James Tanner: Random Thougts in the Summer About Hockey (plus a bonus movie review) Summer is boring

I'd also like to see a World Cup type event being held during summer time. Every 4 years sounds reasonable.

I'd also like to see a World Cup type event being held during summer time. Every 4 years sounds reasonable.
- ClarkHitsBell

I always used to get so pumped for the tourny when I was a kid. Baseball is fun and all, but even with the season being almost 9 months long, I could still use some summer hockey. Or I could just go outside, I guess.

I don't know how much you guys pay attention to the hockey world (especially you James), but the World Cup is coming back in 2 years.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...2016-world-cup-of-hockey/

I don't know how much you guys pay attention to the hockey world (especially you James), but the World Cup is coming back in 2 years.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...2016-world-cup-of-hockey/
- BruHAWK

Not official yet.

Also, doesn't change the fact that there was no hockey this summer cause they went to the Olympics, nor my point about the arbitrary nature of the Olympics.

But I hope you enjoy your 'gotcha' cause there just isn't enough of that,generally, on the internet.

I see there being a issue with NHL players participating. Summer is their downtime. So it would have to consist of ahl and other junior league players particpating to make full rosters.....or just have every teams training camp prospects have a 15 game season along with playoffs. That could be something.

I see there being a issue with NHL players participating. Summer is their downtime. So it would have to consist of ahl and other junior league players particpating to make full rosters.....or just have every teams training camp prospects have a 15 game season along with playoffs. That could be something.
- KxKodiak47

They never used to have any trouble getting guys to play.

Not official yet.

Also, doesn't change the fact that there was no hockey this summer cause they went to the Olympics, nor my point about the arbitrary nature of the Olympics.

But I hope you enjoy your 'gotcha' cause there just isn't enough of that,generally, on the internet.
- James_Tanner

Well, I figured that someone who has enough interest in hockey to write for a hockey site, should know that the World Cup is returning. Even if they didn't go to the Olympics this year, there wouldn't have been a World Cup. Let's call a spade, a spade. This was the most useless blog ever on this site. Half the blog was about how the NHL should bring back the World Cup (two months after they basically announced it's returning) and the other half was a tongue in cheek movie review of Lethal Weapon... Bravo Tanner, Bravo.

Well, I figured that someone who has enough interest in hockey to write for a hockey site, should know that the World Cup is returning. Even if they didn't go to the Olympics this year, there wouldn't have been a World Cup. Let's call a spade, a spade. This was the most useless blog ever on this site. Half the blog was about how the NHL should bring back the World Cup (two months after they basically announced it's returning) and the other half was a tongue in cheek movie review of Lethal Weapon... Bravo Tanner, Bravo.
- BruHAWK

Hey BruHawk give Mr. Tanner a break he is writing for the Arizona Coyotes remember!!!Trust me nothing going on there to write about just same lame status quo franchise so he has to write about movies and the World Cup just to fill the Coyote blog.

Not official yet.

Also, doesn't change the fact that there was no hockey this summer cause they went to the Olympics, nor my point about the arbitrary nature of the Olympics.

But I hope you enjoy your 'gotcha' cause there just isn't enough of that,generally, on the internet.
- James_Tanner

Your point about the arbitrary nature of the olympics really isn't accurate though. Look at the TV ratings both of hockey and every other sport. People care because its the olympics. From the NHL's point of view, this provides great exposure of the game to many who otherwise don't watch or don't know much about the game. A world cup of hockey would primarily be watched by hockey fans.

So basically you want the Olympics to be on NHL size ice, to take place in summer, to not be run by the IOC, and to always be in your country.

You would also like to take every casual non-hockey fan watching the Olympics because of the massive national coverage and throw their ratings in the toilet.

Your point about the arbitrary nature of the olympics really isn't accurate though. Look at the TV ratings both of hockey and every other sport. People care because its the olympics. From the NHL's point of view, this provides great exposure of the game to many who otherwise don't watch or don't know much about the game. A world cup of hockey would primarily be watched by hockey fans.
- rmdevil313

It would be like the world cup of hockey to me or the Spangler, Risk players health for something that doesn't matter. I would much rather a league-wide prospect tournament to gauge what prospect pools are actually the strongest. It would at least hold a fact vs. Opinion intrigue for me. Scrap all the mini pre season tournaments, hold it a little earlier, and see who has the pound for pound brightest set of prospects.

Your point about the arbitrary nature of the olympics really isn't accurate though. Look at the TV ratings both of hockey and every other sport. People care because its the olympics. From the NHL's point of view, this provides great exposure of the game to many who otherwise don't watch or don't know much about the game. A world cup of hockey would primarily be watched by hockey fans.
- rmdevil313

Your point, about the NHL getting benefits from the Olympics is 100% I didn't really think of it in terms of exposure, so you are right about that. However, my point about how arbitrary the Olympics actually is basically irrefutable.

So basically you want the Olympics to be on NHL size ice, to take place in summer, to not be run by the IOC, and to always be in your country.

You would also like to take every casual non-hockey fan watching the Olympics because of the massive national coverage and throw their ratings in the toilet.
- Sandus

I don't care about ratings. I don't care about casual non-hockey fans, not even a little bit. Also, since the NHL doesn't get any money from the Olympic ratings, a Canada Cup is way better for them, profit wise. Sure, the Olympics help to grow the game, but big deal hockey's a little past that.

And yes to everything else you said. Although I couldn't afford tickets anyways so they could hold the damn thing in Alaska for all I care.

I don't care about ratings. I don't care about casual non-hockey fans, not even a little bit. Also, since the NHL doesn't get any money from the Olympic ratings, a Canada Cup is way better for them, profit wise. Sure, the Olympics help to grow the game, but big deal hockey's a little past that.

And yes to everything else you said. Although I couldn't afford tickets anyways so they could hold the damn thing in Alaska for all I care.
- James_Tanner

First bold, that's good for you but the NHL does.

Second bold, that's basically bettman's job, to grow the game. In no way is the NHL "a little past that." There's plenty of room for growth both in the US and overseas.

Your point, about the NHL getting benefits from the Olympics is 100% I didn't really think of it in terms of exposure, so you are right about that. However, my point about how arbitrary the Olympics actually is basically irrefutable.
- James_Tanner

Maybe for you it is irrefutable that they are arbitrary, but as I just told you the numbers say otherwise. The rest of the world cares when the olympics are on.

Good luck getting NHL players off their boats & out of their cottages in the summer