Why we get so angry? Because this Mickey Mouse tournament is the only chance international hockey fans will have to watch the actual national team play.
This is where the argument fails.
This event is NOT about watching "the actual national team play"
Its an NHL promtional event for benefit of NHL and NHL Players.
Its not about the National teams of any country.
Its about promoting the NHL by showcasing the NHL players, in different combinations from the regular season, with some bragging rights and jingoism spicing it up
Maybe you want it to be something else.
Maybe it 'should' be something else
But it is just an NHL driven event
That ONLY occurs because NHL decided to make it happen.
The World Championships happen every spring.
Thats your opportunity for 'pure' National team competition
World Cup is an NHL event for benefit of NHL and NHL players.
Just because it doesnt have NHL in its name, doesnt mean it is any thing other than an NHL focused event..
Major League Baseball calls its championship the World Series. There is nothing 'World' about it. Its just a selfserving overstated name.
Just like the NHL's "World Cup of Hockey"