The NHL

[Green Monstah]

Until Putin is dead and they give back all Ukrainian territory, I hope they never can participate in international competition.

I'm sympathetic to this view, but I disagree. Although this was an NHL exhibition, the point of international sports is to come together to compete regardless of politics or oligarchy, etc., etc.

[Green Monstah]

I looked up one of the Tkachuck boys on wikipedia to see how old he was when I watched his dad score a hat trick for the Phoenix Coyotes in April of 98. The answer? 5 months old. Woof. I'm getting old.

[YOhio]

That tournament was incredible. NHL drops the most compelling, no-consequence event completely out of the blue (at least for non-fans) right in the middle of NBA All-Star weekend. Just brilliant and such a contrast. It's really fun when players seem to care. I'm not mad Canada won. America has been talking a lot of shit and kind of deserved it.

[Shaka]

That tournament was incredible. NHL drops the most compelling, no-consequence event completely out of the blue (at least for non-fans) right in the middle of NBA All-Star weekend. Just brilliant and such a contrast. It's really fun when players seem to care. I'm not mad Canada won. America has been talking a lot of shit and kind of deserved it.

Hockey players just seem to care. It's a stark contrast between them and the NBA stars. I think fans are starting to pay more attention to the distinction. I know the pundits have been hitting it hard.

As for me I've been taking it on the chin from my favorite Canadians. Good for them as they face the inevitable of becoming the 51st state.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The NHL has consistently been awful at marketing its product. Just terrible at it. The 4 nations face off appears to be an exception.

The NHL has a real opportunity right now to market this sport and try to gain traction, but I have zero faith in Bettman to do it. You have some great young stars in larger markets (Bedard in Chicago and Celebrini in San Jose). They failed to market Crosby. Unlike when Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews were coming up, you don't have these players up in Canada. The NHL has an opportunity right now, they should take it.

This type of add is a step in the right direction.