NHL finally does something to help grow the game internationally

PUBLICATION

Matt Garland
August 24, 2022 (3:08 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

On Wednesday morning, the NHL and NHLPA acknowledged the two sides have agreed on the return of the World Cup of Hockey. The tournament will reportedly take place over two weeks in February of 2024.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly shared the NHL is «moving full steam ahead and continuing to have regular meetings», for the return of the World Cup of Hockey tournament in February of 2024. Daly made the comments at the NHL/NHLPA's European Media Tour this afternoon in Paris, France.

"We're out in market already moving ahead with plans for a February 2024 World Cup. We're still on schedule.»

Daly said the NHL and NHLPA are looking at a short list of markets to host games, including select European cities.

«We still want to play one pool in Europe, a preliminary round pool in Europe and a preliminary round pool in North America and move the semifinals and the final to a different city in North America likely. I think that short list would universally encompass more traditional hockey markets.»

The tournament would likely take place across 15 days in February, with a day on the front end and a day on the back end built in for travel purposes.

Daly also said there are discussions about adding two nations to the tournament, bringing the total to 10 to create a qualification round to get down to eight teams.

«I think longer term, that's our plan to have a qualification tournament at another time during the calendar. Given the short timeframe we have between now and February 2024, if we have a qualification stage, I think it's part of the tournament.»

This would be the first best-on-best hockey tournament of its kind since the last time the World Cup was held in 2016.

POLL
Will you watch the World Cup of Hockey?
Yes, it's the next best thing to the Olympics	106	67.1 %
No, I don't care about international hockey	52	32.9 %
List of polls