That's a load of crock, because most players do not play in the WC in their draft year. Name me some big-name players who were drafted because of the WC.
It's not that I don't like the WC, it just is what it is: a loser tournament with inferior competition. The fact that Canada isn't dominating the tourney shows you what you need to know about it.
and yeah the teams are worse...most players decline going over to play in the tourney and a ton are still in the playoffs.
Well it's alot tougher competition than WJC, or any other league outside of NHL except for olympics and world cup. You're actualy facing top NHL players and ex NHL vets. Top countries are filled with NHL players+ best players from KHL.
Goaltenders
34 James Reimer L 6'2 208 03/15/1988 Morweena, Man. Toronto (NHL)
40 Devan Dubnyk R 6'5 220 05/04/1986 Calgary, Alta. Edmonton (NHL)
45 Jonathan Bernier L 5'11 186 08/07/1988 Laval, Que. Los Angeles (NHL)
Defense
2 Luke Schenn R 6'2 229 11/02/1989 Saskatoon, Sask. Toronto (NHL)
3 Dion Phaneuf - A L 6'3 217 04/10/1985 Edmonton, Alta. Toronto (NHL)
7 Mario Scalzo L 5'10 190 11/11/1984 St-Hubert, Que. Mannheim Eagles (DEL)
8 Brent Burns R 6'4 200 03/09/1985 Ajax, Ont. Minnesota (NHL)
17 Marc-André Gragnani L 6'2 201 03/11/1987 Île-Bizard, Que. Buffalo (NHL)
27 Alex Pietrangelo R 6'3 211 01/18/1990 King City, Ont. St. Louis (NHL)
28 Carlo Colaiacovo R 6'1 205 01/23/1983 Toronto, Ont. St. Louis (NHL)
33 Marc Methot L 6'3 222 06/21/1985 Ottawa, Ont. Columbus (NHL)
Forwards
9 Evander Kane L 6'2 195 08/01/1991 Vancouver, B.C. Atlanta (NHL)
14 Jordan Eberle R 6'0 185 05/15/1990 Regina, Sask. Edmonton (NHL)
15 Travis Zajac - A R 6'2 205 05/13/1985 Winnipeg, Man. New Jersey (NHL)
16 Andrew Ladd - A L 6'2 200 12/12/1985 Maple Ridge, B.C. Atlanta (NHL)
18 James Neal L 6'3 205 09/03/1987 Whitby, Ont. Pittsburgh (NHL)
19 Jason Spezza - A R 6'2 206 06/13/1983 Toronto, Ont. Ottawa (NHL)
20 John Tavares L 6'0 195 09/20/1990 Oakville, Ont. NY Islanders (NHL)
22 Cal Clutterbuck R 5'11 213 11/18/1987 Welland, Ont. Minnesota (NHL)
25 Chris Stewart R 6'2 228 10/30/1987 Scarborough, Ont. St. Louis (NHL)
50 Antoine Vermette L 6'1 200 07/20/1982 Saint-Agapit, Que. Columbus (NHL)
53 Jeff Skinner L 5'11 193 05/16/1992 Markham, Ont. Carolina (NHL)
61 Rick Nash - C L 6'4 215 06/16/1984 Brampton, Ont. Columbus (NHL)
92 Matthew Duchene
this team would be one of the best teams in NHL if not the best and they didn't win it. Telling that it's crappy competition, with bad players is BS. It's not Olympics but it's pretty good competition with good players.