NHL not planning in-season event following NBA’s announcement

The NHL received’t be replicating the NBA’s in-season tournament. 

A minimum of not proper now. 

NHL deputy commissioner Invoice Daly told ESPN on Tuesday that they received’t be following their winter sports activities rival’s lead this time round after the NBA added the event for the upcoming season.

“No consideration being given to in-season tournaments,” Daly informed the “Worldwide Chief” in an electronic mail. 

The NBA introduced earlier this month that it will introduce an in-season event subsequent season involving all 30 groups within the league.

The group stage will start Nov. 30 and the event will run till Dec. 9, with the winner being given the NBA Cup and gamers receiving further monetary compensation. 

All event video games, besides the championship sport, will rely towards the standings. 

NHL Gamers’ Affiliation govt director Marty Walsh informed ESPN {that a} dialogue about an in-season event hasn’t taken place among the many gamers. 

Nonetheless, Walsh, who took over as the head of the players’ union in February after a stint as President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Labor, informed the outlet that he was open to the thought. 

“I feel it’s value taking a look at something that’s on the market,” Walsh mentioned. “I inform gamers on a regular basis, even in case you have an thought that you just assume is sort of off-the-wall a little bit bit, simply run it by me.

“You by no means know what turns into a superb thought.”

The extra urgent matter for NHL gamers, based on Walsh, is what worldwide hockey prospects lay forward for them.

Gamers are eying when the NHL can arrange one other World Cup of Hockey and a return to the Winter Olympics in 2026. 

An try and host a World Cup of Hockey in 2024 needed to be iced after the NHL and NHLPA agreed final November that it was “not possible” to host a event subsequent 12 months. 

NHL gamers haven’t participated within the Olympics since 2014, and the difficulty has lengthy been an necessary one for them as they give the impression of being to return to representing their nation in 2026.