WJC vs NHL

Well the WJC are over and we are now back to watching the NHL. After two weeks of watching the juniors play for their respective countries, the NHLers just can't match the enthusiasm and energy of the "kids" and I find myself somewhat bored with NHL hockey. I realise that the skill level of the NHL is much higher and the players are bigger and faster but its just not "as good" somehow...

On a side note, the WJC proves to me that fighting is not necessary in hockey. The Canada/Russia and the Canada/USA games were some of the most exciting games I have watched in a few years and there was zero fighting. I think fighting is accepted at the NHL level to add entertainment/excitement but not "necessary" to hockey as some pundits would have us believe. Why is it that there are few "cheap" shots in the WJC yet the NHL can't get a handle on "cheap" shots thereby the arguement that fighting is necessary?

On a side note, the WJC proves to me that fighting is not necessary in hockey. The Canada/Russia and the Canada/USA games were some of the most exciting games I have watched in a few years and there was zero fighting. I think fighting is accepted at the NHL level to add entertainment/excitement but not "necessary" to hockey as some pundits would have us believe. Why is it that there are few "cheap" shots in the WJC yet the NHL can't get a handle on "cheap" shots thereby the arguement that fighting is necessary?

In some ways, a shorter tournament reduces the necessity for fighting, particularly one like the WJCs where the personnel change year after year.

There isn't a lot of bad blood, considering a team plays another team a maximum of twice in a tournament. It's certainly intense, and emotional, but not the grudge-creating kind.

In the NHL, they play each other far more often, and then might be thrust into the ultimate competition of a 7 game series against a single team.

That kind of animosity has to be exorcised somehow, and both benches watching two guys duke it out, and then calmly rap their sticks against the boards might be better than spearing each other.

The thing is, the WJC is basically a playoff series against multiple teams. Comparing it to regular season hockey is not comparing the same intense situation.

1. NHL Playoffs
2. WJC
3. Olympics
4. NHL Season
5. WC

That's my Big 5 for me.

Back to watching the NHL? screw that. Junior hockey is way better. I urge everyone to check out a WHL game, its the best junior league in Canada.

Back to watching the NHL? screw that. Junior hockey is way better. I urge everyone to check out a WHL game, its the best junior league in Canada.

slighty biased statement? lol

Major Junior Hockey as a whole is very exciting.

I've always found Jr hockey to be more exciting that regular season NHL games...sometimes more exciting than NHL playoff games too. The kids just seem so hungry and set to prove themselves most of the time. Also, the gap in the level of skill of players within a team and between teams is greater in Jr hockey than in the NHL so the truly elite players stand out more. Also, Jr players make a lot more mistakes. Mistakes usually lead to exciting things like scoring chances, goals, big hits, etc. The skill level isn't as high but the entertainment value is generally higher IMO, especially once you factor in the respective ticket prices and the very rowdy crowds most Jr teams have.

The thing is, the WJC is basically a playoff series against multiple teams. Comparing it to regular season hockey is not comparing the same intense situation.

Bingo! The WCJ intensity comes from the fact that it's a short tourney. If you want to compare both, you should compare it to the Stanley Cup playoffs where the intensity is at its max.

I always laugh at comments like this. For me I am always most interested in highest levels

The WJC has become very big in Canada but when you get into the lower levels, where do you stop. I would argue that some of the U-17 games I watched this year were more "exciting" than the WJC. How about a game between two good Atom teams?

The WJC is exciting because there are so many mistakes made. I doubt that all the good junior players just lose their enthusiasm when they turn pro.

The WJC will never come close to the NHL for me.

1. NHL Playoffs
2. WJC
3. Olympics
4. NHL Season
5. WC

That's my Big 5 for me.

Can't argue with that.

Can't argue with that.

I can, I put the WJC ahead of the NHL playoffs.

Major junior hockey games are completely off the wall.

Theyre great entertainment for the money. Generals games are typically pretty insane. I remember going to a game last season where the Gens went up like 6-0 only to have St. Mikes come back and eventually win in a shoot-out.

Granted its the mistakes and unpolished nature of the play that makes it so exciting, but I dont care! :yo:

1. WJC
2. Memorial Cup
3. NHL Playoffs
4. Olympics
5. Major Junior Playoff game
6. Calder Cup Playoff game
7. NHL regular season game
8. World Cup of Hockey game
9. Major Junior regular season game
10. AHL regular season game

This happens every year. Big tournament rolls around, we win gold and then it's hard to get back into the swing of nhl hockey.

But then I think of Ovechkin, Crosby, Malkin and everything is alright again.

