World cup of hockey

[The_Squid]

The Olympics are what matters for international hockey now.

[Boges]

The Olympics are what matters for international hockey now.

Assuming it ever returns.

[Boges]

Why was the Canada-cup buried? It was a perfect workable format and the tournaments were classic. Especially the 1987 finals.

The first 2 World Cups were done in the spirit of the Canada Cup.

Not this abomination.

[-TSS-]

The tournament lacks tradition therefore it has no prestige.

[overthere]

The Olympics are what matters for international hockey now.

Wrong tense: it used to matter. Sochi is the last Oly hockey you'll see for about 12 years.

I am no fan of Bettman, and the benefactors of this 'World Cup' will be mostly the NHLPA.

But I also see their point(the NHL and NHLPA). The NHL does want to market itself internationally, and has sacrificed a lot of money to be at previous Olympics. But the blame for their absence in the next couple of Olympics sits squarely on the ignorant greedheads at the IOC. They seem determined to screw themselves. Oh well.

[overthere]

Why was the Canada-cup buried? It was a perfect workable format and the tournaments were classic. Especially the 1987 finals.

Because nobody outside Canada watched the Canada Cup. The NHL wanted to grow the game internationally, and true international hoickey started going to the Olympics in 1992 when pro players were permitted. Of course, all the Russians and others pre-1992 were pros, but everybody pretended otherwise.

The Olympics made the Canada Cup redundant, it was the venue the NHL could use.

[-TSS-]

I wouldn't say that. The Canada cup was a very popular tournament because it was effectively the "real" world championships.

[overthere]

I wouldn't say that. The Canada cup was a very popular tournament because it was effectively the "real" world championships.

It had -like most hockey- very, very little appeal outside Canada. Or do you mean "World Famous in Canada"? It wasn't even televised outside Canada, and was nothing of the sort as a world championship. Even the World Championships are not really that, mostly leftovers from teams that didn't make the Stanley Cup playoffs, and kids/borderline players who are not good enough to make the NHL.

Even the World Juniors, which is wonderful hockey, is largely ignored outside Canada. The stands are empty when the host is not Canada, and nobody except Canada watches outside the host country.

There is no doubt that the Olympics were of great benefit to the NHL, but now the IOC and IIHF have killed the golden goose. Oh well.

[-TSS-]

I remember watching those classic 1987 Canada Cup finals on TV so they were televised at least in Finland. Ican't remember was it only the finals or the whole tournament.

[Boges]

I remember watching those classic 1987 Canada Cup finals on TV so they were televised at least in Finland. Ican't remember was it only the finals or the whole tournament.

Will this one be televised in Finland?

I know in the US, ESPN is making it's return to hockey by showing the tournament.

Rogers (The National NHL rights holders in Canada) are nauseatingly promoting this stupid tournament.

[-TSS-]

Not sure to be honest. At least the 1996 and 2004 tournaments of Finland's matches were televised.

[-TSS-]

The Canada Cup was played five times, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991. Canada won four of those tournaments and the Soviet Union won one in 1981 which was certainly a sweet victory for them.

Of course they belittled the tournament when they didn't win it but the 1987 finals were probably the most classic series ever been played.

[overthere]

The Canada Cup was played five times, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1987 and 1991. Canada won four of those tournaments and the Soviet Union won one in 1981 which was certainly a sweet victory for them.

Of course they belittled the tournament when they didn't win it but the 1987 finals were probably the most classic series ever been played.

I reckon the last few Olympics were better hockey.

[-TSS-]

I disagree. Except for the 2010 Vancouver-games the Olympic hockey has been in the big rink when as the Canada Cup/World Cup has been in the small rink. Hockey is just so much better in the small rink.

And this is coming from a European. Others may disagree and it is their right but I won't budge.

[overthere]

I disagree. Except for the 2010 Vancouver-games the Olympic hockey has been in the big rink when as the Canada Cup/World Cup has been in the small rink. Hockey is just so much better in the small rink.

And this is coming from a European. Others may disagree and it is their right but I won't budge.

I don't agree that the size of the rink defines the quality of hockey. Ever.

[-TSS-]

Can young American or Canadian players play for their respective teams if they are good enough to be included in those teams or are they forced to play for that hybrid-team?

[Boges]

Can young American or Canadian players play for their respective teams if they are good enough to be included in those teams or are they forced to play for that hybrid-team?

I think some of the American Young Guns could probably make it on the USA squad (Matthews, Eichel) But I doubt the likes of Max Domi or Connor McDavid would have made a Team Canada team.

