Carol Schram: Vancouver Canucks World Cup of Hockey Primer A look at the structure of the tournament for next month's World Cup of Hockey, and how the six Vancouver Canucks players fit in.

I'll be cheering for the Swedes personally. Unless some other team has more Canucks players on it.

Thanks Carol!!

I will not be watching or following the 'World Cup of Hockey'. An NHL money grab and a big party for Toronto to celebrate 100 years of abject failure.
I'm sure many here are looking forward to any form of hockey by then and I hope it satisfies their yearning.
Thanks again for keeping us informed and entertained through the dog days of summer!!

From the last blog, comment section - for NorthNuck specifically...

moved it to the PM for your benefit Hillbilly

I feel like I'm one of the few people really excited for this tournament. Seems to me most people are sour about it pretty much coming in because the Olympics more than likely won't be happening, plus because of the Young Guns and Europe teams being involved. Idk I'm excited, it should be really good hockey. Sweden defence with Karlsson, Hedman, Ekman Larson is silly.

From the last blog, comment section - for NorthNuck specifically...
- kaptaan

moving on.

From last blog:

As Don mentioned, Yaks is overpaid, (bad) Higgins like production with much less defense.

I'd still be okay if JB made that trade. maybe MG had it right, no Russians, makes life simpler... happy we got Tryamkin tho.
- hillbillydeluxe

Overpaid, sure, but not crippling. $2.5m with RFA status coming up after the season isnt the worst contract to take on. Plus being that young, there is the potential for improvement.

You cant just have one Russian, you need pairs/lines/groups... those are the successful teams

Thanks Carol!!

I will not be watching or following the 'World Cup of Hockey'. An NHL money grab and a big party for Toronto to celebrate 100 years of abject failure.
I'm sure many here are looking forward to any form of hockey by then and I hope it satisfies their yearning.
Thanks again for keeping us informed and entertained through the dog days of summer!!
- Marwood

This I agree with, the rest meh, plus the fishing is going to be good in Sept.

I feel like I'm one of the few people really excited for this tournament. Seems to me most people are sour about it pretty much coming in because the Olympics more than likely won't be happening, plus because of the Young Guns and Europe teams being involved. Idk I'm excited, it should be really good hockey. Sweden defence with Karlsson, Hedman, Ekman Larson is silly.
- ClarksonDavid

My excitement has been growing for it. I like the idea of a new tournament of all star caliber players where the effort level is there (aka the main reason everyone hates the midseason Allstar game). The only thing I see people griping at the most this time around is the team names, like "Oh that isnt the true team Canada since McJesus/Ekblad/etc. isnt on it", or "WTF is team Europe?". Just enjoy seeing an arrangement of best on best hockey that wont disrupt the flow of the NHL season

From last blog:
Overpaid, sure, but not crippling. $2.5m with RFA status coming up after the season isnt the worst contract to take on. Plus being that young, there is the potential for improvement.

You cant just have one Russian, you need pairs/lines/groups... those are the successful teams
- WhiteLie

we need a 5 man unit.

I feel like I'm one of the few people really excited for this tournament. Seems to me most people are sour about it pretty much coming in because the Olympics more than likely won't be happening, plus because of the Young Guns and Europe teams being involved. Idk I'm excited, it should be really good hockey. Sweden defence with Karlsson, Hedman, Ekman Larson is silly.
- ClarksonDavid

To me, it is because with the inclusion of teams like North America, Europe, whatever that aren't specific countries, it doesn't come close at all to an Olympic style tournament. doesn't carry the same caché. really, they should get the IIHF involved and do it right.

Soccer's world cup is a good example of a non Olympic tournament where players are proud to represent their homeland, wearing the maple leaf on their chest, etc...

I just want to see some hockey, but wonder if it will end up being similar to an allstar game or Olympic hockey, or somewhere in the middle?

It is a big money grab, not growing the game, just revenue.

My excitement has been growing for it. I like the idea of a new tournament of all star caliber players where the effort level is there (aka the main reason everyone hates the midseason Allstar game). The only thing I see people griping at the most this time around is the team names, like "Oh that isnt the true team Canada since McJesus/Ekblad/etc. isnt on it", or "WTF is team Europe?". Just enjoy seeing an arrangement of best on best hockey that wont disrupt the flow of the NHL season
- WhiteLie

Yeah same, that young stars team will be fun to watch and Team Europe should be fairly competitive compared to some of the teams that are usually in the tournament. Plus I could be wrong but I thought they mentioned they are only have those two teams for one time only. Either way I'm excited to watch it, people that call it a money grab as a reason they won't watch it is funny, obviously they're trying to make money the NHL is a business and I'm not sure how it works exactly for the NHL and if it will affect HRR or not but if it does that can raise the cap and such not?

To me, it is because with the inclusion of teams like North America, Europe, whatever that aren't specific countries, it doesn't come close at all to an Olympic style tournament. doesn't carry the same caché. really, they should get the IIHF involved and do it right.

Soccer's world cup is a good example of a non Olympic tournament where players are proud to represent their homeland, wearing the maple leaf on their chest, etc...