1. WJC
2. Memorial Cup
3. NHL Playoffs
4. Olympics
5. Major Junior Playoff game
6. Calder Cup Playoff game
7. NHL regular season game
8. World Cup of Hockey game
9. Major Junior regular season game
10. AHL regular season game

1. WJC
2. Olympics
3. NHL Playoffs
4. World Cup
5. World Hockey Championship

1. Olympics
2. NHL playoffs
3. NHL season
4. WHC
5. WJHC

Well the WJC are over and we are now back to watching the NHL. After two weeks of watching the juniors play for their respective countries, the NHLers just can't match the enthusiasm and energy of the "kids" and I find myself somewhat bored with NHL hockey. I realise that the skill level of the NHL is much higher and the players are bigger and faster but its just not "as good" somehow...

On a side note, the WJC proves to me that fighting is not necessary in hockey. The Canada/Russia and the Canada/USA games were some of the most exciting games I have watched in a few years and there was zero fighting. I think fighting is accepted at the NHL level to add entertainment/excitement but not "necessary" to hockey as some pundits would have us believe. Why is it that there are few "cheap" shots in the WJC yet the NHL can't get a handle on "cheap" shots thereby the arguement that fighting is necessary?

Cheer for a more exciting team then... and also the no fighting thing, in US college hockey makes it one of the dirtiest leagues in the world... or at least thats what they said today on OTR

To take the title of this thread on a different angle...

Team Canada, USA, Russia and Sweden could all beat the Senators in a best of 7 series.

The thing is, the WJC is basically a playoff series against multiple teams. Comparing it to regular season hockey is not comparing the same intense situation.

If you gave me the option of a WJHC Gold Medal game vs. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals I am gonna be tuned in to the former.

If you gave me the option of a WJHC Gold Medal game vs. Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals I am gonna be tuned in to the former.

Unless the teams in the final were Canucks, Red Wings, or Penguins I'm watching the Gold Medal game

I always laugh at comments like this. For me I am always most interested in highest levels

The WJC has become very big in Canada but when you get into the lower levels, where do you stop. I would argue that some of the U-17 games I watched this year were more "exciting" than the WJC. How about a game between two good Atom teams?

The WJC is exciting because there are so many mistakes made. I doubt that all the good junior players just lose their enthusiasm when they turn pro.

The WJC will never come close to the NHL for me.

Two good Atom teams you say? 10A wheaties vs Russel Rams when I was 10. Down 7-2 to Russel going into the third with local refs in Russel, we lost 8-7 with a goal disallowed :rant:
hey quiz time guess who current NHL draft pick(s) were on that team ;)

Its kind of ironic that most in this thread are saying they prefer WJC/Olympics to the NHL Playoffs when so many on these boards often complain about players who seem to prefer winning a gold medal over winning the Stanley Cup. Double Standard?? ;)

1. NHL Playoffs
2. Olympics (since '98)
3. WJHC
4. Any Edmonton Oiler Game (Old or New)
5. NHL Season
6. WHC
7. Memorial Cup
8. Local Hockey Action
9. Major Junior Regular Season
:)

And I didn't include World Cup, because I never know when the next one is, they just randomly appear.

Its kind of ironic that most in this thread are saying they prefer WJC/Olympics to the NHL Playoffs when so many on these boards often complain about players who seem to prefer winning a gold medal over winning the Stanley Cup. Double Standard?? ;)

I wouldn't say it's a double standard because the people you're referring to are talking about the WHC which runs in conjunction with the playoffs. If you look at the posts in this thread, everyone here has ranked the whc lower than the nhl playoffs.

The WJHC is great because the kids are basically playing on pure talent and adrenaline. The teams haven't generally been together for long enough to have drilled in their systems as well as the coaches would like, so you see guys making mistakes and having to make up for it with sheer talent and will. Strong tactical hockey is great, but it's nice to have a breath of fresh air like the WJHC.

Honest question for some of you:



If Canada still played with amazing heart and effort but was, say, at Slovakia's level at WJC......would you still consider it as entertaining? Or do you find it entertaining because it's the only tournament where the team you support (albeit NHL, junior, international) pretty much runs the table?


Because, IMO, in terms of entertainment value, top to bottom, it's really no different than any other tournament (olympics, stanley cups).....there's some crazy monumental games but also a bunch of snooze fests.

Honest question for some of you:



If Canada still played with amazing heart and effort but was, say, at Slovakia's level at WJC......would you still consider it as entertaining? Or do you find it entertaining because it's the only tournament where the team you support (albeit NHL, junior, international) pretty much runs the table?


Because, IMO, in terms of entertainment value, top to bottom, it's really no different than any other tournament (olympics, stanley cups).....there's some crazy monumental games but also a bunch of snooze fests.

