NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, two years after NHL players are set to compete in the Olympics. While details of the tournament are still being finalized, including the possibility of Russia's inclusion, the league confirmed that the event will take place in February 2028. The bidding process for host cities and venues is expected to begin soon.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman addressed the media before the Canada vs. Sweden game at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off on February 12, 2025, in Montreal. Alongside NHL Players’ Association executive director Marty Walsh , Bettman announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, two years after NHL players are expected to compete in the Olympics . Bettman expressed excitement about the prospect of regular tournaments featuring the world's best hockey players representing their countries.
While the specifics of the men's international tournament remain unclear, including the possibility of Russia's inclusion, the World Cup is anticipated to take place in February 2028 instead of an NHL All-Star weekend at a yet-to-be-determined location. The league plans to commence the bidding process for host cities and venues in North America and Europe in the coming months. Russia's absence from the 4 Nations Face-Off, which also includes the United States and Finland, stems from the ongoing war in Ukraine. The International Ice Hockey Federation has imposed a ban on Russia and Belarus from participating in events until at least the 2025-26 calendar year. Bettman stated that the NHL will carefully consider the situation before making a decision about Russia's involvement in the 2028 tournament, acknowledging Russia's rich hockey history and the presence of prominent Russian players in the NHL. He pointed to the need to observe the International Olympic Committee's actions and assess the global situation closer to the event. Walsh shared that Russian NHL players are eager to return to top-tier competition but that the prevailing geopolitical climate presents an obstacle. He expressed hope that as the Olympics and World Cup approach, Russian athletes will be reinstated into the competitions. The last NHL-organized World Cup was held in Toronto in 2016. It featured an under-23 Team North America, Team Europe (comprising all-stars from unrepresented countries), along with Canada, the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland, and Czechia. Bettman confirmed that the 2028 edition will involve at least eight teams and will not involve the merging of countries. The league previously hosted World Cups in 1996 and 2004, with the United States winning the inaugural tournament, and Canada succeeding in 2004 and 2016. Both the league and the players' association aspire to make the World Cup a recurring event. Walsh stated that they aim to establish a two-year cycle for these best-on-best competitions, believing it would be beneficial for the sport. Despite his 32 years as commissioner and approaching 73rd birthday in June, Bettman dismissed any immediate plans to retire, stating his enjoyment of the role and lack of alternative plans for the foreseeable future. The NHL and NHLPA have not yet initiated formal negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, but neither Bettman nor Walsh anticipate difficulties in reaching a deal well before the current agreement's expiration in September 2026. Walsh indicated that while they have work to be done internally before commencing talks, the commissioner desires a timely resolution. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly have observed the booing of the American national anthem in Canadian arenas due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats but remain hopeful that this trend will dissipate. Daly expressed the sentiment that while unfortunate, these incidents are occasional occurrences stemming from strong emotions, noting a potential decrease in negativity recently. Bettman monitors the value of the Canadian dollar daily, acknowledging its recent depreciation but stating that the NHL's system is designed to ensure competitiveness across all teams. He emphasized that the system accounts for currency fluctuations between Canada and the United States through revenue sharing, mitigating concerns about financial disparities
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