In recent weeks, the NHL and NHLPA have been involved in discussions regarding the next World Cup of Hockey with the two sides aiming to hold the event in September of 2020, four years since the event was last held. However, that will not be the case. The NHLPA released a statement (Twitter link) indicating that while both sides are interested in holding another event, next September would be too soon for it to happen.
The players are focused on finding the proper time to schedule the World Cup of Hockey within the context of an overall international hockey calendar. While we and the league have discussed the possibility of holding the next World Cup in September 2020, we jointly concluded that it is unrealistic to expect that preparations for the event would be completed in time.
We look forward to continuing our discussions with the league.
There was always a risk to running this in September of 2020 with the potential threat of another work stoppage as both sides can opt out of the current CBA this coming September, a move that would end the agreement following the 2019-20 campaign. With no agreement on an extension or an understanding that both sides wouldn’t opt out, this announcement shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
Instead, the two sides will work to schedule this at another time within the framework of an international calendar (that likely will include more overseas NHL games and at least some discussion of returning to the Olympics) while it remains to be seen if there will be any further CBA talks scheduled after both sides met briefly last week.
Get ready for full nhl participation in the Beijing Winter Olympics!!!!