Relative competitiveness is important.

If the scores were reversed in the USA and Russia games, I would still enjoy them. Win or lose, they were great games.

If team Canada wasn't dominant, and the Canada vs. Russia game happened between Canada and Latvia, it would still be enjoyable.

If we lost 15-0 to Sweden, I wouldn't enjoy it. The same way I don't enjoy beating Kazakhstan 15-0.

Honest question for some of you:



If Canada still played with amazing heart and effort but was, say, at Slovakia's level at WJC......would you still consider it as entertaining? Or do you find it entertaining because it's the only tournament where the team you support (albeit NHL, junior, international) pretty much runs the table?


Because, IMO, in terms of entertainment value, top to bottom, it's really no different than any other tournament (olympics, stanley cups).....there's some crazy monumental games but also a bunch of snooze fests.

If Canada played with the same heart and intensity we're known for...I don't think we would be at Slovakia's level. Not saying that to be rude or anything but those are the intangibles that have propelled us to the top.

1. NHL Playoffs
2. Olympics
3. WJC

NHL PLAYOFFS
OLYMPIC
NHL REGULAR SEASON
WHC
WJHC

I might be the only one in canada who doesn't like the world juniors to predictable

The WJHC is great because the kids are basically playing on pure talent and adrenaline. The teams haven't generally been together for long enough to have drilled in their systems as well as the coaches would like, so you see guys making mistakes and having to make up for it with sheer talent and will. Strong tactical hockey is great, but it's nice to have a breath of fresh air like the WJHC.

They aren't playing for the pay cheque as I like to say ;)

Honest question for some of you:



If Canada still played with amazing heart and effort but was, say, at Slovakia's level at WJC......would you still consider it as entertaining? Or do you find it entertaining because it's the only tournament where the team you support (albeit NHL, junior, international) pretty much runs the table?


Because, IMO, in terms of entertainment value, top to bottom, it's really no different than any other tournament (olympics, stanley cups).....there's some crazy monumental games but also a bunch of snooze fests.

I'll watch pretty much any WJHC game that's televised.

I think familiarity is a big advantage for other countries in the senior tournaments. Especially the WHC. You see alot of teams with players who play with each other all year on a team like the Czechs. You also see an advantage with guys playing with the same guys internationally their whole careers because they don't have the talent pool to draw from. Add into that, that euro teams young players often get all taught the same systems growing up and there is a lot working in their favour.All of the CHL leagues are unique styles of hockey. What makes it interesting in this tournament is seeing the different styles mold together, with not much familiarity to draw from.

NHL PLAYOFFS
OLYMPIC
NHL REGULAR SEASON
WHC
WJHC

I might be the only one in canada who doesn't like the world juniors to predictable

Too predictable? You expected Slovakia to finish 4th and USA to lose to them? Congrats bud.

Too predictable? You expected Slovakia to finish 4th and USA to lose to them? Congrats bud.

Tell me when Kazahstan plays in the final.

Only teams that compete for the gold consistently in WJC are Canada, Russia, Sweden, and USA.

WJC are almost as predictable as Women's hockey.

But I do enjoy watching it but it comes nowhere near Stanley Cup playoffs or the Olympics.

I can, I put the WJC ahead of the NHL playoffs.

So you're telling me that you'd be more interested in the WJC than if the Habs made it to the Stanley Cup finals?

i watch the WJC before an NHL game.the same way i would watch Michigan football before an NFL game.:nod:

If everyone's favourite NHL team won 5 straight Stanley Cups a lot more people would be saying NHL playoffs. It is obviously more exciting if your team wins.

Over the past week I've streamed the games while also not watching a single NHL game. Then last night I watched Sharks Flames and was kind of surprised to see just how little room the pros had to work with. Huge 210 pound dudes and their pads taking up space anywhere I looked, while in the WJC games there was this sense of the just the right amount of space, not too much and not too little.

Tell me when Kazahstan plays in the final.

Only teams that compete for the gold consistently in WJC are Canada, Russia, Sweden, and USA.

WJC are almost as predictable as Women's hockey.

But I do enjoy watching it but it comes nowhere near Stanley Cup playoffs or the Olympics. You're right on icerocket!!! I can already tell you the winner of next year tournament drum roll please.......the winner will be team canada.

Too predictable? You expected Slovakia to finish 4th and USA to lose to them? Congrats bud. I predicted canada winning the gold against sweden tho???? when slovakia or germany plays in final then i'll start watching.;)

1. NHL Playoffs
2. WJC
3. Olympics
4. NHL Season
5. WC

That's my Big 5 for me.

You forgot..










1001. Spengler Cup