Confirmed with Link: World Cup of Hockey 2016

[SilverSeven]

The U23 and Rest of World are only for the first WC. I agree its lame, but if its only for this one I am okay with it.

I dont agree that the Swiss can put up a challenge. If we lost to them there would be a summit to find out what is wrong with hockey. The games against countries like Switzerland are horrible.

Who will cheer for the U23 team other than their moms?

 

[MiscBrah]

If this is the way it's going to be lets make Canada have two teams, one eastern and one western.

 

[29dryden29]

I like this Ryder cup style tourney for 2018 I think they said which for all purposes will replace Olympic participation which I am fine with.

 

[vdB]

Who will cheer for the U23 team other than their moms?

lol very true.

However, I do like the fantasy pool aspect of this tourny. soooo many players to pick.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

i guess ottawas best candidates for the young stars team are stone and Ceci

 

[DJB]

This is a joke. The World Cup actually meant something back in 1996 was it against Richter and the Americans.

This is a sideshow to me.

 

[mcnorth]

How can you ask the u23 guys to play against their country? That would feel so wrong for those kids who've repped their nation all the way through. I don't like that one bit. Just have another country or have fewer teams. This is bs.

 

[MiscBrah]

How can you ask the u23 guys to play against their country? That would feel so wrong for those kids who've repped their nation all the way through. I don't like that one bit. Just have another country or have fewer teams. This is bs.

It's clearly just for fun.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

The U23 and Rest of World are only for the first WC. I agree its lame, but if its only for this one I am okay with it.

....

This seems like logic that I used regularly as a 16 year old ..."I know this is really dumb, but I'll do it just this once!"

 

[Benjamin]

Is this supposed to take place in the middle of the season?

I'd much rather being NHL hockey. I doubt Ill waste my time with this.

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

Team Europe AND a U23?

At least Team Europe can play an epic underdog role. U23 is just dumb.

 

[BonkTastic]

Considering how long it takes most goalies (not to mention defencemen) to develop, it sounds to me like that U23 team will get torn to shreds.

 

[mcnorth]

It's clearly just for fun.

Yeah, but it's national teams so it'll be fun until Canada loses a game and then the nation will implode and/or explode and guys will want to win and Dominik will get hurt and then we won't win the Cup. Or something.

I'm cheering for the u23 team.

Also, if it's just for fun, they should have an over 35 team. I'd cheer for them.

Also, if they're going outside the box, they should have an all siblings team full of Sutters and Michaleks and Staals.

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

Also, if they're going outside the box, they should have an all siblings team full of Sutters and Michaleks and Staals.

"Jared, you're the worst Staal brother, get some pads on you're going in net".

 

[bert]

What an incredibly stupid format.

 

[bert]

I like it, it will be fun hockey to watch. I'm also not a very nationalistic individual so the different teams don't bother me at all. Its like HF will have their own team in their tourney, an all 23 and under team? Loads will be blown.

hahahaha touché

 

[Ice-Tray]

It would be much more interesting if there was a Cold War II...

Just saying....

 

[OttawaSenators11]

It just doesn't have the important feel to it like the Olympics does.

Very underwhelming to say the least.

 

[Back in Black]

It just doesn't have the important feel to it like the Olympics does.

Very underwhelming to say the least.

Yeah, and from what Buttman said Today in the Ottawa Sun, sounds like he doesn't care if we don't do the Olympics!

 

[SilverSeven]

It just doesn't have the important feel to it like the Olympics does.

Very underwhelming to say the least.

I think that is largely because it hasnt been around for 10 years. It once had that feel, and it will again.

 

[FunkySeeFunkyDoo]

I think that is largely because it hasnt been around for 10 years. It once had that feel, and it will again.

It once had that feel because NHL players didn't play in the Olympics, so the Canada / World Cup was the only thing that resembled a best on best.

Now that we've had the Olympics, which clearly clearly clearly has more relevance to the players than the World Cup could ever hope, there's no way this can approach the level of either the Olympics or the 80's / 90's World cups.

 

[MiscBrah]

Will it only allow NHL players or can players from KHL and other European leagues play?

 

[Laphroaig]

I love best on best tournaments. They've provided the finest hockey I've ever seen. I hate this gimmicky format though. Mark Streit has said he hates it too.

 

[tony d]

I actually like the U23 idea, it's different and could be interesting.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

Just set it up like the olympics but on NHL ice with NHL rules. Host it in late summer so players from other leagues can participate and its the same damn thing as the olympics but better. IIHF rules are lame.

I dont care if players win a medal or a trophy, best on best hockey is best on best hockey.

Of course they evidently need to gimmick it up. I dunno . . . just doesn't seem like the best way to start what the NHL is clearly trying to establish as an alternative to Olympic participation.