Hard to measure that but yes. I think most hockey fans were interested in it because of the best on best aspect.
But if this was held last year I suspect not nearly as much non fan interest.
4 Nations massive success?
- Thread starter Fk_Pitt
- Start date
But if this was held last year I suspect not nearly as much non fan interest.
This. IMO, it was the perfect storm of the current U.S./Canada tensions, the longing for the return of best-on-best international play, and the tournament coinciding with an embarrassing NBA All-Star Weekend.
You have to guarantee USA/Canada matchups. So if Putin ends the war, then I'd just add Russia and have everyone plays 4 games with the 2 winners advancing to the Final. Maybe also have a Bronze Medal game?
I am sorry........but......this will be a bit controversial, want to sell and grow the game, bring back fighting. Not the gong show Slapshot stuff, but some degree of physicality where not just some designated goon fights each other, but like what happened with front line players.
It is exciting. Sorry. I said it. Everyone loves it whether they say so or not.
It is exciting. Sorry. I said it. Everyone loves it whether they say so or not.
Actually it's exactly the opposite. Fighting appeals to the old school fans, not new fans. If you want to cater to the audience you already have, the one that as time goes on continues to, well, die, then you bring back fighting.
If you want to watch fighting, watch a boxing match or an MMA fight. Those people are actually good at it. And you'll get to see exactly what you want.
I turned off the first US-Canada game after 9 seconds. Imagine if the Super Bowl started with a lineman from each team removing their helmets and punching each other. They would both be thrown out of the game. Yet people cheer for that in hockey.
I am sorry, I disagree. It is "what is going to happen next" type of thing that attracts people. Again, not talking about slapshot, but some good old fashioned hate.
I’m not against fighting. Don’t love it but I get it in certain circumstances. But that start of the USA Canada game was silly and stupid. Lowest common denominator nonsense.
And that is why I turned off the game. Are we going to see more of this nonsense, or are we going to see the top players play hockey? I watched it for hockey, not fake fighting. And that is what we got in the championship game.
Apparently, in the history of best on best hockey tournaments before last Saturday there were a total of five fights in all the games combined. That's got to be literally hundreds of games.
And then three in nine seconds.
You actually turned off the game because of that? I am sorry, I don't believe you.
Agreed. IMO, there is a balance to be struck. The NHL should revert back to the “days of the goons,” but I’d much rather see a brief fight to settle a dispute than a bunch of shenanigans the rest of the game like you may see in other sports.
I also think it’s something that still captures casual fans, especially those who feel like other leagues (e.g., NBA) are just going through the motions and not caring too much about their effort.
It doesn’t bring new fans to the game .
It’s for Canadian cavemen.
People love the Olympic hockey because they like watching highly skilled players showing off their skills .
Hockey is better when the speed and skill is shown .
His premise is like - let’s grow the fanbase by bringing back clutching and grabbing, and eliminating obstruction penalties !
Believe it or not, I did - didn't watch another second of it. As I said, who knew how much more fighting was going to happen? I watched the entire championship game, and amazingly, both teams managed to play excellent hockey without a single fight.
I do not condone fighting in hockey, I actually don't really like it, but it doesn't offend me such that I would turn a game off as I love the sport ....... It was your choice to turn the game off and that is perfectly fine ........ my point though is that if you turned the first USA/Canada game off after 9 seconds and didn't watch anymore of it, then you missed one of the best hockey games you will ever see (the talent and play in that game was one of the best and highest level ever) !
The problem with it was it clearly was preplanned / staged
However the intensity and physically of the game of the game was off the charts for what amounted to an exhibition game It’s what makes the Stanley cup playoffs incredibly compelling and entertaining.
I don’t think fights add a lot but for sure if they occur as the residue of an intense game I don’t see a problem.
Bingo
This was a circus event .
Not a “standing up for your teammate “ thing .
I have no problem with that , especially when someone like human garbage can like Wilson takes a run at a guy .
I don't like staged fights between two goons. That doesn't do much. But when say Tom Wilson (who's not really a goon, but a physical menace but also a great player) runs around crushing people I like to see him having to answer for it. Not just "we need to play the right way typical Sully response".
This I agree with. I said I don’t care for fighting but this goof’s an exception. Someone should 2 hand him in his neck.
It’s so funny that coming out of the tourney the only team had no representatives is kicking @$$ and taking names. The Caps smoked the Pens yesterday and are slapping the Oilers today.
Ovi, so far, has two today and looks like he could possibly break Wayne-o’s record this year.
Ovi, so far, has two today and looks like he could possibly break Wayne-o’s record this year.