[overthere]

Can young American or Canadian players play for their respective teams if they are good enough to be included in those teams or are they forced to play for that hybrid-team?

No, they are forced to play for the hybrid team. There is no doubt that Connor McDavid would have played for Team Canada, and nearly as certainly Eichel for USA. Both are exceptional players right now, and equally as important is that both are huge marketing tools for the NHL because they are clearly 'future of the game' players. Marketing of this 'World Cup' is really important to both the NHL and NHLPA, they will announce that the NHL is not going to the next Olympics and this tourney is there effort to continue to market the game globally. But the only country that can host this event and make money is going to be Canada(just like the World Juniors).

Domi is not good enough to make the North America team. Matthews would not have made the USA team, he has yet to prove that he can play at an NHL level.

[Boges]

No, they are forced to play for the hybrid team. There is no doubt that Connor McDavid would have played for Team Canada, and nearly as certainly Eichel for USA. Both are exceptional players right now, and equally as important is that both are huge marketing tools for the NHL because they are clearly 'future of the game' players. Marketing of this 'World Cup' is really important to both the NHL and NHLPA, they will announce that the NHL is not going to the next Olympics and this tourney is there effort to continue to market the game globally. But the only country that can host this event and make money is going to be Canada(just like the World Juniors).

Domi is not good enough to make the North America team. Matthews would not have made the USA team, he has yet to prove that he can play at an NHL level.

Therefore, this tournament isn't best-on-best. It's a fake novelty that I hope fails miserably. I feel zero of the national pride for this tournament.

I hope TSS's Finland team wins.

[-TSS-]

The sad truth is that there arent eight decent national hockey-teams in the world. The hockey-bosses would be delighted if a country like Germany became a seriously taken hockey-country but while we are waiting for that to happen we have to make do with what we have got.

[overthere]

Therefore, this tournament isn't best-on-best. It's a fake novelty that I hope fails miserably. I feel zero of the national pride for this tournament.

I hope TSS's Finland team wins.

I cheer for Finland when Canada is not playing. They play a wonderful style of grit and speed and relentless work. Many years they have not had enough depth to compete at the very top, lately they have done very well indeed.

I also hate the way Sweden usually plays- one goal and they revert to a full trap. Blah.

[overthere]

The sad truth is that there arent eight decent national hockey-teams in the world. The hockey-bosses would be delighted if a country like Germany became a seriously taken hockey-country but while we are waiting for that to happen we have to make do with what we have got.

None of these teams will be at the level of suck you see in the Olympic qualifying tournaments with teams like Latvia, Norway, Austria and Slovenia. And it won't be at the extraordianary level of hockey seen in the Olympic semifinals with the final four teams. It will have many of the same players, but there is no way this World Cup will have the same level of intensity from the players.

There are pretty close to eight teams: US, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czechs, Canada and you;d now have to include Switzerland because they scare the crap out of big teams every time now.

[-TSS-]

Perhaps, you're right. If there is a team in the NHL which would lose all its 82 games like 8-0 or something like that it would be a problem and that team wouldn't belong there but here we are talking about three games. Not a big deal.

Besides only Canada could thrash Germany or Switzerland by such a large margin. Finland or Sweden certainly couldn't.

[Boges]

Perhaps, you're right. If there is a team in the NHL which would lose all its 82 games like 8-0 or something like that it would be a problem and that team wouldn't belong there but here we are talking about three games. Not a big deal.

Besides only Canada could thrash Germany or Switzerland by such a large margin. Finland or Sweden certainly couldn't.

But recent evidence doesn't back up your claim. Belarus beat Sweden in 2002, The Swiss beat Canada in 2006 and took them to a shoot out in 2010. Latvia had Canadian fans about to jump off a building in 2014. Upsets happen. Largely because these smaller non NHL heavy nations play together more often and teams like Canada and the US are just glorified All-Star teams that aren't used to playing together. I remember Slovenia having a great Olympic tournament in 2014 for their first time in the Olympics.

No one things The Ivory Coast, Honduras, Japan or even the United State have any shot to win the Soccer World Cup but they still get to qualify and play.

[-TSS-]

The group-division is no co-incidence; Canada and the USA just must proceed to the semi-finals. Hence the Czechs who are just a shadow of their former selves and the European team which is a joke.

The other group is a real group of death with Finland, Sweden, Russia and North-America.

I have very little confidence for Finland making it to the top two of that group. They may even finish last.