Did the international hockey replace the NHL All-Star game?
Boston-The four countries were confronting as a transformational outcome of NHL.
“Nothing has done more for hockey than a decade than this tournament did,” said Canada coach John Cooper.
What was supposed to be the middle season’s appetizers for the 2026 Winter Olympics developed into a transcendent hockey event, which was lacked the best event since the 2016 World Cup for hockey. This was not more clear than the first confrontation of the United States versus Canada in Montreal, which produced three battles in the first nine seconds of the game, followed by the elite representation of sports, just as they played by competitors.
The public was huge-4.4 million people were seized to the United States on February 15th 479 % increased From the same match in the 2016 hockey World Cup. The noise was something that NHL did not see in modern memory. People who did not usually talk about hockey were suddenly talking about hockey.
It is incredible how much home nations were 4 countries for NHL and Hockey in general.
Friends who have never seen the hockey game in their lives communicate with asking about the plan in the game tonight, what food we ask, etc.
Definition of game development.
JJ Watt (JJWATT) February 20, 2025
“The game is in a better place because this game was present,” said Cooper.
Now that facing the four countries was a change in the game, how will NHL benefit from them-and what comes after that to mid-season events?
NHL announced What is on the road in 2026. The weekend will return to all the stars, which took a stop for 4 countries this year, to the UBS stadium in New York next February. That will be like a Good trip The event before the Winter Olympics 2026 in Italy, which represents the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014.
The 2026 Olympics begins what is hope at the NHL and NHL association for players will serve as a regular rhythm of the best international events. NHL Gary Bettman and CEO of NHLPA Marti Walsh announced last week that the next World Cup is scheduled to hold hockey for 2028. Then comes the 2030 winter Olympics, then it is possible that the World Cup is another, etc.
“We cannot be more enthusiastic about making the truth: the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Olympics and the World Cups on a regular schedule for the best hockey players in the world representing their countries,” said Btman. “We know that the full World Cup will be exciting.”
The sources told ESPN that the future of the NHL All-Star game after the next season has not yet been determined.
The NHL All-Star game will not go anywhere-the sources said that it is an event in the pole and its history in the league makes it an important part of the list of events in the league. But the rhythm and coordination in all stars on the weekend after the next season was not determined. Logically, it can be held for years when there is no best event. The league may continue to double the All-Star game and the Olympics, as it does in 2026.
All stars games In a passing place in the world of sports at the present time-this is not just a job for the success of facing the four countries.
While the mid -season championship in the NHL was widely praised, the weekend in the American Professional League received all stars criticism from fans and players. DrayMond Green described the “absurdity” game coordination and said it is “because the classifications are broken and the game is bad.”
The NHL players’ effort was in his best championship in a blatant contradiction with Midseason Classic basketball.
“You can go at the American Professional League Court and go to suggestions. You can’t do it in hockey,” PK Subban said about “Get up to up”. “Our sports culture, you have to play with passion. This is what fans invest.”
Although this is true, the NHL All-Star game is not exactly USA VS. Canada for the 4 Nations title, too.
“A different event is clear. I do not remember any battles in the All-Star games,” said Josh Morrisi, Wenypeege Gates defender. “There is definitely a place for their existence. What I heard, this is the plan in the future. I think both can be exciting.”
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The United States of America, Canada is fighting 3 times in the first 9 seconds of the game
Three players from the United States of America and Canada are punished for three battles in nine seconds of the first game.
All stars game Some virtues bring that these international championships do not. The hockey World Cup will be awarded through the city’s bids. All-Star game brings the best players in the world to the markets that may not host the World Cup. It does not spread wealth among the NHL cities – it does the same among the players.
“The only thing in this tournament is” Where is Leon Daressyet? “Or Nikita Kushrov? Cooper said:” Go to the list of players who are not here and that you can see in the game All-Star because these men are special talents. “There may be something on the road where everyone plays, and that will be great.”
The players in 4 countries have agreed uniformly that there is room for all of the best battles and all-tit games in NHL.
“It is clear that this highlights real feelings when you get to play these meaningful games,” said Jiber Pratt of Sweden. “All-Star game has great things for her as well, and I think fans appreciate this part of it: to see the best individual players from each section and each team to participate in the skills competition.”
