Fans missed the struggle of the best against the best.
In 2024, the long-held dream of thousands of fans will finally come true – the Ice Hockey World Cup will still be held again, for the fourth time in history. It has not been possible to gather the best hockey players at one international tournament since 2016. And eight years have passed since the Sochi Olympics, where NHL players last participated.
However, it is quite possible that the fans will not be satisfied again. The World Cup is held under the auspices of the NHL, and league bosses are still doubting whether they should invite the national team to the tournament Russia. This means that battles between the best and the best may not actually take place…
But American fans are sure that the Russians should participate.
The best against the best
At the World Championships, national teams are often not represented in the strongest composition. Star players are sometimes involved in the NHL playoffs, then they simply refuse the tournament, which is considered not so prestigious. As a result, fans are waiting for the Olympic Games, which made it possible to see the best-versus-the-best format. However, this event is quite rare – fans have to wait four years to see space-level hockey.
This was until 2016, when the NHL decided to revive the World Cup, which had last been held in 2004. The main distinguishing feature of this tournament is the absence of passing opponents. The organizers tried to achieve this by reducing the number of participants. So, 16 teams played at the last World Cup, 12 at the Olympics, and 8 at the KM-2016. Therefore, it is not surprising that for some hockey players the prestige of the KM is comparable to the Olympics. The Russian team, by the way, took part in all three draws of the tournament – but never reached the final.
For fans, the revival of the KM in 2016 was a big deal, as they now seemed to be able to watch international top-level hockey twice as often — every two years instead of four years, if you count the Olympics. But it turned out that it was the 2016 World Cup that became the last international competition where NHL stars played together with representatives of other leagues. At KM-2024, the meeting of the strongest players on the planet may again become possible.
True, there is one “but”. The 2024 tournament may turn out to be inferior for another reason, namely, due to the non-admission of Russian hockey players, without whom it is impossible to imagine the modern NHL. There can be no question of any battle of “the best with the best”! Take at least the ratings that were compiled this summer. Most of the lines in the top 10 best goalkeepers of the past season were occupied by Russian keepers. And the current owner of the Vezina Trophy is Igor Shesterkin. The rating of the best extreme forwards was headed by our compatriots alone. Playing with such wingers as Alexander Ovechkin, Nikita Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov is the dream of any center forward.
Fans of clubs where our compatriots are leaders would watch matches involving Russia, which would improve the ratings of the tournament. In this regard, Ovechkin stands out in particular – many North American fans would turn on the matches of our team just to follow him. After all, before the start of each NHL season, there are only two intrigues: who will take the cup and how much Ovi will close the gap on goals against Gretzky. And no one has canceled the spectacular confrontation between Ovechkin and Crosby.
With or without a flag?
American fans came to the unanimous conclusion that our players should participate in the tournament. There is only disagreement about how it will look like. The most popular opinion is that we need to return to the example of the last Olympics, where our team competed without national symbols.
– It all comes down to the fact that individual athletes are not to blame. By allowing them to fly under a neutral flag, we will allow them to continue to compete and bring out the best. It sounds awkward, but I prefer this option to a complete ban on the Russian team, writes VeryLastChance
However, there were also those who believe that it is not necessary to ban Russian symbols:
— I don’t understand how players from country X can be allowed to participate in the tournament without being allowed to use their flag and anthem. Everyone will call them the Russian team, and not as they are called officially. If you’re going to let them compete, let them compete normally, says Smith94Oilers
Yes, either exclude them or include them. The gesture forcing Russian players to play under the white flag is pointless, agrees superworking.
There are some really weird options too. Thus, the fans propose to create a new team to participate in the World Cup – the Eastern European team. However, it is obvious that 90% of its composition will be Russian players. There is also an idea to create a team consisting of NHL players whose countries can be excluded from participation in the tournament, that is, Russians and Belarusians.
In the NHL, no statements have been made so far, and this is already good. The North American League could immediately refuse our hockey players. But so far, only vague comments have been given there.
What is Russian participation? Is it the participation of Russia or the participation of Russian players? How can this be organized if we strive for it? It’s one of the things we need to evaluate,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said.
Hopes for a positive outcome of the case are given by the fact that American fans one way or another are on the side of the Russians – and they want to see the battle of the best against the best at the tournament. Without our players, obviously, it will be impossible.