NHL general managers are gathering in Palm Beach, Florida, for a week-long meeting, with the primary focus on preparations for the 2028 Hockey World Cup. This tournament, last held between 1996 and 2016, was officially announced by the NHL on Monday.
The league confirmed its collaboration with international organizations to include non-NHL players, despite earlier claims of proceeding independently of the IIHF. Host cities include Calgary and Edmonton in Canada, as well as Prague in the Czech Republic, with the event scheduled for February 2028, midway through the 2027-28 NHL season. Notably, the tournament will use NHL rules, meaning a shift from international overtime (3-on-3) to NHL overtime (5-on-5).
The previous World Cup featured teams from six countries and specialized teams like Team North America, showcasing young NHL stars. Canada won that tournament, led by Sidney Crosby.
As the NHL prepares for the upcoming competition, key questions arise, particularly regarding the participation of Russian players, who were barred from IIHF events following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The NHL has not conclusively stated whether Russian athletes will be allowed, and further discussion around the possibility of expanding participating teams is anticipated, given the influx of emerging talent in the league.
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