NHL International Tournament: it won’t be a World Cup in 2025

After many years without an NHL-sponsored international tournament, the wait appears to be drawing to a close. According to Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the National Hockey League and the Players’ Association are close to reaching an agreement on a mid-season international tournament.

According to the details provided by Seravalli, the tournament should take place in 2025. But what’s really interesting is that it wouldn’t be a World Cup like in 2016.

From Stockholm: The #NHL/#NHLPA‘s international tournament in 2025 will not be a World Cup of Hockey.

And it won’t include Russia or Russian players.

More info @DailyFaceoff on the 4-team tournament that they’re putting the finishing touches on: https://t.co/mrjLjn1Xsr pic.twitter.com/pnBzjYrrwr

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) November 20, 2023

And yet, the concept had been greatly appreciated by hockey fans, even though it gave players from weaker hockey countries a chance to take part in the tournament without fear of being washed out by 10 goals. I’m talking about Team Europe, which made it all the way to the final in 2016!

But no. No Team Europe this time. That’s like telling Leon Draisaitl, Roman Josi, Anze Kopitar and several other players that they won’t be able to have fun with the others.

It also means that the North American 23-and-under team won’t exist either. The 2016 squad included several hockey nuggets. I’ll let you take a look for yourself.

Team North America announces initial roster for World Cup of Hockey 2016. #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/AnOm8oFGFO

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 2, 2016

Now that was the kind of hockey people wanted to see. It would stick, however, for a tournament made up of just four teams. We’re talking about Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.

Unsurprisingly, no Russian players will be able to take part in the event, as the NHL will not accept the participation of a team representing their country.

The good news is that the NHL describes the 2025 tournament as a “foretaste” of the international hockey that awaits players in the years to come.

The International Olympic Committee, the NHL and the Players’ Association are said to be close to an agreement to allow the league’s players to play at the Milan Olympics in 2026. The small four-team tournament would allow hockey fans to enjoy a bit of good international hockey before falling back into the real big tournaments.

According to Frank Seravalli, the NHL would like to have an international tournament every two years, alternating between the World Cup of Hockey and the Olympic Games.

Following this logic, the World Cup of Hockey should return in 2028 if all goes according to plan.

I must admit, I’m really looking forward to seeing the world’s best players representing Canada again. A good old-fashioned Canada vs. USA showdown is always a thrill to watch.

Gossip

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– Pittsburgh must get back on track.

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– Nice move by the Rocket.

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