If there was still eight-team worlds

[member 305909]

Let's imagine that they would have stuck with eight teams and the competition-format instead of expanding it to 12 in 1992 and to 16 in 1998.

The relegation-battle would be awesome. As well as the promotion-battle in the pool B.

In the old days when that format was on Finland managed to get only once to the medal series.

That was in 1986 when Czechoslovakia unexpectedly flopped.

However, despite all other times than the one I mentioned Finland having to play the relegation-series instead of medal-series Finland never had a real fear of relegation.

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[Dirtyf1ghter]

The goal of the hockey planet is to grow.

Today there are 9 competitive nations capable of playing for a medal.

Denmark, Austria, Belarus, Norway, Latvia have never been stronger. All these countries have a lot of room for improvement.

Today, a senior 16-a-side world championship is more relevant than an 8-a-side or 12-a-side championship.

But I think we have to go further with an elite world championship at 24 and a world B championship with just as many teams.

6 groups of 4 teams then Round 16. All eliminated teams play a classification match. The last 3 go down. All teams play 6-7 games.

For the big nations, that means fewer games to play, and therefore more motivating.

For a nation like Japan (24th IIHF), it is an opportunity to play against a big nation but also two more affordable middle nations (Denmark, Belarus) then to play against totally affordable teams to play maintenance.

This formula makes it possible to stabilize European nations with strong demographics (France, Italy, Great Britain, Poland, Ukraine) and to promote hockey in Asia (Japan, China, South Korea).

It would also be necessary to move the championships (in raising the curtain of the NHL season for example) or during a truce of 2 weeks.

Playing 10 matches in 14 days at the end of the season including 7 group matches is not motivating.

 

[alko]

Booooring.

 

[Eye of Ra]

No. What we need to do is to include even more nations.

Canada
USA
Finland
Russia
Sweden
Czech
Slovakia
Germany
Switzerland
Denmark
Norway
Latvia
Belarus

Are all given.

Kazasksthan, Italy, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Japan, UK and KHL China are decent and would not make a fool of themself in A-division.

Thats 22 teams.

 

[Lambo]

The goal of the hockey planet is to grow.

Today there are 9 competitive nations capable of playing for a medal.

Denmark, Austria, Belarus, Norway, Latvia have never been stronger. All these countries have a lot of room for improvement.

Today, a senior 16-a-side world championship is more relevant than an 8-a-side or 12-a-side championship.

But I think we have to go further with an elite world championship at 24 and a world B championship with just as many teams.

6 groups of 4 teams then Round 16. All eliminated teams play a classification match. The last 3 go down. All teams play 6-7 games.

For the big nations, that means fewer games to play, and therefore more motivating.

For a nation like Japan (24th IIHF), it is an opportunity to play against a big nation but also two more affordable middle nations (Denmark, Belarus) then to play against totally affordable teams to play maintenance.

This formula makes it possible to stabilize European nations with strong demographics (France, Italy, Great Britain, Poland, Ukraine) and to promote hockey in Asia (Japan, China, South Korea).

It would also be necessary to move the championships (in raising the curtain of the NHL season for example) or during a truce of 2 weeks.

Playing 10 matches in 14 days at the end of the season including 7 group matches is not motivating.

But with NHL-Stars we ve the old order. Than we ve Top 5 Nations + Czech. The rest ve no chance.

 

[Elvs]

But with NHL-Stars we ve the old order. Than we ve Top 5 Nations + Czech. The rest ve no chance.

Switzerland winning a bronze medal in a best on best tournament wouldn't be anywhere near the most surprising things to happen in pro sports.

With that said, 12 teams at the Olympics is just about perfect.

 

[Elvs]

No. What we need to do is to include even more nations.

Canada
USA
Finland
Russia
Sweden
Czech
Slovakia
Germany
Switzerland
Denmark
Norway
Latvia
Belarus

Are all given.

Kazasksthan, Italy, Poland, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Japan, UK and KHL China are decent and would not make a fool of themself in A-division.

Thats 22 teams.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Latvia scored 8 goals against Hungary in one single period. I'm perfectly fine with 16 teams in the World championship, but I'd like to see the 4 group format and the middle round brought back, which helps reduce a few blowout games.

 

[Lambo]

Switzerland winning a bronze medal in a best on best tournament wouldn't be anywhere near the most surprising things to happen in pro sports.

With that said, 12 teams at the Olympics is just about perfect.

I do not believe that! Clearly a surprising victory would be possible. But nothing more.

 

[Lambo]

I do not believe that! Clearly a upset would be possible. But nothing more.

 

[Elvs]

I do not believe that! Clearly a surprising victory would be possible. But nothing more.

Hockey is a sport where bounces, goaltending and power players are huge factors - especially in any one singular game. When you have Hischier, Fiala, Niederreiter, Meier and Josi - you can score against anyone in just one game. If they are lucky with the seedings, they could avoid Canada in the quarter finals. And from a pure motivational standpoint, they should have the upper hand against pretty much any other team in the bronze medal game. All of the top 5 nations enter that tournament with only winning gold in mind.

 

[Lambo]

Hockey is a sport where bounces, goaltending and power players are huge factors - especially in any one singular game. When you have Hischier, Fiala, Niederreiter, Meier and Josi - you can score against anyone in just one game. If they are lucky with the seedings, they could avoid Canada in the quarter finals. And from a pure motivational standpoint, they should have the upper hand against pretty much any other team in the bronze medal game. All of the top 5 nations enter that tournament with only winning gold in mind.

Despite this is not enough for a best on best tournament. Enough for a usually WC but not for this.