Exactly this. I was pretty angry with the (mostly) lack of response against Rempe and Trochek yesterday, for sending two of our guys head first into the boards.
You need to stick up for your teammates and ensure when opponents take liberties, they have to answer for it.
Until the NHL implements rules that actually protect players (could you ever imagine that? You have the NFL taking the complete opposite end of the spectrum with rouging the passer, and the NHL basically says, nah, as long as the guy isn’t paralyzed it’s either a minor or no call at all) then you’ve got to stick up for and protect your teammates.
PO sort of did later but you are right you need an enforcer. And the announcers were falling over themselves saying how it wasn’t that bad a hit. Yikes.
Cool gimmick but we all know this idea is cooked the moment that someone gets a bad injury or players start opting out.
I do think this might be a format that could work in the playoffs. Do a mini season for each conference. Might allow the better regular season teams to prevail which has been a problem with hockey for a really long time.
I do think this might be a format that could work in the playoffs. Do a mini season for each conference. Might allow the better regular season teams to prevail which has been a problem with hockey for a really long time.
What? Hockey plays best of seven every series and you somehow think that favors a weaker team?
yeah but it's hockey and they wont opt out, they wont 1/2 ass it, they wont sit out because they want to rest like in the nba and other leagues. that's what makes this so great compared to nba, nfl and even the mlb, they prioritize it and go all out.
it's the hockey culture that makes it so great especially when you compare it to the other leagues and see the effort given by the players and how they treat these events..
President's Trophy winner has won the Stanley Cup eight times in 36 years, so yes.
We'll see what happens over time. Hockey culture is different but, you know, money.
what do you mean what happens over time. it happened, it was great, they played, fans loved it, it did well. meanwhile in the nfl, i watched them play dodgeball and for some reason on the nba side, they were taking 1/2 court shots in front of a bored audience..
The NFL used to have a competitive all-star game, too. Money changes things.
yeah, i remember. NFL teams used to play college all star teams too.. that was a long time ago.
what's truly remarkable is how quick and deep the decline in the nba all star game happened. Football, it makes sense. these dudes dont want to blow a knee out or get a concussion in a meaningless game, i get that.
But in hoops? it really wasnt that long ago that these games were actually games, when the players cared. Go back to some of those Kobe Bryant all star games, they cared who won, it was a pride thing. again, that wasnt that long ago.
now they are shooting half court shots and walking up and down the court followed by a dunk contest where the only guy that competes is a white irish kid no one has heard of.who made more money winning the dunk contests than actually made playing the game.
Last edited:
I gotta hear how specifically you think it could be fixed. You seem to be suggesting a round robin tourney that ends in one winner for the west and one for the east and then what?
Or hell just award Cup to Presidents trophy winner.
There’s an interesting discussion to be had about whether the differences in effort have to do purely with money (i.e., NBA/NFL players make much more than NHL players), or rather the cultures surrounding the respected sports? PK Subban touched on this a bit on ESPN last Thursday, and I think he made a compelling argument.
blaming the money is stupid. you dont think nba players made good money in 2005? just a ridiculous "cop out"..
you cant even really say "hockey culture" either, even though i did earlier. BEcause the east vs west or the old formats were pretty relaxed too. Hell i went to the NHL all star game in 1990 and there was no defense. I think Mario had a true hat trick (3 goals in the first period). was like 12-10 score or somthing ridiculous.
So again, nhl games under the older format was just the nba's version of non stop breakaways, no defense, no one was hitting, it was just odd man breaks non stop..
I really dont know the answers to what the nba, nfl and mlb should do to fix it. NFL should just end it, zero reason to even have anything after the season. dont even bother, nfl will be fine, it dominates the sporting world, they wont lose any money..
I don’t disagree with that, and you’re definitely right about the old format.
Regarding the “culture,” I’ve heard it brought up more so about the regular season (although that starts to delve into a separate conversation). There’s a narrative that many NBA players don’t try until the postseason, especially after a big pay day. I haven’t heard of that being an issue with the NHL.
True story. I sat right next to Mario Lemieux's parents for that game. It was really cool seeing their reaction to him scoring 4 goals and the crowd reaction.
the "MARIO MARIO MARIO" chants in the warmups was probably the best thing i've ever been a part of in a sporting event. was just incredible, goose bumps..
just a stupid format. honestly, im more surprised that the nfl pro bowl game EVER mattered. Why would any nfl football player ever want to even play in this game? For the free trip to Hawaii?
Feel like those guys make enough money that this wouldnt be that much of a valid reason..
