The NHL wants to bring back top level national team tournaments. The first one may be played as early as February 2025 – without Russia.
A hockey tournament is planned for February 2025, in which four teams would participate: Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden.
The NHL’s brightest superstars would play in the tournament.
– It would be incredible if the national team tournament could be held like that. It would be a great thing for everyone – both fans and players, thinks Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who last played for Leijon in 2016.
Barkov would be the likely skipper for the Lions in the tournament, whose name has yet to be decided.
– Everyone would probably like to watch those games, 28-year-old Barkov adds to Iltalehti.
Who in the chain?
Aleksander Barkov would like to play among the world’s best in the national team tournament. PHOTOS: All Over Press and Zumawire / MVPhotos
Finland would get an absolutely amazing team. Barkov, Patrik Laine, Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Miro HeiskanenJuuse Saros, Artturi Lehkonen… the list of names is amazing to read.
Who would you take in your chain – and you can’t answer that the coach decides?
– This is hard. I’m not in a position to choose yet. We have a lot of good players. There would be many options. The coaches choose, Barkov laughs.
– Well, let’s say that Nemo Nieminen (VIlle Nieminen) I would take it to the left.
The 46-year-old Stanley Cup winner Nieminen is currently working in the coaching team of the league team JYP.
A long break
The Ice Hockey World Cup was last played in the fall of 2016. At that time, Mikko Koivu rightfully captained Leijon. PDO
The World Cup was last held in the fall of 2016. NHL players participated in the Olympic tournament in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010, but no puck millionaires were seen in the Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Winter Games.
The next Winter Olympics will be held in 2026 in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Russia is not participating in the possible February 2025 tournament. The Finnish and Swedish ice hockey federations are absolutely against the country’s participation.