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

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Every two years is probably just the right amount of best on best international competition to keep it truly exciting every time it comes around. It's also enough to create some legitimate rivalries between the cores for the teams who might stick together on each team for 8-10 years.


8 Teams is also pretty good sizing for the World Cup. I wonder how they'll determine the 7th and 8th teams, will they do any sort of summer qualifier or just pick the 8 top ranked teams.

You've obviously got Canada/USA/Finland/Sweden/Czechia/Russia* as the top 6... But after that IMO it gets real dicey between Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia for those 7-8 spots. And even some countries on the rise like Belarus, Denmark, Latvia who could all be competitive against Switzerland for sure.

 

[Halakitlikethat]

Is Russia playing? If not, it doesn’t matter

It’s not best on best without Russia

 

[MessierII]

How will that work without the IIHF or co operation from other leagues? There aren’t enough Czech, Slovak, Swiss or German players to ice a roster of NHL players.

 

[kabidjan18]

Obviously some will come down to the execution of it but as a fan of INT hockey you have to be excited.

 

[Terry Yake]

no gimmick teams like we had in 2016 is a good start

 

[Kshahdoo]

How will that work without the IIHF or co operation from other leagues? There aren’t enough Czech, Slovak, Swiss or German players to ice a roster of NHL players.

NHL can work directly with leagues not IIHF...

 

[heksagon]

Finland sucks because tickets prices will ruin everything again

Yeah, you might be right.

I'd just hope they would've learned something from the past, but maybe that's wishful thinking.

 

[Albatros]

NHL can work directly with leagues not IIHF...

Sure, share millions with various European leagues just to have a few more teams. Not going to happen.

 

[Tuoppi]

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.

Maybe from AHL, ECHL, NCAA, CHL, USHL, SPHL...? Iihf should definately be involved.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Add Russia, Czechs, Slovaks and Germany I guess

 

[ItWasJustified]

I just don't know how it would be 8 teams without IIHF involved

This. Unless the NHL pay European leagues to have a break in the middle of their seasons I don't see it happening. There aren't enough Swiss or Slovaks playing in North America to have a full roster. And I don't see the domestic European leagues take a 2+ week break when their seasons are ≈10 games from their playoffs without a hefty compensation. It wouldn't make sense.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Why would we want to play hockey with you? Or indeed have anything to do with?

Who say you? It'll be an NHL tournament, and NHLers will do everything the league and NHLPA tell them. They care about money only.

 

[weklof]

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

I always favor that teams should be there on merit rather than who has the more star power.

So I'd like some sort of qualification tournament to fill out the tournament.

Say Canada, US, Finland, Sweden, Czechia (+ Russia if allowed back) are directly qualified. Then Switzerland, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Norway etc can compete for the final spots

 

[namttebih]

We need at least one gimmick team

It's true. Using only "NHL players", none of Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Latvia or Belorus can form a team. Slovakia barely can. This is using NHL, AHL and ECHL players, as well as players drafted who are still playing in Europe.

 

[waitin425]

Off season or some bastardized two week tournament? I only see off-season as an option for getting the proper games in there. Unless they do 2 x 4 team divisions. Play each team once. Seminfinals and then finals it would only be one more game this four game tourney. I wouldn't like that very much. Would prefer all 8 teams into playoffs quarterfinals and then paired down from there. I suppose that could be done in 2 weeks with games crammed in.

 

[viper0220]

All sounds amazing except for playing in Europe. That is a bad plan. Us and Canadian players stay home while the euros fly to Europe and then fly back a week later. Lot easier to have it all on one location so it's fair for everyone.

And if you think I'm wrong then please let Canada and USA play in Europe and fly back. They'd all be pissed.

Just cause a dude was born in Helsinki, Stockholm, kladno or Kosice...does not mean they want to fly there mid season to play 2 games and fly back.

I think they are flying first class, which is not bad.

 

[Voight]

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.

IMO it's impossible to split it between two continents if it's going to be held in the middle of the season. A lot easier to do that if it was in its historic spot of September.

I think they are flying first class, which is not bad.

I would say them flying first class is guaranteed, possibly flying private as they do in season.

 

[Voight]

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?

The problem with that is any guys who played in the playoffs (especially ones in the final four) will be exhausted. At least in mid season they haven't gone through the full grind yet.

Honestly I thought they'd be having this in its usual spot of before camp/pre season. For one if guys suffer injuries, good chance teams will get them back during the season as opposed to now where injuries may bleed into missed playoff games. If the tournaments at the beginning of September and a guy tears his ACL, you'll probably get him back before the playoffs.

 

[qc14]

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

Soccer leagues don't have an end-of-season tournament like the NHL does, and also already will take weeks off in the middle of the season for international games. There is also already the IIHF World Championships that get plaid in the summer. Competing with that would I'm sure be a non-starter for the IIHF and tank any chance of getting other leagues to release players and thus having anyone but the top 4 (or 5 when the Russia situation is resolved) teams play

 

[hangman005]

All sounds amazing except for playing in Europe. That is a bad plan. Us and Canadian players stay home while the euros fly to Europe and then fly back a week later. Lot easier to have it all on one location so it's fair for everyone.

