The NHL and NHLPA wish to deliver again a Hockey World Cup or some type of a world match, as Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday forward of the NHL’s return to the Olympics in 2026. Nonetheless, what followers find out about a Hockey World Cup in a standard is not going to occur in February 2025.
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This new worldwide match will consist of 4 groups. The US, Canada, Sweden and Finland. Russia is not going to be concerned on this match due to what is going on on the planet.
As ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski had talked about Russian participation, the NHL had talked about Russian gamers competing below a impartial title and flag within the subsequent Hockey World Cup, relatively than instantly representing their nation.
In accordance with Frank Seravalli of Each day Faceoff, international locations like Sweden and Finland didn’t wish to take part on this worldwide hockey match if the Russians had been concerned.
There are conflicting stories about the place video games may be performed. In accordance with Wyshynski, the proposed format might see two matches performed in North America, between Canada and the US, whereas Sweden and Finland might play two in every of these two international locations.
Nonetheless, this is probably not the case.
In accordance with Dave Pagnotta who was on Sirius I do not suppose they closed the occasion. I believe it could be centralized by the sounds of it. So if it principally replaces All-Star Weekend, or it might change into an extension of All-Star Weekend, one or the opposite relying on who you discuss to.
The Hockey World Cup needs to be the most effective on the most effective
It definitely feels like it is going to be a mini-tournament of types. Every week, 10 day type of occasion. After which, , go a bit bit farther from there. However that is why I believe they wish to preserve it centralized. Or at the least preserve the markets considerably shut collectively.”
As soon as once more, the winners of these matchups, both by factors or whole targets, would tackle the second-best group from the opposite matchup – almost definitely in North America. The winners of these ‘semifinals’ would then meet for the match championship, leaving open the opportunity of the US and Canada assembly in that ultimate match.
This opens the NHL and NHLPA to questions in regards to the younger and rising stars in different hockey international locations such because the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland.
The NHL and NHLPA haven’t participated in an precise World Cup of Hockey since 2004. The final World Cup of Hockey 2016 featured Staff North America and Staff Europe. As soon as once more not a standard World Cup within the sense of what we noticed in 1996 and 2004 and even earlier than that within the Canada Cup.
The final best-on-best match was the 2014 Olympic Video games in Sochi.