Jack Hughes of Team Usa teammate Pratt in the New Jersey Devils team said he made some great memories in the All-Star game.
“This is always fun for me personally, just because he is not like this. It is clear that you spend more time with your family and friends and enjoy it with them. I think this is a great event,” he said. “But as a hockey player, definitely, [4 Nations] It is the elite elite. Get to play against the best players and represent your country. This means something for everyone on ice. “
Vincent Truske said that the experience is different for every player in the game All-Star.
“I only played in two parts, and they were very special for me. Every time I can go to it, share it with my family is really great. So this is … the weekend is great, but something like the New York Rangers Center said, who played With the United States of America, this is completely different. It is more emotional. Such is what you dream of as a child. So coming to a heroism like this is something you will never forget. You can’t match it. “
NHL players It deserves credit, after it has paid for the best better opportunities since the 2016 World Cup for hockey.
“Whether it is Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, and other countries in the future, if there is more playing in these events when you wear the costume of your country, then this means something special,” Morisi said. “It is a different feeling, and you cannot repeat this in any other way.”
After the success of 4 countries, everything is on the table. Could the All-Star game become something closer to the nation against the nation? Can these years between the Olympic Games and the World Cup produce more international events, whether they are facing 4 countries or a “chain of summit” between the United States and Canada?
Facing the four countries has expanded.
“Look at football. They have a lot of international gameplay. We are not football, as much as a global game, but we are not late,” said Ron Hensea of Nhlpa. “This is a long -term goal here … where fans look forward to these players who represent their countries regularly.”
The closure of the normal season of international events is not without their dangers or critics. The confrontation of the four nations witnessed a handful of injuries, especially to the Boston Boston Devils, the fighting, who was transferred to the hospital on Monday due to an infection in his right shoulder and a major injury to the AC joint.
“I don’t know how the NHL teams feel about it, because the players are walking strongly there and we still have a quarter of the season,” said Jack Hughes, the New Jersey Devils Center. “But I think the players inside the treasury room have great care for this and they really enjoy this.”
The Canadian star Conor McDavid agreed to the least of the international championships.
“I am not sure that you can do this every year. It was a somewhat tax. It is clear that we see men suffering and suffer.” Makadafid said. “But it goes to show the players’ interest in playing in the country, and the amount of pride they play with while wearing the shirt.
“I think with the Olympic Games and the World Cup, I think we’ll get enough.”
The hockey World Cup returns in 2028, although its final shape has not yet been determined. There will be eight teams representing eight countries, without “mleneded” teams from 2016 such as Team North America and Team Europe. NHL will not participate with the International Hockey Federation in the World Cup, instead negotiating with the other professional league tournaments themselves to fill in teams such as Germany and Switzerland with the players.
There will be a process of presenting a display for the host cities, and this process will be open to European sites.
“The Olympic Games provides a good model for us in terms of the time it will take the break for games in Europe.”
Of course, the largest issue about the 2026 Olympics and the 2028 World Cup is whether Russia will be included, as it remains banned from international play until 2026 by IIHF because of its invasion of Ukraine.
“I would like to see our Russian players play in these tournaments. Once again, they are amazing hockey players.” “The issues are political, not political regarding NHLPA, it is the global policy that we have to go through, and I hope to approach the Olympic Games, whenever we get close to the World Cup, we will start seeing Russian athletes in the competition.”
Facing nations 4 Show the best hockey that showed the best hockey can cross to the main current. But the conditions may not be present to pick up lightning in a bottle again.
The geopolitical currents of the United States of America increased their competition from its emotions. The championship showed the first opportunity for a generation of stars-MCDAVID, Nathan Mackinnon, TKachuk Brothers and Auston Matthews, among others-to represent their countries at the best event.
And what, exactly, do they do for the sake of appearing? Four battles in eight seconds next time?
“The expectations were high. I think the tournament did a good job in putting this tape and overcoming it,” said Brock Nelson of the United States of America.
The confrontation of the four nations was supposed to be the appetizers of the Olympics. Based on its success, the NHL needs to take advantage of the moment.