Ice Hockey World Cup

[Asmodean]

So...the IHWC faces off tonight. Who do you fancy?

I think the Czech's might just be the team to watch this year. And of course I will be holding my breath hoping that Denmark is not relegated. But we start off with Russia

Asmodean

[Kontiki]

I don't even understand why this farce of a tournament still exists.

[Asmodean]

You mean in relation to the Stanley Cup?

Asmodean

[LordShiva]

Russia

Serb

[Asmodean]

You'll excuse if I don't share your enthusiasm, LS But Russia lead 8-1 after the second period

I knew we would lose, of course. But this thrashing, I could have done without.

Asmodean

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Asmodean
You'll excuse if I don't share your enthusiasm, LS

Not even for The Return of Serb?

[Asmodean]

Originally posted by LordShiva


Not even for The Return of Serb?

I actually am not familiar with the story behind Serb. But until I know the details, let it suffice to say that I would not be against his return

Asmodean

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Asmodean
You mean in relation to the Stanley Cup?

Asmodean

It just doesn't showcase the best talent of, well, anything. You basically get the NHLers out of the playoffs who want to go. If you want the best overall talent, you've got the Olympics and/or Canada Cup and if you want juniors, you've got the World Juniors and Under 18 tournaments. The so called "World Cup" is just a collection of NHL players who have nothing better to do, whether that's the playoffs or simply sitting on the beach relaxing somewhere, and some Euro club players who aren't good enough to make the NHL in the first place.

[Asmodean]

Well, I can't obviously speak for other countries, but for Denmark, those of our players that can attend are there.

Of our 2 NHL players, 1 is there. And the other one is still involved in the play-offs.

For most of the european countries, anyway, most players want to play for their country, and they join as soon as their respective NHL teams are out.

Asmodean

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Asmodean
For most of the european countries, anyway, most players want to play for their country, and they join as soon as their respective NHL teams are out.

Not as much as you might think. I can give you quite the list of eligible Euros who aren't participating for one reason or another.

Which isn't to say that you aren't getting some decent NHL talent, but rather it's just a secondary diversion. The mere fact that most teams are waiting for NHL teams to get knocked out of the playoffs in order to strengthen their roster pretty much says it all. At the absolute minimum, they should move the tournament until after the NHL playoffs are done, or better still move the dates and not hold it anually. That way, you'll have better participation and it will mean a little more.

[Asher]

NHLers in the tourney:

Austria: none

Belarus: none

Canada: Colby Armstrong, Eric Brewer, Mike Cammalleri, Jason Chimera, Mike Commodore, Shane Doan, Dan Hamhuis, Barret Jackman, Matt Lombardi, Chris Mason, Jamal Mayers, Jay McClement, Rick Nash, Dwayne Roloson, Nick Schultz, Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Cam Ward, Shea Weber, Justin Williams

Czech Republic: Petr Cajanek, Zbynek Michalek, Jiri Novotny, Rostislav Olesz, Tomas Plekanec, Ladislav Smid, Petr Tenkrat, David Vyborny, Marek Zidlicky

Denmark: Frans Nielsen

Finland: Niko Kapanen, Mikko Koivu, Lasse Kukkonen, Jere Lehtinen, Kari Lehtonen, Fredrik Norrena, Petteri Nummelin, Ville Peltonen, Jarkko Ruutu, Tuomo Ruutu

Germany: none

Italy: none

Latvia: none

Norway: Patrick Thoresen

Russia: Alex Frolov, Sergei Gonchar, Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin, Andrei Markov, Alex Ovechkin, Alex Radulov

Slovakia: Zdeno Chara, Jaroslav Halak, Milan Jurcina, Miroslav Satan

Sweden: Alex Steen

Switzerland: David Aebischer, Mark Streit

Ukraine: none

USA: Andrew Alberts, Tyler Arnason, Jason Bacashihua, David Backes, Keith Ballard, Brandon Bochenski, Chris Clark, Erik Cole, John Grahame, Matt Greene, Adam Hall, Andrew Hutchinson, Jack Johnson, Phil Kessel, Chad Larose, Toby Peterson, Brian Pothier, Paul Stastny, Lee Stempniak, Ryan Suter

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Kontiki


Not as much as you might think. I can give you quite the list of eligible Euros who aren't participating for one reason or another.

Which isn't to say that you aren't getting some decent NHL talent, but rather it's just a secondary diversion. The mere fact that most teams are waiting for NHL teams to get knocked out of the playoffs in order to strengthen their roster pretty much says it all. At the absolute minimum, they should move the tournament until after the NHL playoffs are done, or better still move the dates and not hold it anually. That way, you'll have better participation and it will mean a little more.

Not every tournament needs to be about bringing the best of the Canadians, Americans, Russians, Czechs, Swedes and Fins.

[Asmodean]

Asher, I'm not going to quote that long list....but it is actually longer than I would have imagined.

35 NHL players from countries other than USA and Canada. I thought the number was closer to 20

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asmodean
Asher, I'm not going to quote that long list....but it is actually longer than I would have imagined.

35 NHL players from countries other than USA and Canada. I thought the number was closer to 20

I was surprised at how few Swedes there were on that list as opposed to say the Finns

I don't mind this tourney but its no test of the elite level. It should be good hockey though. Even second tier all-stars are fine players

[Flubber]

Oh ya

SIXTEEN teams ???????


Thats just silly. Put the top 8 in this tourney and send the next 8 back to the B pool to fight with Japan