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The fog is lifting and the basic elements of the Mini World-Cup that will be held next winter as a pre-cursor to the 2026 Olympic tournament (with all the best players) have been announced.

This tournament will replace the All Star Weekend in 2025, which I consider a brilliant idea and I hope will become a permanent fixture moving forward!

I'm pretty sure all players prefer this over the meaningless All-Star game.

Feb 12-20: Canada, Finland, Sweden & USA Face-Off!
Montreal & Boston serve as host cities as the best players come together on the world stage!
Watch on TNT, ESPN & ABC in US; Sportsnet in Canada
All seven games in the 4 Nations Face-Off will be played with NHL rules. Each team plays three tournament games in Round Robin format: 3 points for a regulation win; 2 points for an OT/shootout win and 1 point for an OT/shootout loss.

The two teams with the best record will advance to the Final Championship Game!

https://www.nhl.com/events/2025-4-nations-face-off

Game schedule:
Feb 12, 2025: Canada vs. Sweden - 8pm ET – Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
Feb 13, 2025: USA vs. Finland - 8pm ET– Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
Feb 15, 2025: Finland vs. Sweden- 1pm ET – Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
Feb 15, 2025: USA vs. Canada – 8pm ET - Bell Centre (Montreal, QC)
Feb 17, 2025: Canada vs. Finland – 1pm ET - TD Garden (Boston, MA)
Feb 17, 2025: Sweden vs. USA – 8pm ET - TD Garden (Boston, MA)
Feb 20, 2025: Championship Game – 8pm ET - TD Garden (Boston, MA)

Each team at the 4 Nations Face-Off will be comprised of 23 NHL players (20 skaters, three goalies) selected by each national association: Hockey Canada, Finnish Ice Hockey Association, Swedish Ice Hockey Association and USA Hockey. Players must be under an NHL contract for the 2024-25 season and on an NHL roster as of Dec. 2 to compete.

All games in the 4 Nations Face-Off will be played in accordance with NHL rules and on NHL-sized rinks. Each team will play three tournament games in a traditional round-robin format, with teams earning three points for a win in regulation, two points for a win in overtime or shootout, one point for a loss in overtime or shootout, and no points for a loss in regulation.

The two teams with the best record will advance to play in a one-game final.

The overtime format for round-robin games will be 3-on-3 sudden death for a 10-minute period, followed by a three-round shootout. The overtime format for the one-game final will be 5-on-5 sudden death through successive 20-minute periods until one team scores.

https://www.nhl.com/news/2025-4-nations ... eal-boston

Czech are likely thrilled after winning the most recent WHC.

I doubt you will see this as an annual event Per.

This is fucking stupid. Do it in the off-season, not in the middle of the regular season.

I wonder how pissed off owners, GM's, coaches, and fans, will be if one of the best players from their NHL team gets hurt competing in this dog and pony show.....because you can sure as shit bet that an All-Star game compete level won't go over well in this.

Had the same thought about Czech as you did Donny. Also, why not Latvia? They beat the US for the bronze. And where's Russia? They aren't allowed just because their government decided to invade Ukraine?

Mickey Mouse cash grab.

donlever wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 11:03 am Czech are likely thrilled after winning the most recent WHC.

Agreed. But the tournament is only open for NHL players, and only 26 Czech skaters and 7 goalies played in the NHL last year,

I toyed with the idea of a Czechoslovakian team, as there were also 11 Slovak skaters, so that would give them a few more to pick from. But still, of the 7 goalies available the best one had 18 wins on the season. In comparisson, of the 8 Finnish NHL goalies, 3 had more than 20 wins.

Canada had 381 skaters and 33 goalies in the NHL this past season.
The US had 278 skaters and 20 goalies.
Sweden had 85 skaters and 11 goalies.
Finland had 40 skaters and 8 goalies.

For the other decent hockey nations it looks bleak:
Czechia (as mentioned) had 26 skaters and 7 goalies in the NHL.
Switzerland had 12 skaters and 1 goalie in the NHL.
Slovakia had 11 skaters but no goalie.

