PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Olympics or World Cup every two years – always with NHL professionals on the ice. It may become a reality in the future.
– The 2026 Olympics will hopefully be a kickoff for international hockey, where the best players and countries meet regularly, says Marty Walsh, CEO of the NHLPA.
The ice hockey World Cup hasn’t been played since 2016 and the NHL stars haven’t been in the Olympics since Sochi 2014. But here comes a happy news for all hockey fans who like to see NHL players in national team jerseys:
Plans are in place to create a schedule where the NHL pros can play the Olympics and World Cup with a regularity that has not existed before. It tells Marty Walshwho earlier this year took over the job as CEO of the players’ association NHLPA, in an interview with TT.
– I hope that it will be the World Cup again, and that it will not be a one-off event. In the 2026 Olympics, hopefully the NHL players will be there, in 2028 we hope to have a World Cup. In 2030 there will be the Olympics again and then in 2032 a World Cup again. That you get a schedule that can be exciting for the hockey world. That the rivalry from the last tournament can be carried over to the next, says Walsh, who has previously been mayor of Boston and labor minister in Joe Biden’s government.
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Hallam positive
Tre Kronor’s national team captain Sam Hallamwhose contract extends through the 2026 Cortina/Milano Olympics, hopes to have the NHL stars available by then.
– The plan was that it would be like that (already in Beijing last year), but a pandemic got in the way. So I feel that there has been a goodwill from the NHLPA and also the NHL in the past, says Hallam.
– I think that for marketing purposes of the sport, it is important to gather the best players in the world. We have seen that every time that happens, there are fantastic tournaments. We have players now who are ranked among the best in the world who have not been allowed to play for their national teams for a long time. So there would be an incredible craving both from fans and players.
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“Good in every way”
Marty Walsh hopes a decision on future NHL pro tournaments could come later this winter.
– I have spoken to many players and they are very interested in the opportunities that this could provide. Fans would love it too. It would be good in every way for the sport of hockey, he says.
Previously there were plans for a new World Cup as early as 2024, but a year ago it was postponed to 2025 due to “current circumstances”. Something that could easily be linked to Russia’s invasion war in Ukraine.
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Marty Walsh is now saying vaguely that there “may be some sort of tournament in 2025”. The focus instead seems to be from the 2026 Olympics onwards, even if the big question marks surrounding Russia still remain.
– Hopefully the world will be in a different place in 2026, but everything is uncertain right now. It’s impossible to predict, says Walsh.
Already this week, the Swedish hockey public gets to check out the NHL professionals up close when Ottawa, Detroit, Toronto and Minnesota play in Avicii arena.
Elias Pettersson, 25, Vancouver
The center from Ånge crossed a dream limit last season when he reached 102 points in the regular season. The scoring machine has further increased his production so far this season and leads the entire NHL in scoring.
Victor Hedman, 32, Tampa Bay
The veteran back will have time to turn 35 when it’s time for the next Olympics, but trust that Hedman is eager to play an Olympics before his career is over. Was part of Tre Kronor’s team in the World Cup 2016.
William Nylander, 27, Toronto
Has been a reliable scorer for many years for the Maple Leafs. This season, Nylander has shifted into another gear and will reach over 100 points if he continues at this pace.
Linus Ullmark, 30, Boston
Began NHL career in Buffalo, but it was after the move to Boston in 2021 that the big lift came. Ullmark was phenomenal last season and received the Vezina Trophy, the award for the league’s best goaltender.
Jesper Bratt, 25, New Jersey
Was in Sweden’s World Cup team as a 20-year-old, in 2019, but has not donned the blue-yellow national team jersey since then. Bratt has been hot in New Jersey so far this fall and is in the top 10 in the NHL’s scoring.
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