The confrontation of the 4 nations was a great success not only for the NHL, but for the hockey game in general.
But the NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, is not sure that the tournament returns during the 2025-26 season.
Making an appearance in “The Rich Eisen Show”, Bettman explained why the League will have to think a lot and how the tournament would fit next year in the calendar due to the Winter Olympic Games and the Hockey World Cup too.
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The NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman, answers questions from the media before a game between Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche in T-Mobile Arena. (Images of Lucas Peltier-Imagn)
“Success has been so fast and overwhelming,” Bettman said. “We have many things to consider and solve, including how our stars game seems like in the future. But, look, everything was fine.”
The confrontation of the 4 nations was played instead of the traditional stars game this year, and presented world teams from the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
Bettman called him a “fast snack” for the other international hockey that will be played in the coming years. The Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, will begin in 2026, and the Hockey World Cup will return for the first time since 2016 in 2028 and will continue every four years later.
The FEGING CHAMPIONSHIP OF 4 Nations of the United States. 4 nations accumulates the historical audience as the tense rivalry continues
The NHL previously did not allow its players to participate in the last two winter Olympic Games. But the League will allow its players to do it, starting next year in Milan.
In terms of the Hockey World Cup, Bettman said the goal is to “make a complete world cup, as seen in football.” The tournament will be in Europe and North America.
The US team striker. UU. Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with the US team striker Nations in Bell Center. (Images of David Kirouac-Imagn)
Then, while Bettman said he wasn’t sure if the confrontation of the 4 nations would return, he told Eisen that he was asking “the correct absolute question.”
“I still don’t have all the right answers,” Bettman continued.
The confrontation of the 4 nations was a great success, especially considering how boring sports fans have found some All-Star games, especially in the NHL and the NBA in recent years.
There was a true sense of pride of the four countries, including the final of the championship between the US team. And the Canada team, which finally ended with Connor McDavid scoring the winning goalkeeper of the game in extra time.
The NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, speaks with the media before the game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Senators of Ottawa in the Canadian Tire Center. (Images of Marc Desrosiers-Imagn)
Due to success, hockey fans believed that it only made sense that the League continued to build on the inaugural tournament.
Bettman and the rest of their high -ranking executives will work to see if there is a solution that prevents the tournament from being unique in the future.