The only other viable nation is Russia with 52 skaters and 13 goalies in the NHL.
But if they were invited all other European nations would boycot the tournament.

If Russia pulls out of Ukraine they could get invited to future tournaments, but Czechia as a sixth nation would be at a severe disadvantage with the limited pool to pick from, so you would either have to allow players from other leagues or let them use the Slovakian players.

Another option - if you only allow NHL players - would be to add a Quebec or French Canadian team in lieu of the Czechs.
I don’t have the figures, but I guess they would have roughly as many players as Sweden to pick from, and that would reduce the rest of Canada to having roughly the same talent pool as the USA.

If you expand to six teams you could split them into two groups of three for the roundrobin. If we seed the teams A to C in each group, you could play the group games A vs C on Monday, B vs C on Tuesday and A vs B on Wednesday, giving the top seeds the slight advantage of a day of rest between games. The group winners play the runner up of the other group in semi finals on Friday and then the winners play the final on Sunday, making the whole tournament fit snuggly within just one week.

I doubt you will see this as an annual event Per.

So do I, but a man has to be allowed to dream.

This concept is so much better than the All-Star weekend. Most players take pride in representing their country.
And then we would finally get to enjoy international hockey with all the best players on a regular basis.

Also surprised that it's just NHL players - seems like maybe the Euros could use some extra players? Or just add some to make it interesting?

For injuries, it's no different than the risk at the Olympics - but at least the Olympics actually mean something to the players.

Should be a pre-season tournament if anything.

Mëds wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 1:40 pm This is fucking stupid. Do it in the off-season, not in the middle of the regular season.

I wonder how pissed off owners, GM's, coaches, and fans, will be if one of the best players from their NHL team gets hurt competing in this dog and pony show.....because you can sure as shit bet that an All-Star game compete level won't go over well in this.

Had the same thought about Czech as you did Donny. Also, why not Latvia? They beat the US for the bronze. And where's Russia? They aren't allowed just because their government decided to invade Ukraine?

Mickey Mouse cash grab.

The main reason they are doing this, afaik, is as preparation for the 2026 Olympic tournament. Canada and the USA don’t take the World Championship seriously, and so they want to have a dress rehearsal before the first real international tournament with all the best players participating since 2014. The NHL originally wanted to invite Russia, but as I already mentioned, that would cause all other European teams to boycot the tournament, and besides, Russia will not be playing in the Olympic tournament either, as they are banned from international competition in almost every sport.

As for Latvia, this tournament is instead of the All-Star event and only NHL players are allowed to participate.
This past season Latvia had three skaters and two goalies in the NHL, so they would be forced to play shorthanded throughout the tournament and have the same three skaters on the ice the whole game. Just wouldn’t be feasible.

Basically they have picked the four countries that have the most players in the NHL.Well, except for Russia.
But in 2020/21 and 2021/22 Finns actually outnumbered Russians in the NHL. Then, after the war started, the number of Russians increased. Possibly as a means to escape the war and an increasingly oppressive regime.

If this is only open to NHL players then fuck what the Euro nations want. Stick NHL logo jerseys on everyone in their national colour scheme and roll em out. The players can’t boycott because they are under NHL contract.

Think about the top players who won’t be playing….

Panarin, Ovechkin, Svechnikov, Vasilevskiy, Dadonov, Kucherov, Nichushkin, Sergachev, Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Malkin, Kaprizov…..

That’s some NHL talent there that gets boycotted just because of their place of birth.

Russian hockey fans should probably setup encampments on Canadian universities.

I recall the last time they did the World Cup and they did the Euro squad and a North American squad (all players under 23).

Canada, Russia, USA, Sweden, Finland, Czech, Euro, NA Youngsters.

Could easily do similar.

Canada, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Europe, USA.

What the players really want to do at the break is not play hockey and head to Cabo, Playa, Kahalua, wherethefuckever, and chill for a few days....

donlever wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 7:48 pm What the players really want to do at the break is not play hockey and head to Cabo, Playa, Kahalua, wherethefuckever, and chill for a few days....

Well there’s that.