And if you think I'm wrong then please let Canada and USA play in Europe and fly back. They'd all be pissed.

Just cause a dude was born in Helsinki, Stockholm, kladno or Kosice...does not mean they want to fly there mid season to play 2 games and fly back.

Well, if they host the whole thing there, it’s more fair.

I think the most fair thing is to hold it here in NZ... Gore has a rink they can use.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

All sounds amazing except for playing in Europe. That is a bad plan. Us and Canadian players stay home while the euros fly to Europe and then fly back a week later. Lot easier to have it all on one location so it's fair for everyone.

And if you think I'm wrong then please let Canada and USA play in Europe and fly back. They'd all be pissed.

Just cause a dude was born in Helsinki, Stockholm, kladno or Kosice...does not mean they want to fly there mid season to play 2 games and fly back.

Well, if they host the whole thing there, it’s more fair.

Having the whole thing in Europe would actually be fair. I mean, we have had things like Canada burying a lucky loonie in the ice when they have hosted it, Canadian fans causing fake fire alarms at the hotel of the opposing team the night before the game and.. - they would never have melted the ice and allowed Sweden to bury a lucky 1 Kronor in the ice.

So as it has been until now, the "Canada Cup/World Cup" has never been fair

 

[Bunch of Jurcos]

I love the opportunity to see more international hockey. My question is how do we quell the outrage should a player from a lower level league hurts an NHLer. I don't want it to happen but you know someone who is trying to make an impression to make the Olympics or just a name for themselves could easily go into business for themselves and really hurt an NHL teams chances of winning the cup. Minor thing to ponder but last nights game was awesome to see and I'd like more of it.

 

[NyQuil]

Having the whole thing in Europe would actually be fair. I mean, we have had things like Canada burying a lucky loonie in the ice when they have hosted it, Canadian fans causing fake fire alarms at the hotel of the opposing team the night before the game and.. - they would never have melted the ice and allowed Sweden to bury a lucky 1 Kronor in the ice.

So as it has been until now, the "Canada Cup/World Cup" has never been fair

Well, the “World” Championships have never been fair for North American teams.

Its been held in North America once in a hundred years?

I guess we can take the first step since I doubt Europe wants to make any changes to the IIHF tournament.

For the record, Canada actually never asked permission involving the loonie. It's not about being "allowed".

Canadian ice personnel were used at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City (USA), and they snuck it into the ice while they were flooding it.

In 2003, in Helsinki (FIN) at the World Championships, they snuck it in again, but in the padding of one of the nets, not in the ice. They obviously weren't maintaining the ice at the Finland tournament.

In 2008, Ovechkin dug it out of the ice after Russia defeated Canada in the Finals of the only "World" Championships ever hosted in Canada. As hosts, undoubtedly Canada doesn't need to ask permission.

As far as I know, that's the extent of its usage at the senior hockey level. It was never used at the World Cup or Canada Cup, or even when Canada hosted the Olympics in 2010.

Loonies were buried under venues for other sports, like curling and speed skating over the years.

We've been the victims of the fake fire alarm thing as well, it's not like it's a Canadian thing. Happens every time Canada plays soccer in Central America.

 

[ForumNamePending]

Given the tournament's history I think it's naive NOT to be highly skeptical of anything Bettman is saying regarding future World Cups. Ya, the NHL seems to have big/encouraging plans for 2028... If they pull it off it will be nice step forward, and something to build off of moving forward, but I'll believe it when I see it. I mean at one point the league/PA had big plans for the 2020 World Cup, and well...

Also, as others have said, I'm not sure how this can be a NHL/PA only production and still have 8 teams. I hope not, but perhaps the plan is to have something like France and Italy, filled with NHLers from Quebec and Woodbridge, instead of Switzerland or Slovakia, or whatever. Draisaitl's father was born in what is now Czechia, so maybe he plays for them instead of a not invited Germany.

 

[NyQuil]

Given the tournament's history I think it's naive NOT to be highly skeptical of anything Bettman is saying regarding future World Cups. Ya, the NHL seems to have big/encouraging plans for 2028... If they pull it off it will be nice step forward, and something to build off of moving forward, but I'll believe it when I see it. I mean at one point the league/PA had big plans for the 2020 World Cup, and well...

Also, as others have said, I'm not sure how this can be a NHL/PA only production and still have 8 teams. I hope not, but perhaps the plan is to have something like France and Italy, filled with NHLers from Quebec and Woodbridge, instead of Switzerland or Slovakia, or whatever. Draisaitl's father was born in what is now Czechia, so maybe he plays for them instead of a not invited Germany.

The real question is whether the World Championships are hosted in those years.

I'm sure the IIHF will want to do so, but you might see less star power in those years if guys are already going to the World Cup / Olympics.

Obviously you will still have guys who miss the NHL playoffs, but some of the marquee names from those eliminated teams likely won't want to do two tournaments.