1 million Swiss francs is about $827,000 U.S.. I wonder what's preventing the Stanley Cup champ from participating.
Fatigue. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are LONG. No GM is going to want his team, that just finsihed playing in June, to go over to Europe to play an exhibition tournament. Id like to see the Stanley Cup champs go over every year, but I dont think it will happen.. Aside from that, the Cup champs would dominate. Also, this way the NHL can send over whichever team it wants (meaning more varied and more recognizable clubs. I hope we see alot of the original 6 in this tournament. I really hope it catches on and is embraced by the North American market. Id love to see the Leafs play over there.
2008 IIHF European Champions Cup draw: http://www.iihf.com/news/iihfpr1107.htm Alexander Ragulin Division Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RUS) Slovan Bratislava (SVK) MODO Örnsköldsvik (SWE) Ivan Hlinka Division Kärpät Oulu (FIN) HC Davos (SUI) Sparta Prague (CZE) The winner will qualify for the 2008 Victoria Cup.
NHL draft [R] below, in case any one was taping it for some reason... Interesting idea. I like it. Also, with some of the drafts teams make, they could be playing against some of their own players. Being a nerd, I'd watch this if VS put it on TV. The New York Rangers seem like an obvious team to send over for this, though, maybe they wouldn't want to do it. They have a ton of European players* and a high profile in Europe as well. Plus, as an East Coast team, it's a much shorter flight for them than for the cup winning Ducks. Part of that European profile is Jagr of course, who is a legend, and you figure he'd draw well. Add in the Swedish goalie (Lundqvist) and the other Continentals on the team, it could be great. *(including today's draft that saw them add a top Russian in Cherapanov who just Warren Sapped to the Rangers at # 17, and looks to be a great pick. He's going to stay in Russia 1 more year, but he's pegged to be the next Kovalchuk, hopefully).
Here it is... Victoria Cup: Rangers challenge Metallurg New York Rangers (USA) vs. Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia) Not bad, but the NHL should start sending the Stanley Cup champion for a true global title.
Ironically, if the New York Rangers make a long playoff run, some of the issues mentioned earlier will come up. I.e. fatigue... The problem I see is that North Americans in general are much less nationalistic with regards to sports. Canadians expect their hockey teams to win and Americans are generally so ignorant of the world that most don't even realize Baseball and Basketball are international sports. This is a first step to a sort of World Club Championship. Remember the stanley cup started as a trophy for amateurs. So I am glad to see something get going like this. It should be a boon for European teams as well.
Football has something similar. Manchester United or Chelsea for example loaning players out to other clubs. Naturally because Hockey lacks such a transatlantic competition, the issue has never come up. It will be interesting how they resolve this. How about the rumors of Jagr going to the Russian league? He reminds of Yashin, shy of contact and often disinterested. I think he is just looking for an easy retirement. Even though he is really popular in the Czech Republic, they have produced much better players.