The Ice Hockey World Cup was last played in 2016, for just under two weeks in September. For Sweden, it was something of a disappointment, as the team lost to the European team in the semi-finals.

Now the tournament may be about to resurface - but in a new format.

"A kind of mini tournament"

The NHL leadership, which is currently negotiating with the players' union for a new collective agreement, is looking to replace the 2021 all-star match with a World Cup tournament.

- It would be a kind of mini tournament that would last for about a week. So we would spend a couple of days on a regular all-star break and enter an international tournament, ”NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Canadian Sportsnet.

"Good for Swedish ice hockey"

And the idea of ​​reviving the World Cup is welcomed by the Swedish ice hockey association chairman Anders Larsson.

"The World Cup of Hockey means the best players on the ice and we know that the fans like that," Larsson told SVT, but emphasizes that they have not discussed the issue with the NHL.

- But regardless, the World Cup of Hockey is cast in the right format good for Swedish ice hockey.

According to Daly, both the league management and the players' union seem to be positive about the idea. However, it remains unclear whether the NHL intends to release players for future Winter Olympics. Sportsnet describes the issue of Olympic participation as a matter where the parties are still far from agreeing.