IIHF WC.

[Asher]

We need another BIG international tournament aside Olympics. But with the attitude of NA players and NHL we'll never get one.
AND THIS IS BAD FOR THE SPORT.
Simple as that.

The World Cup is that tournament.

And this is just your second win against Russia at the Olympics, while Russia beat Canada 11 times, iirc.

The past is the past. Just like your country once was great, it isn't anymore. All that matters is the present.

[ColdWizard]

We need another BIG international tournament aside Olympics. But with the attitude of the Europeans we'll never get one.
AND THIS IS BAD FOR THE SPORT.
Simple as that.

If the IIHF doesn't want the NHL players, the IIHF can continue along as it has been. If the IIHF does want NHL players, it can try to make some changes.

[Serb]

The World Cup is that tournament.

No, it is not. Especially since it doesn't exist anymore.

The past is the past. Just like your country once was great, it isn't anymore. All that matters is the present.

Ok, after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, we meet Canada three times.
In 1992 you lost 5:4, in 2006 you lost 2:0, in 2010 you won 7:3.
It's still 2:1 in our favor overall, even without our glorious Soviet past when we assraped team Canada for all we care all the time (with the only exception of the 1960 Olympics, where we first beat you 2:1, then lost 5:8). All other Olympics when team USSR meet team Canada, team Canada was a toast. 2010 is your second win against us in the ENTIRE Olympic history.
BIG F*CKING DEAL. We will fix it at Sochi.
I give you my word.

[Serb]

If the IIHF doesn't want the NHL players, the IIHF can continue along as it has been. If the IIHF does want NHL players, it can try to make some changes.

NHL doesn't want any changes. You guys don't care about the rest of the world and about the future of the sport. Asher has clearly demonstrated this in this thread.

[Serb]

Enough with this crap, Asher.
Just look at the amazing Vehanen's save against Kovalchuck-Malkin:

[Kitschum]

Oh and I am curious about other teams outside Russia. Have the Sedins shown up, Chara?Lidstrom? ect etc.

I was just curious how widespread elite player absenteeism is.

You can find the rosters on the IIHF site. The ony annoying thing is they insist on pdfs for everything: http://www.iihf.com/channels10/iihf-...tatistics.html

For Sweden: There are no Sedins, no Samuelsson, no Zetterberg, Lidström, Lundqvist (although after his implosion in the Olympics maybe for the best), Bäckström, Alfredsson, Loui Eriksson, Huselius, Tallinder, Hörnqvist, Enström, Oduya, and I can go on...

It's quicker to list the NHLers who are in: Carl Gunnarsson, Jonas Gustavsson (goalie), Rickard Wallin (all Toronto), Jonatan Ericsson (Detroit), Erik Karlsson (Ottawa), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay). Nothing special as you can see, although the last two are still young.

There's a couple of youngsters from SEL that are fun to watch: Magnus Pääjärvi-Svensson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jacob Markström (goalie). Old man Michael Nylander is also in.

Chara didn't show, but Satan did. Didn't help Slovakia though who were knocked out today. The quarter final stage starts in two days and looks like so:

Finland - Czechia
Sweden - Denmark

Russia - Canada
Switzerland - Germany

Russia is a special case. They were embarrassed by taking a pounding at the Olympics and folks like Ovechkin and Malken were probably not so happy with their playoffs either. So something to prove nationally and NHL-wise leads to them being here

I don't know if that's the whole story. I think there's something to the fact that they love playing for their country. The World Championship used to be the USSR's tournament so I can go along with Serb that it's a pretty big deal for them on its own.

[Flubber]

Thanks Kitschum

Your listing of the Swedes show them to be much like Canada-- some of the young up and coming types and a couple of more that are just happy to be invited. Canada has Stamkos and Tavares for example

[notyoueither]

Bullsh!t. All national leagues have a break during the WC (no UEFA games either).

My mistake in wording. I am referring to the finals, not qualifying.

Which important leagues are normally running in June?

[Asher]

NHL doesn't want any changes. You guys don't care about the rest of the world and about the future of the sport. Asher has clearly demonstrated this in this thread.

You have finally figured it out

Hockey is thriving in Canada. Whether it's successful in Ugunda, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, or any other third world country doesn't matter to me.

If the IIHF was serious about their tournament, they wouldn't do it every year and they would time it so it doesn't collide with the NHL playoffs.

For the record, the NHL playoffs have been operating since 1917 so they predate the IIHF Championships. The IIHF is a nothing organization without teeth that moved in on a sport they didn't even invent and proclaimed themselves to be the worldwide body to regulate it. They're not. Hockey is all about the NHL. It is the premiere league, the most elite. It is, by far, the most watched league.

Anyone who is anyone plays in the NHL.

For the IIHF to schedule an annual tournament during the most important part of the NHL season is both insulting and ridiculous. It's all their fault no one gives a **** about the IIHF world championship.

[Asher]

Enough with this crap, Asher.
Just look at the amazing Vehanen's save against Kovalchuck-Malkin:

I've seen saves like this all the ****ing time in Canada's junior leagues. They happen.

Are you really this pathetic, Serb?

[Asher]

Fun fact: the original name for the IIHF World Championship was the IIHF European Championship. It's still the same in spirit, they just changed the name.

[Serb]

Look again without slowmo.

I've seen saves like this all the ****ing time in Canada's junior leagues. They happen.

And Kovalchuck and Malkin are surely of the same class as players of Canadian junior leagues.

Are you really this pathetic, Serb?

It's a nice attack and even a better save. And it is you Asher who is pathetic, if you can't admit that.

[Serb]

My mistake in wording. I am referring to the finals, not qualifying.

Which important leagues are normally running in June?

Our league (currently ranked 6th by UEFA) is already running for example. Why only important leagues count? What about Sweden for example where season starts at March? They have a solid national team, though their stars like Zlatan Ibragimovich play abroad.
At world cup play teams from all around the world. Due to location and climate in one country season might already end, while at the same time in other country in might just begins. For example in Brazil (currently ranked 1st by FIFA) season starts in the beginning of May. Is Brazil (the only country which participated in every WC) important enough for you?
As for important European leagues Primera División (Spain) currently ranked 1st by UEFA is still running at June. And June-July are two months when two main UEFA tournaments: League of Champions and Europa League (former UEFA Cup) normally start (qualification rounds, when most of the games played).

[Flubber]

And Kovalchuck and Malkin are surely of the same class as players of Canadian junior leagues.

.

No They are stars in the NHL. Asher knows that. That does nopt necessarily mean every attack they make is exceptional.

It's a nice attack and even a better save. And it is you Asher who is pathetic, if you can't admit that.

Yes it was a nice passing play so the shooter had an emptyish cage but then his failure to lift the puck made it a much much easier save for the keeper. If he had lifted it mid net or higher, THEN we would have had an exceptional save that is worthy of exceptional note. AS it stands, we have a save that was "nice" and of the calibre that is routinely in the highlight reels for a given night.

[Asher]

I guess Serb just isn't use to the North American standard of hockey.