If it is a one off tournament used as prep for the Olympics I can get behind it. But as an annual thing well I dont want Canucks playing in the tournament. Too much at stake as it backs onto the final push of the season. Players are spent to start the playoffs they dont really need this.

I loved the old Canada Cup in Sept. Got players ready for the season, and if there was an injury there was time, usually, to heal for the playoffs.

As for Russia, why not compete as a player from Russia as they do in the Olympics rather than as part of the Russian Federation? I get Per saying that the other European countries would pull out, so let them. Not that I want to reward Russians as I am vehemently opposed to the war on Ukraine but the double standard is striking.

And what about those non NHL players who would make their national team(s). This is an NHL cash grab but I am prepared to see it for the one year.

I'd be fine if they cancelled the All Star game and gave every team a by week.

Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 9:43 pm If it is a one off tournament used as prep for the Olympics I can get behind it. But as an annual thing well I dont want Canucks playing in the tournament. Too much at stake as it backs onto the final push of the season. Players are spent to start the playoffs they dont really need this.

I loved the old Canada Cup in Sept. Got players ready for the season, and if there was an injury there was time, usually, to heal for the playoffs.

As for Russia, why not compete as a player from Russia as they do in the Olympics rather than as part of the Russian Federation? I get Per saying that the other European countries would pull out, so let them. Not that I want to reward Russians as I am vehemently opposed to the war on Ukraine but the double standard is striking.

And what about those non NHL players who would make their national team(s). This is an NHL cash grab but I am prepared to see it for the one year.

I'd be fine if they cancelled the All Star game and gave every team a by week.

Yeah. Punishing hockey players who have absolutely no say in what their totalitarian government decides to do is just stupid.

Mëds wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 10:11 pm

Hockey Widow wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 9:43 pm If it is a one off tournament used as prep for the Olympics I can get behind it. But as an annual thing well I dont want Canucks playing in the tournament. Too much at stake as it backs onto the final push of the season. Players are spent to start the playoffs they dont really need this.

I loved the old Canada Cup in Sept. Got players ready for the season, and if there was an injury there was time, usually, to heal for the playoffs.

As for Russia, why not compete as a player from Russia as they do in the Olympics rather than as part of the Russian Federation? I get Per saying that the other European countries would pull out, so let them. Not that I want to reward Russians as I am vehemently opposed to the war on Ukraine but the double standard is striking.

And what about those non NHL players who would make their national team(s). This is an NHL cash grab but I am prepared to see it for the one year.

I'd be fine if they cancelled the All Star game and gave every team a by week.

Yeah. Punishing hockey players who have absolutely no say in what their totalitarian government decides to do is just stupid.

I get what you say, but totalitarian regimes often use successful athletes in their propaganda. Thus blocking them from participation deprives the regime of a propaganda tool. Just look at Ovechkin's instagram profile pic. I can't believe Washington hasn't made him take that down.


And to add insult to injury he is also giving the two finger salute...!

Anyway, from what I understand individual athletes from Russia can participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics, but with neutral clothing, no anthem and no flag. Teams are trickier, because no matter what you do, they will be seen as representing their country.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individua ... r_Olympics

I don't think things are set in stone yet for the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the IIHF has made it clear that Russia and Belarus can not participate in the hockey tournament.

Per wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2024 4:39 am

Anyway, from what I understand individual athletes from Russia can participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics,

I will watch the boxing, wrestling and any event with guns where Russian and Ukrainian athletes square off.

Per wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2024 2:38 pm Canada and the USA don’t take the World Championship seriously, and so they want to have a dress rehearsal before the first real international tournament with all the best players participating since 2014.

Not really that we don't take it seriously, just that many of NA's best are still playing relevant NHL hockey.

Canada announced the first selections

McDavid
McKinnon
Crosby
Marchand
Point
Makar

Can’t figure who could be in the running for next selections

Barzal
Marner
Scheiffle
Bedard
Morrisey
Reinhart
Konecny
Chabot
Horvat
McTavish
Power
Byfield
Cozens
Johnston
Lafreniere
Jarvis
Dobson
Bouchard
Suzuki
Ekblad
Fantilli