Lack of a Semi-Final Game
The NHL revealed the full schedule on the tournament's website, and for the most part, it looks pretty standard. All four teams play each other in a round-robin style, with the top two teams playing off in a one-game final.
All looks fine, but there is literally no drawback to there being a semi-final included.
The NHL will more money, another exciting game will take place, and there is certainly time for it, as the schedule features a three-day break between the final round robin game and the finals.
We saw a situation play out in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where the eight teams competing featured two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group from the round-robin phase qualifying for the semi finals.
Group B featured teams Sweden, Finland, Russia, and North America, with the Finns going 0-3, and the other three teams beating and losing to one of each other, each finishing 2-1. Team North America failed to reach the semi-finals, as the Swedes took top spot in the group, earning an extra point with an overtime loss, and while North America and Russia each had the same point total and goal differential, Russia moved on after beating North America in their own head-to-head match.
The iconic North America-Sweden game was the last time we ever saw Team North America play, and despite finishing 2-1, the exciting, young squad of future NHL stars failed to move on.
Another similar situation could play out this year, as another strong team could finish with a winning record and still not move on past the group stage.
There is no reason a semi-final game couldn't take place. The Memorial Cup has one in their tournament, and the 4 Nations should too.