The NHL has clarified that it has no plans to introduce an in-season tournament akin to the NBA’s upcoming European cup-style competition. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed the league’s stance to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski today, stating they are not seeking to follow the NBA’s lead.
The NBA and commissioner Adam Silver recently unveiled plans for an in-season tournament in November and December of next season, leading to speculation about NHL crossover considering the two leagues have long operated similarly in season length, conference alignment, and playoff format. These tournament games will count towards the teams’ regular-season standings, culminating in a championship game that will not affect their season record. Players on the winning team are also in line to earn significant financial incentives.
It would have been a wild step out of bounds for the NHL, whose season format has largely remained unchanged over the past few decades, save for season-shortening factors like lockouts and COVID or the addition of events such as outdoor games in recent years.
Daly emphasized that the NHL is not considering implementing a similar tournament structure. Responding to an inquiry from Wyshynski, he stated via email that “no consideration [is] being given to in-season tournaments.”
Marty Walsh, the newly-minted executive director of the NHLPA, also spoke to Wyshynski. While acknowledging that no formal discussions have taken place among the players, Walsh expressed openness toward exploring the concept of an in-season tournament:
I think it’s worth looking at anything that’s out there. I tell players all the time, even if you have an idea that you think is kind of off the wall a little bit, just run it by me. You never know what turns into a brilliant idea.
However, Walsh relayed that NHL players’ focus on changes to the season structure would revolve around international play, not additional league events. Since assuming the role of NHLPA head in February, Walsh said to Wyshynski that players encourage discussions surrounding the potential revival of the World Cup of Hockey in 2025 and the return of NHL participation in the Winter Olympics, next slated for Milan, Italy, in 2026. The NHL hasn’t sent its players to the Olympics in nearly a decade, last permitting them to attend the event in 2014.
It’s worth noting that an in-season tournament does exist in pro hockey, albeit on the other side of the Atlantic. The Champions Hockey League is an in-season tournament including 26 teams from top-level leagues in 13 European countries, with the number of berths per league divvied up based on how well teams from that league performed in the previous CHL season.
Thank god! Just more nonsense, And drop the novelty outdoor games!!!!!!!
At last I agree with you
Outdoor games are amazing events.
Good luck with that one Wilf. Gotta believe that this will add to the rather lengthy list of hockey stuff that you continue to get wrong. That said, kudos for consistency and your can-do attitude!
Good.
Thank God
In season tournament one of the dumbest ideas I can think of.
An in-season tournament with unequal competition? No, Marty, it is not worth looking into. Just saved you a boatload of valuable time. You’re welcome.
makes more sense for the NBA than the NHL to instill some playoff intensity early in the season. NHL playoffs are just too intense.
It really makes no sense for the NBA either. It’s like some corporate wonk sees the success of the NCAA’s March Madness and envisions doing the same kind of shtick in-season
I doubt that even players see the benefit.
A corporate creation that will bring a lot of meaningless network hype and a windfall for the league. Utter garbage idea
i think the reasoning is to encourage more competitive action early in the NBA season. and a lot is actually based off European soccer tournaments like the FA Cup which run concurrently with the English (every country does this, look up the US Open Cup).
the main difference between the NBA Cup and the FA Cup (and the other similar domestic soccer Cups) is that any soccer club in England can enter the FA Cup. The FA Cup probably starts soon, but no Premier League side will be playing in it until January. Which is the charm of that tournament, seeing 5th or 6th tier teams taking on the Man Uniteds of the world. Occasionally, the little guy takes down the big fish!