I just want to see some hockey, but wonder if it will end up being similar to an allstar game or Olympic hockey, or somewhere in the middle?

It is a big money grab, not growing the game, just revenue.
- hillbillydeluxe

This

It's a best on best tournament ...I can't see how anyone wouldn't have interest at least to start the tournament

From last blog:



Overpaid, sure, but not crippling. $2.5m with RFA status coming up after the season isnt the worst contract to take on. Plus being that young, there is the potential for improvement.

You cant just have one Russian, you need pairs/lines/groups... those are the successful teams
- WhiteLie

Dude, what if every hockey season, the team had to live in a big house together, so you could watch hockey games and then see all the sh!t happening at the house? those group dynamics, guys cooking different ethnic dishes for the team, Sbisa always making pizza.

anyway, I wouldn't be upset with a trade bringing in Yaks if the cost was similar to what is rumoured. just need players making an impact in the lineup and more options/assets.

To me, it is because with the inclusion of teams like North America, Europe, whatever that aren't specific countries, it doesn't come close at all to an Olympic style tournament. doesn't carry the same caché. really, they should get the IIHF involved and do it right.

Soccer's world cup is a good example of a non Olympic tournament where players are proud to represent their homeland, wearing the maple leaf on their chest, etc...

I just want to see some hockey, but wonder if it will end up being similar to an allstar game or Olympic hockey, or somewhere in the middle?

It is a big money grab, not growing the game, just revenue.
- hillbillydeluxe

I think it will be really good hockey, obviously they're trying to make money and they wouldn't be doing their jobs If they didn't. I think it will be a good way to start the hockey season.

Yeah same, that young stars team will be fun to watch and Team Europe should be fairly competitive compared to some of the teams that are usually in the tournament. Plus I could be wrong but I thought they mentioned they are only have those two teams for one time only. Either way I'm excited to watch it, people that call it a money grab as a reason they won't watch it is funny, obviously they're trying to make money the NHL is a business and I'm not sure how it works exactly for the NHL and if it will affect HRR or not but if it does that can raise the cap and such not?
- ClarksonDavid

Isn't the entire NHL a money grab ...I mean this is a Canucks thread ...a team that is retooling and not rebuilding because their owners want to stay competitive and shoot for playoffs ...more revenues ...might as well boycott that too then ?

Yeah same, that young stars team will be fun to watch and Team Europe should be fairly competitive compared to some of the teams that are usually in the tournament. Plus I could be wrong but I thought they mentioned they are only have those two teams for one time only. Either way I'm excited to watch it, people that call it a money grab as a reason they won't watch it is funny, obviously they're trying to make money the NHL is a business and I'm not sure how it works exactly for the NHL and if it will affect HRR or not but if it does that can raise the cap and such not?
- ClarksonDavid

It has nothing to do with HRR, it's a deal between the NHL and NHLPA, they split the money up between them.

It's a best on best tournament ...I can't see how anyone wouldn't have interest at least to start the tournament
- Redmile247

Yup agreed. The fact that they're trying to make money off this event doesn't bother me one bit I'll be watching all of Canada's games and probably a fair bit of Sweden and Team North America's. The USA team is a joke.

It has nothing to do with HRR, it's a deal between the NHL and NHLPA, they split the money up between them.
- A_SteamingLombardi

Okay thanks, I haven't followed that part of it at all mostly cause I don't care.. good to know though.

Yup agreed. The fact that they're trying to make money off this event doesn't bother me one bit I'll be watching all of Canada's games and probably a fair bit of Sweden and Team North America's. The USA team is a joke.
- ClarksonDavid

I'll record them all cause it's hard to watch hockey at 4 in the afternoon when the weather is still great.

I'll record them all cause it's hard to watch hockey at 4 in the afternoon when the weather is still great.
- A_SteamingLombardi

this is a strong point.

Yeah same, that young stars team will be fun to watch and Team Europe should be fairly competitive compared to some of the teams that are usually in the tournament. Plus I could be wrong but I thought they mentioned they are only have those two teams for one time only. Either way I'm excited to watch it, people that call it a money grab as a reason they won't watch it is funny, obviously they're trying to make money the NHL is a business and I'm not sure how it works exactly for the NHL and if it will affect HRR or not but if it does that can raise the cap and such not?
- ClarksonDavid

I like that those guys probably have a chip on their shoulders and bring the competitive level up. I remember reading a few comments from the 3 on 3 all star game where a few guys started trying, so then they tried harder and eventually the pace increased to something entertaining. I dont think this tournament will take time to bring the intensity up, partly because these Frankenstein teams will want to show up the big clubs, but its fun to be able to see a PP unit with McDavid and Eichel on it, which would never happen anywhere else

Dude, what if every hockey season, the team had to live in a big house together, so you could watch hockey games and then see all the sh!t happening at the house? those group dynamics, guys cooking different ethnic dishes for the team, Sbisa always making pizza.

anyway, I wouldn't be upset with a trade bringing in Yaks if the cost was similar to what is rumoured. just need players making an impact in the lineup and more options/assets.
- hillbillydeluxe

if watching clips of guys being mic'd up is entertaining, there would probably be a few good lines thrown around there