The 4 Nations Face-Off was a wild success and was the biggest audience ever for an NHL broadcast.
For Penguins fans languishing in a likely third-straight year without a playoff appearance, it was a nice two weeks to cheer on the USA, Sidney Crosby and the game of hockey.
NHL Players will return to the Winter Olympics in over a decade and in 2028, the World Cup of Hockey will return for the first time since 2016.
And, Pittsburgh could be one of the host cities when the World Cup returns.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman tells The PM Team, on 93.7 The Fan, that cities, like Pittsburgh, will be able to bid to be a host city.
He also expects some game to be played across the Atlantic Ocean.
“The World Cup is going to be a real World Cup,” said Bettman. “We envision, once we bring the World Cup back, which we will do two years after next year’s Olympics, that people will view this like they do the World Cup of soccer.”
There are no current plans for the 4 Nations tournament to return, but with the Winter Olympics in 2026 and the World Cup in 2028, you’ll have more reasons to cheer for USA Hockey…hopefully doing it in Pittsburgh.
Listen: Gary Bettman with Poni and Mueller