What would make World Cup of Hockey successful? (Puck Daddy Roundtable)

The 2016 World Cup of Hockey begins on Saturday, and hockey fans around the world are approaching the event with enthusiasm, curiosity and considerable prayer that there’s no human cost for this exhibition tournament.

What would make the World Cup of Hockey successful? We asked our panel of experts that very thing.

What would make the World Cup successful in your estimation? Put the answers in the comments!

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy Editor

The World Cup of Hockey is going to be a success no matter what, because it’s setting its own bar. It’s not the 2004 or 1996 tournaments. It’s something different: Created less for national pride than for entertainment, monetary gain and political influence over the International Olympic Committee. So let’s look at it in those terms.

As far as entertainment goes, the hockey should be extraordinary … for September. There’s going to be varying degrees of fitness and effectiveness. There are going to be rusty games from goalies and players who miss assignments. But it won’t lack for highlights, which is great news for ESPN, and it won’t lack for palpable drama when these prideful players face elimination, which is great news for the rest of us.

(A word about ESPN: My hopes have diminished that this tournament is going to be promoted across the board on ESPN. There’s too much football and baseball to allow for much commentary on a sport these hosts and producers don’t cover to begin with. But the coverage itself should be stellar. At least in the arena.)

As far as monetary gain goes, it’s going to be a revenue-generating blockbuster. The gear is selling well. The games have sold well, at least initially – the struggle of ticket brokers to unload less desirable afternoon games is real, and we’re going to see empty seats at, say, Finland and Sweden. The sponsors are on board and, as we’ve seen, on the jerseys themselves.

Monetary gain is directly tied to our third consideration. As far as the IOC goes, it’s going to see a tournament that will generate interest and pump money to the NHL and its players through streams the Olympics refuse to open to them. The idea that the NHL has gone to the Olympics since 1998 but still can’t sell branded Olympic merchandise featuring its players is ridiculous. Remember that when you see how many Crosby Team Canada and McDavid Team North America shirts and jerseys are roaming the ACC.

Ultimately, I’m conflicted. I know the better the World Cup does, the less the chances the NHL is compelled to continue Olympic participation are. The question is whether a successful World Cup of Hockey does anything to compel the IOC to cover the players’ insurance costs or increase benefits for their families at the Games or allow the NHL to better monetize a two-and-a-half-week interruption to its season.

Especially when – and let’s be completely honest here – the IOC knows that the players at the World Cup give infinitely more craps about winning Olympic gold than whatever the hell the World Cup trophy is.

Sean Leahy, Puck Daddy Editor

No major injuries suffered and a final series that isn’t a cakewalk.

Josh Cooper, Puck Daddy Editor

A strong showing by Canada, the United States and Team North America. This tournament is in a North American timezone to give it greater visibility on this side of the world than the Olympics. If those teams perform, it’ll make the tournament a success and give ESPN recognizable teams to push

Jen Neale, Puck Daddy Editor

Die-hard puck heads are going to watch no matter what. For this to be a success with casual fans, every single game needs to be competitive. Watching one team get blown out is boring and leads to apathy.

The tournament is already a success in Canada. In the U.S., the NHL needs to use the World Cup as a way to draw new fans in for the upcoming season. Much of this is on the rights holders, ESPN, to deliver a quality show and throw their big machine at it, which they really haven’t done. Turn on Sportscenter and you’re lucky if you get at least a minute of talk on the tournament. Not ideal.

We’ll know for sure if this is a success if the NHL sees a boost in attendance and ratings at the end of the season.

Ryan Lambert, Puck Daddy Columnist

As long as the hockey is more entertaining than standard NHL exhibition games, I’m ready to call this a moral success if not a financial one. And frankly I don’t care if it’s a financial success in the first place.

J.P. From Japers’ Rink

First and foremost, no significant injuries, especially to star players. Any awareness of the tournament outside of the NHL’s established fan base would be nice (and somewhat surprising). But really, any result other than Canada winning would qualify as a successful tourney in my eyes.

Sam McCaig, Yahoo Sports NHL Editor

Here’s a hat trick of potential outcomes that would behoove the 2016 World Cup of Hockey:

Canada-USA final: This is the most compelling matchup, at least from our (admittedly biased) North American vantage point. Runners-up: Canada-Russia, USA-Russia, Canada/USA-Team North America.

Team North America emerges: The kids were all speed and excitement in the pre-tournament games. Who doesn’t want to see Connor McDavid & Co. go up against their big brothers on Team Canada or Team USA?

Russian invasion: You know who’s been desperate for some international success for quite some time? Alex Ovechkin and the Russians, that’s who. They’ve certainly got the firepower to do something about it.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.