World Cup of Hockey

[Handsome&FairMike]

So who's everyone's favourite 16?

I like Canada, USA then Sweden. And that North American team looks pretty sexy too... gonna be a great tourney that's for sure. With the young guns and the Team Europe, virtually any team could take it.

[Fraser]

Won't be watching. Farce to what a sporting world cup should represent. The fact you have teams from tge same nation going head to head, potentially dividing a country, really ruins a lot of the appeal for me.

Every year Canadians but heads on what team they support but always came together for world cup, Olympics or whatever other best on best series. Now many will likely gravitate towards whichever team, the young guns or men's roster, that features more of their favourite or NHL team players. Dividing us again. Boring.

[Arian The Insider]

Money grab

[Handsome&FairMike]

Bah humbug. Will be a good tourney

[Shoalzie]

The gimmick teams are cheesy but they make a stronger 8-team field than if they went with Slovakia and then some other Euro qualifier (Switzerland, Germany, etc.).

It'll be weird seeing the U-23 team go against Team USA or Canada. Team USA would've benefited more from having their young talent being available compared to Canada. Maybe McDavid and Ekblad crack Team Canada's roster but the Canadians already have enough centers already.

Team USA desperately needs help down the middle and Eichel would've slotted into the top 6. They're in a transitional phase where some of the stars of the Vancouver silver medal team are too old. The prime American players are near or at 30 years old. The 2018 Olympic team should have Eichel, Larkin and Matthews cracking that lineup and probably Jones on defense. A new injection of talent to the national team is getting ready to happen.

[Shep]

I'll watch it, but I hate just about everything about it.

Under 23 team is an absolute travesty to nation vs. nation hockey. Team Europe, same thing.

I would much rather have teams like Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany etc. qualify in. Switzerland puts up a fight at every single international tournament. They play a defensive game and try to win all games 1-0 or 2-1. Sure, maybe guys like Kopitar aren't in this tournament every year, but it's the honour of playing for your country not playing for a conglomerate of countries.

Then there are the jerseys that Adidas decides needs their logo slapped down the side of all jerseys (outside of Team Europe). If this is a sign of things to come when they take over the NHL jerseys in 2017-2018, oh brother.

[The BBKL Insider]

Should be good hockey. Im excited to see the kids team but i do agree with shep