[GT] 2019 IIHF World Championships (May 10-26)

[bigrangy]

It’s not the Flames hockey you want to watch in May but at least it’ll help pass the time until the draft.

The tournament is being held in Slovakia, so fans of morning and afternoon hockey can expect a lot of it.


One bit of Flames related news so far:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1119667170923794432

I suppose he can take this one off after leading the Swedes to victory in last year’s tourney

Aside from Backlund, the following Flames players may attend

Canada
Monahan
Smith
Brodie
Giordano
Hamonic
Mangiapane
Jankowski
Bennett
Dubé

USA
Gaudreau
Tkachuk
Hanifin
Ryan

Sweden
Lindholm
Kylington
Andersson
Fantenberg

Finland
Valimaki

Czech Republic
Frolik
Rittich

Slovakia
Ruzicka
Pospisil


Most of these guys are longshots, but I could reasonably see 4 or 5 attendees as opposed to the 3 that Calgary sent last year. Personally I’m really hoping Bennett, Kylington, and Andersson get invites. Hopefully Gio goes as well, but he has turned them down in the past.

I’m very interested to see if Brady and Matt Tkachuk end up both going for the USA, have them flank a Larkin or Eichel and that could be something to watch.

Russia should be be the team to beat with Malkin and Kucherov but there’s always some good stories and it should be a great tournament.

[bigrangy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1119701168043646986

Lindholm will be a big loss for the Swedes if he can’t go.

[bigrangy]

Another confirmed absence:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1120372880473083904

[Scary Eloranta]

The Worlds are a huge waste of time IMO. Why put your health on the line for a tournament that has no meaning (well I suppose some Euros care).

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

The Worlds are a huge waste of time IMO. Why put your health on the line for a tournament that has no meaning (well I suppose some Euros care).

By that logic all sports are a huge waste of time.

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

By that logic all sports are a huge waste of time.

I only meant THAT tournament in particular.

[bigrangy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1120378349287690240

First confirmation, though from the Francis follow up tweet in the garbage bag day thread, he may not be a Flame by the time the tourney is over.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

I only meant THAT tournament in particular.

And THAT tournament is different from all other sports how exactly?

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

And THAT tournament is different from all other sports how exactly?

Because 99% of hockey fans don't care about it and NHL clubs hate it if they have a star player injured in it.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

By that logic all sports are a huge waste of time.

Maybe but if I got paid millions of dollars to do something that had an inherent health risk...I probably wouldn't ever do it for free

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

And THAT tournament is different from all other sports how exactly?

It's not best on best.

[bigrangy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1120385666620084224

No Hamonic

Also strange that he has received an invitiation and declined, whereas Gio said he has not received an invite. On that basis, it sounds unlikely that Gio will go as well.

[Haplo]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

I only meant THAT tournament in particular.

Is there a better international tournament currently? The last World Cup was a joke and the Olympics had no NHL players at all.

[Scary Eloranta]

Originally Posted by Haplo

Is there a better international tournament currently? The last World Cup was a joke and the Olympics had no NHL players at all.

Great point, although I'm sure NHL players will be at the next Olympics.The World Cup can go away completely as far as I'm concerned. I've always been indifferent to the World Championships because it's not best on best and its on at the same time as Stanley Cup playoffs. If others love it, then great.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Haplo

Is there a better international tournament currently? The last World Cup was a joke and the Olympics had no NHL players at all.

How could anyone say that this tournament is better than the World Cup!?

The World Cup was awesome

[bigrangy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1120394999298953216

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Scary Eloranta

Because 99% of hockey fans don't care about it and NHL clubs hate it if they have a star player injured in it.

And? 99% of people don’t care about the nhl and it’s still relevant.

Originally Posted by dino7c

Maybe but if I got paid millions of dollars to do something that had an inherent health risk...I probably wouldn't ever do it for free

And that somehow makes it irrelevant?

Originally Posted by GioforPM

It's not best on best.

So? Lots of sports/leagues/tournaments aren’t best on best, it doesn’t make them irrelevant.

[Haplo]

Originally Posted by Tyler

How could anyone say that this tournament is better than the World Cup!?

The World Cup was awesome

I had zero emotional investment in that tournament with a North America and Europe team involved. Who cares if Team Canada or Sweden loses out to one of those teams. At least the World Championships has history, country vs country rivalries and fun underdog stories like Switzerland last year.

[868904]

Love to see the young players go like Anderson, Kylington, Valimaki, Hanifin.

Would be nice to see Bennett go for Canada. He needs to have his eyes opened a bit to realize his potential.

[bigrangy]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1121500066978512896

Someone who can read swedish can correct me, but I am told that this says that Elias Lindholm is going to Slovakia.