Bettman Confirms World Cup in 2028 (At Least 8 Nations)

[heksagon]

Tampere, time to send your bid.

 

[Speedy Cerviche]

Russia is banned in almost everything...

I'd guess sub Germany with Russia

 

[Smif]

Start the season in September.

I know they want to avoid football and maybe give the players more summer vacation but selfishly I’m always in the mood for hockey when school starts up.

100%. It's always been crazy to me that kids hockey starts before the NHL.

 

[garbageteam]

International hockey went from totally dead to totally back in the span of five years.

 

[centipede2233]

I’m happy they are expanding to 8 teams. If anything has been noticeable, nations outside the top 4/5 have caught up. Even Latvia can be competitive and have a chance to win a game on any night. Hockey is also a sport where the best talent doesn’t always win. You play a trap style defensive structure and capitalize on defence errors like Latvia, you got a punchers chance.

 

[HuGo Sham]

That’s my best guess. Big loss to have no Draisaitl, although I’m assuming Germany would replace Russia if you know what isn’t resolved.

and Stutzle - but you're correct and I was thinking the same. Maybe there's a play-in for like 3 teams? Latvia (10) v Germany v Switzerland ?

I see Slovakia (9) is ranked lower than Germany (8) and Switzerland is ranked 5th in the world

 

[Smif]

I guess + Russia, Czechia, Slovakia and Switzerland

How many teams play in the Olympics?

 

[HuGo Sham]

How many teams play in the Olympics?

12

 

[Satans Hockey]

Since they can't do 8 teams with only having NHL guys playing I'm curious to see who they add on those teams for countries that won't have enough NHL players.

 

[Zero Pucks Given]

This set up (World Cup and Olympics) was a long time coming

 

[Moose Head]

Just don’t split it across two continents.

They tried that in 2004 and it makes teams have to travel quite a bit right before the medal games.

Ideally, if it becomes a thing, rotate it with Europe. 2028 NA, 2032 Europe ect…..

 

[NyQuil]

Ideally, if it becomes a thing, rotate it with Europe. 2028 NA, 2032 Europe ect…..

In principle it makes sense.

In reality, by the time we get to 2032, Bettman probably won’t be in charge anymore and the NHL may have moved in a different direction.

They don’t exactly have a reliable track record for consistency when it comes to international hockey.

 

[thebestnic]

Start the season in September.

I know they want to avoid football and maybe give the players more summer vacation but selfishly I’m always in the mood for hockey when school starts up.

Better that than hockey in June to be honest

 

[takimaki]

It took Bettman far too long, but he finally seems to have gotten it done.

How to determine the 8 teams that participate should be interesting.

 

[willy702]

If this was as big an event as the NHL thinks it should be, play it after the season ends like they do for soccer. If guys want to play for country that badly and their fans will follow it as close as they think, then a tourney that starts in mid June and ends by first week of July should work. I have my doubts

And even though I always get called crazy for suggesting it, why isn't hockey played into the summer Olympics? If basketball and soccer, two sports that basically take summer off at the professional level are summer sports, why shouldnt hockey be part of that?

 

[robertmac43]

Rotating with the Olympics is amazing. The consistency is going to amazing for the players league, and fans.

 

[MadCGN]

If Russia is allowed to play, why not with 9 or 10 Teams? So you bring Swiss, Germans, Slovaks and maybe Latvians into it.

I like the idea of having one host city or maybe near by Cities for the whole tournament. This traveling thing in 1996 / 2004 makes no sense.

Too bad that IIHF is not yet involved. I hope they will find a agreement.

 

[tarheelhockey]

And even though I always get called crazy for suggesting it, why isn't hockey played into the summer Olympics? If basketball and soccer, two sports that basically take summer off at the professional level are summer sports, why shouldnt hockey be part of that?

There’s a reason you get called crazy for this.

 

[Beau Knows]

This is what they should have been doing the whole time.

 

[Jaska]

Ideally, if it becomes a thing, rotate it with Europe. 2028 NA, 2032 Europe ect…..

Also, taking the Olympic locations to the rotation.

 

[coolboarder]

My opinion is that the regular season schedule needs a massive makeover as we don't want to see any injury just before the playoffs begins. My suggestion is to have regular season starting in the summer and ending with Stanley Cup Finals just before the Olympics/World Cup begins and no more spring hockey. For non-Olympics year, just have the Stanley Cup Final at end of February. Hockey seasons begin in first week of August, that way players having its proper off-season from March to June and have training camp holding during July with full 82 games schedule and the playoffs, making it possible to have the outdoor hockey during the playoffs for maximum of people watching playoff hockey outdoor.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

Russia needs to be one of the 8

 

[Kshahdoo]

If Russia is allowed to play, why not with 9 or 10 Teams? So you bring Swiss, Germans, Slovaks and maybe Latvians into it.

I like the idea of having one host city or maybe near by Cities for the whole tournament. This traveling thing in 1996 / 2004 makes no sense.

Too bad that IIHF is not yet involved. I hope they will find a agreement.

Belarus will have the better team than Latvia in 2028...