The four-country showdown was a huge success not only for the NHL but also for the entire hockey game.
However, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is not sure the tournament will return during the 2025-26 season.
Bettman, who appeared in The Rich Eisen Show, also plays hockey for the Winter Olympics and World Cups, so why the league must think long and hard about how the tournament fits next year's schedule? I explained.
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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman answers questions from the media ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche match at T-Mobile Arena. (Lucas Peltier-Immagn image)
“The success was very quick and overwhelming,” Bettman said. “There's a lot to consider and organize, including what our All-Star Game looks like going forward, but it was all good.”
The 4 Nations showdown took place in place of this year's traditional All-Star Game, featuring world teams from the US, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
Bettman calls it a “quick appetizer” for other international hockeys to be played in the coming years. The Winter Olympics, held in Milan, Italy, began in 2026, with the World Cup of Hockey returning for the first time in 2016 and continued every four years thereafter.
USA-Canada 4 Nations Face-Off Championship Racks Historic Viewers as Tensioned Rivals Continue
The NHL previously did not allow players to participate in the past two Winter Olympics. However, the league once again allows players to do so, starting next year in Milan.
As for the hockey World Cup, Bettman said his goal is to “have a full World Cup, as you can see in football.” The tournament will take place in Europe, just like North America.
Team USA forward Matthew Tokachuk (19) celebrates in the 4 Nations face-off ice hockey game at Bell Centre, with Team USA forward Oston Matthews (34) against Team Finland in the third term. (Imaginary of David Kirouac-Imagan)
So, Bettman said he wasn't sure if the four-country showdown would return, but he told Eisen he wanted “the absolute right question.”
“I don't have all the right answers yet,” Bettman continued.
The four-country showdown was a huge success, especially considering boring sports fans have found an All-Star Game, especially in the NHL and NBA in recent years.
There was a real pride of pride from all four countries, including the Championship Final between Team USA and Team Canada.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media before a game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Ottawa Senator at the Canadian Tire Center. (Marc Desrosiers-imagn image)
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For success, hockey fans believed it made sense for the league to continue its first tournament.
The rest of Bettman and his high-ranking executives work to see if there is a solution to prevent the tournament from becoming a one-off progression.
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