paid, Eagleson?). Awesome because the Russians took it to Canada, when no one expected it. How about the New Year's Eve game of USSR vs Canadiens? (maybe 1980 or so?). Awesome game, and I HATE the Canadiens. Best in-arena experience I ever had was the 1984 Canada cup, where I was fortunate to be there for the semi against the USSR. Incredible game, incredible atmosphere for a made up tournament and cash grab. So good, I was actually cheering for Paul Coffey. Too bad nothing like that captured our imaginations this time around, but I don't think it is the concept that is to blame.

We just need the Soviets back. Maybe China or North Korea will be good, ha!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I don't think this is remarkably difficult to solve.

8 team World Cup of Hockey tournament every 4 years. Develop play in so that no more fake teams are involved. Maintain 2 year interval from Olympic years.

Olympics every 4 years.

World Championships every year and people can continue to only pay some attention due to the crappy timing in relation to the NHL playoffs.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't think this is remarkably difficult to solve.

8 team World Cup of Hockey tournament every 4 years. Develop play in so that no more fake teams are involved. Maintain 2 year interval from Olympic years.

Olympics every 4 years.

World Championships every year and people can continue to only pay some attention due to the crappy timing in relation to the NHL playoffs.

I think they should keep the U23, with some wrinkles - national teams get right of first refusal. Gaudreau not being on Team USA was a joke and put them at a big disadvantage. Any U23 player who isn't selected by his national team can play for the kids.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I'd say save the U23 type stuff for the All Star Game.

If a player is that good, they should make their country's roster on merit alone. There will be the occasional snub, but that happens all the time anyway. Half the fun is arguing about show should have made team Canada in the first place.

[polak]

Originally Posted by dino7c

come on now this is a sellout in most canadian markets

You could by tickets on stubhub for $60 for elimination games. It wasn't a sell out in real terms.

[Vinny01]

The more mic time the FAN gives to Will Nault the more of a complete idiot I think he is. He is promoting shutting down the league midseason to have a World Cup

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The more mic time the FAN gives to Will Nault the more of a complete idiot I think he is. He is promoting shutting down the league midseason to have a World Cup

Not that I love that option, but is there a better time? Having it in September, right before the regular season, doesn't feel any better. And if you put it in April/May you have the same problem the IIHF World's have, the best players are still playing in the playoffs.

In some ways, instead of doing a country-vs-country tournament, I wonder if a better option would be to create a tournament out of the best teams from each league. For example, after the Stanley Cup ends in June, you could do a tournament with the winners of the NHL, KHL, DEL, SM-Liiga, etc.

[Weitz]

No fans are going to support a tournament that is ran by the NHL that stops the season. In fact I would be mad.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The more mic time the FAN gives to Will Nault the more of a complete idiot I think he is. He is promoting shutting down the league midseason to have a World Cup

Dumb.

One of the biggest reasons the league likes the world cup and not the olympics is the timing.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Not that I love that option, but is there a better time? Having it in September, right before the regular season, doesn't feel any better. And if you put it in April/May you have the same problem the IIHF World's have, the best players are still playing in the playoffs.

In some ways, instead of doing a country-vs-country tournament, I wonder if a better option would be to create a tournament out of the best teams from each league. For example, after the Stanley Cup ends in June, you could do a tournament with the winners of the NHL, KHL, DEL, SM-Liiga, etc.

who gets the money?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by JerryUnderscore

Not that I love that option, but is there a better time? Having it in September, right before the regular season, doesn't feel any better. And if you put it in April/May you have the same problem the IIHF World's have, the best players are still playing in the playoffs.

In some ways, instead of doing a country-vs-country tournament, I wonder if a better option would be to create a tournament out of the best teams from each league. For example, after the Stanley Cup ends in June, you could do a tournament with the winners of the NHL, KHL, DEL, SM-Liiga, etc.

Unlike soccer, hockey doesn't have the talent spread across multiple leagues to make this remotely interesting.

The best team in the NHL is going to beat every other team in that crowd, every time. It would be like having the Broncos play the Eskimos.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Unlike soccer, hockey doesn't have the talent spread across multiple leagues to make this remotely interesting.

The best team in the NHL is going to beat every other team in that crowd, every time. It would be like having the Broncos play the Eskimos.

yup but it's gotta start somewhere. The more the NHL wins the more the other teams will find ways to stop it.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

yup but it's gotta start somewhere. The more the NHL wins the more the other teams will find ways to stop it.

How would they do that? No team in SM-LIGA is going to outbid an NHL team to sign Erik Karlsson. The KHL could barely attract malcontent players like Kovalchuk and Radulov.

When one league controls 99% of the game's elite talent, a Champion's Cup sort of tournament is impossible.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

How would they do that? No team in SM-LIGA is going to outbid an NHL team to sign Erik Karlsson. The KHL could barely attract malcontent players like Kovalchuk and Radulov.

When one league controls 99% of the game's elite talent, a Champion's Cup sort of tournament is impossible.

I don't know. perhaps in 10 years they could develop more talent? Develop a tactic of some sort. I just like seeing teams try. Once there is a path somebody finds a way. Nobody cares now cause there is no path.

[JerryUnderscore]

This summer my buddy and I watched almost every game of the Euro Cup. Watching Iceland go on their epic run and watching England lose in embarrassment was all part of the fun.

If the World Cup is going to continue as a best-on-best tournament, you need to allow countries to qualify as well as host it outside North America.

Latvia will never win the World Cup of Hockey, but how excited would people get if they pulled off an upset against the US and went on a bit of a cinderella run?

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I'd say save the U23 type stuff for the All Star Game.

If a player is that good, they should make their country's roster on merit alone. There will be the occasional snub, but that happens all the time anyway. Half the fun is arguing about show should have made team Canada in the first place.

Agreed. I was a big World Cup backer going into this tourney, was too young for 87, but I loved the 91, 96 and 04 versions. And I just couldn't get into this one which I didn't expect, I think a big part of it was the Franken-teams.

As much fun as NA was, it really did pull most of the fun nationalism out of it for me. I just couldn't get it out of my head that both Canada and especially the US weren't at their absolute best on best, when they played that did not feel like a usual "Canada vs USA" game because of it. They need to get rid of those teams if they want it to feel like a real best on best international tourney, and not just a fun exhibition tourney, which is kind of what it felt like in the end.

Plus, too many pre-tourney games, unnecessary best of 3 final, and not enough round robin and playoff games. And hold it in more places than just Toronto the entire time (in 04 weren't the round robin games held all over the world? Like home teams were actually playing at home? That was cool). If they really aren't going to the Olys anymore, I still think this could be a success. It just needs a total reformatting.