Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Quick Hits, World Cup, Prospect Updates

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Quick Hits, World Cup, Prospect Updates
- bmeltzer

Another dumb idea comes out of the NHL front office... color me shocked.

(I really, really, really want to see Team Misc Europe win it now.)

If I'm Streit, I Don't participate. I think the new system is very badly thought out myself

The young stars are going to get annihilated.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Quick Hits, World Cup, Prospect Updates
- bmeltzer

I agree 100% with you and Mark Streit, Bill. The 2 mix teams are just ridiculous, IMO and I don't get why games cannot be played in multiple cities and venues in North America.

Seems like a lame layout. I can make some sense of the European mix. Gets the best players involved in the tournament no matter what. The youngsters tho is just pointless. They will never beat anyone. That slot shouldve been left as a wild card spot left to best qualifying team not already included.

Another dumb idea comes out of the NHL front office... color me shocked.

(I really, really, really want to see Team Misc Europe win it now.)
- Tomahawk

"T.M.E. - T.M.E."

The young stars are going to get annihilated.
- Just5

I agree, they may as well put together a team of " 4th liners" and let Berube coach it
Team Meathead.. Rinaldo as Captain

Some great news re Gordie Howe from Bob Duff in the Red Wings thread:

Howe has made a remarkable recovery from the stroke he suffered late last October since undergoing experimental stem cell treatments last month in Mexico.

“We were just completely blown away by his response (to the treatments),” said Howe's youngest son Murray, himself a doctor. “I’m still astonished.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in medicine.”

Ever since the Dec. 8 treatments, Gordie isn’t just getting better, his condition is improving by leaps and bounds.

AWESOME!!

I like watching the Olympics with all these countries in it. There's something to be said about watching hockey on a cold snowy night in February. Especially sometimes getting up early to watch the games or late at night....and then having to escape work for a few hours to watch the Gold Medal game or Team USA....This "World Cup" is BS. I love watching the underdogs, look how big the Slovenian victory was this year!!!!

I guess I am a minority of one on this subject. I am most excited to see the young team play. McDavid, Eichel, Ekblad, etc etc etc.

I guess I am a minority of one on this subject. I am most excited to see the young team play. McDavid, Eichel, Ekblad, etc etc etc.
- MBFlyerfan

I would be excited to see any of those first two play for the Flyers next year!

Some great news re Gordie Howe from Bob Duff in the Red Wings thread:

Howe has made a remarkable recovery from the stroke he suffered late last October since undergoing experimental stem cell treatments last month in Mexico.

“We were just completely blown away by his response (to the treatments),” said Howe's youngest son Murray, himself a doctor. “I’m still astonished.

“I’ve never seen anything like it in medicine.”

Ever since the Dec. 8 treatments, Gordie isn’t just getting better, his condition is improving by leaps and bounds.

AWESOME!!

- BiggE

Gordie has gone from completely incapacitated with almost no speech capability after multiple strokes to able to feed himself, walk again and speak. The family was afraid he wouldn't live to see another Christmas and now he's leaps and bounds better from something that had seemed hopeless. It's nothing short of a miracle.

I guess I am a minority of one on this subject. I am most excited to see the young team play. McDavid, Eichel, Ekblad, etc etc etc.
- MBFlyerfan

Those cream-of-the-crop young players would have a shot at the "big" team. The rest aren't ready to compete at that level.

Gordie has gone from completely incapacitated with almost no speech capability after multiple strokes to able to feed himself, walk again and speak. The family was afraid he wouldn't live to see another Christmas and now he's leaps and bounds better from something that had seemed hopeless. It's nothing short of a miracle.
- bmeltzer

Wow, just fantastic!!

Those cream-of-the-crop young players would have a shot at the "big" team. The rest aren't ready to compete at that level.
- bmeltzer

I was also thinking of guys like Couturier, Schenn etc. Hey, I'm not trying to change any minds here. Personally I just find the idea exciting.

Those cream-of-the-crop young players would have a shot at the "big" team. The rest aren't ready to compete at that level.
- bmeltzer

It's really a shame because the whole Canada Cup/World Cup used to be a great competition. The 96 event was fantastic!!

Why does the NHL have to take a good thing and ruin it?

It's really a shame because the whole Canada Cup/World Cup used to be a great competition. The 96 event was fantastic!!

Why does the NHL have to take a good thing and ruin it?
- BiggE

Im reading the Young team and the euro all star thing are a one off.

Seems like a lame layout. I can make some sense of the European mix. Gets the best players involved in the tournament no matter what. The youngsters tho is just pointless. They will never beat anyone. That slot shouldve been left as a wild card spot left to best qualifying team not already included.
- hereticpride

IMO, this thing would mean more if it was all the champs from the top pro leagues in the world playing against each other. Really think the KHL and SHL champs might have a chance to take down a regular NHL club, even a SC-winning one.

I think the whole "this is such an awful system" thing is vastly overblown. I've read several times that the "Best of the rest in Europe" and the NA Young stars team is a one and done thing, regardless.

If the NHL plans on having the World Cup of Hockey take place of the Olympics, than it is a mistake and hopefully those changes will be made.

But as of now, it hasn't. Until that time, Olympics is the national tournament that should instill that national pride of playing for your country. Nobody has taken Streit's right to play for his home country, that's what the Olympics are for.

If the NHL looks to replace the Olympics with the World Cup, most certainly due to any discrepancies that the IIHF and NHL may have with scheduling and advertising rights, then I believe that they will make those changes to make it more of an Olympic style tournament.

I just don't understand this huge "up in arms" travesty which seems to be running rampant.

IMO, this thing would mean more if it was all the champs from the top pro leagues in the world playing against each other. Really think the KHL and SHL champs might have a chance to take down a regular NHL club, even a SC-winning one.
- Tomahawk

True, but there is no way in hell the NHL would allow non NHL entities in to this tournament...at least to the best of their control.

I agree 100% with you and Mark Streit, Bill. The 2 mix teams are just ridiculous, IMO and I don't get why games cannot be played in multiple cities and venues in North America.
- BiggE

As the O'Jays once sang...

Money, Money, Money, MOney...MOOOOney.

True, but there is no way in hell the NHL would allow non NHL entities in to this tournament...at least to the best of their control.
- MBFlyerfan

Definitely, they'd have to share the proceeds, god forbid.

Definitely, they'd have to share the proceeds, god forbid.
- Tomahawk

Yep. This is an NHL tournament. Funded by the NHL, designed by the NHL, and the NHL will make damned sure that there is no way the NHL gets embarrassed in any way.

Im reading the Young team and the euro all star thing are a one off.
- MBFlyerfan

Yeah, I get that. I'd just much rather they'd add 2 more countries in and keep it the way it was. Sometimes I think the league just tries too hard.

Along the same lines, while I love the Winter Classic, I don't think it's necessary to add more outdoor games. I think it becomes a more special event when the Classic is the only game of its kind each year.