Report: World Cup of Hockey tournament could return in 2016

Canada won the World Cup of Hockey in 2000, the last time the tournament was played. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Canada's TSN is reporting that a best-on-best World Cup of Hockey tournament is likely on the books for September, 2016.

"The World Cup of Hockey is very important..a great business opportunity and great to extend our fan base," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It's important for our players to represent their countries. It encourages development of hockey players throughout the world."

But Bettman said today that "we're not ready" to make a specific commitment and that talks with the NHLPA, which have delayed the concept past the point of viability in 2015, need to continue.

"It's not something that's fully baked," he said, adding that a World Cup would be part of an expanded international calendar.

"We don’t necessarily view the World Cup as a one-off, which is why the discussions are as elaborate as they are," he said.

Sportsnet later reported the entire tournament would be held in Toronto, and not spread across the globe as in previous incarnations.

Bettman said there have not yet been any serious discussions regarding future Olympic participation. "That is something that ultimately we are going to have to resolve, [but] I'm not sure that we necessarily have to resolve it if and when we make a World Cup announcement."