No.
The 1996 tournament actually felt like a true international event in which it invoked pride and patriotism. I'd say it was the closest feeling as that of the Olympic tournament in recent years. I can still remember the score of that final game and Richter being lights out in that entire tournament and just how involved everyone I knew was into that tournament.
I'd say the same about 2004, but the 8-year gap between the previous tournament made it feel more like a money-making endeavour.
2016. Forget it. 12 years in between. Gimmick teams. Played in only one city and venue (some "World" Cup that is). No guarantee there'd even be a tournament 4 years from then. Did more than a handful of people in Canada really give a crap that they were "World" champions? It was cheesy.
Lay out a 20- to 40-year plan where you know the format for the next 5 to 10 tournaments -- how to qualify, potential host countries, etc. -- and maybe you can build off of that. To go out on a whim less than two years out "hoping" for another World Cup...seriously, who cares about some random tournament. And I'd say the same thing as if it were branded as the Canada Cup again, or whatever. Until this "World" Cup invokes the same passion amongst the countries like it did decades ago (again, similar to an Olympics), I'll always hold my reservations on the benefits and intentions of this tournament besides $$$.
The 96 tournament felt like a true international even, you say. The 2004 edition was more or less the same thing on forehand when it comes to organization. Why it was more buzz in 96 was probably since hockey was more in fashion back then and USA happened to have their best team ever and reached the final that became a classic.
Several more good players didn't play in 96 compared to 2004 but I can't see why those two tournaments were any more or less money making.
In hockey terms the 2016 edition was much more entertaining than 2004 and not to mention the dreadful 2014 Olympics. I can't see why it was negative to play the tournament in just one city. That is a good thing as a tourist or a hockey lover to see every game in less than two weeks. World Cup is still kind of searching to find it's right format and why not try make it in one place and see how it will work out?
I say the same thing about Team Europe that actually did contribute to the tournament much more than Germany or even Slovakia did before. Team NA on the other hand was entertaining but had some players that should have been on their right teams. That is why Team NA was wrong.
So many people was too negative about the 2016 edition and should try being more progressive and open to new ideas instead of just complaining and repeating what everyone else says. I was happy that we actually got the chance to see a World Cup at last. It annoys me so much more that they didn't play in 2000, 2008 and 2012 as it should have been done.
Just is it annoys me that the last Olympics was another nonsense tournament. Or even the thought that it might take TEN YEARS until we finally have another best-on-best tournament again. That is such a bigger problem than having a mixed team in a World Cup once.
Yes it does because 6 teams isn't even enough to have a group stage of 3 games.
My point is that World Cup must return to a round-robin format where every team gets to play each other once. Top 4 reaches the SF, just like the Canada Cup.