The in-season tournament format has been in conversation for most of the big four major leagues due to the declining all-star game format. Fans have been clamoring for something new, and although the NBA has introduced an In-season tournament to go alongside their mid-season talent showcase, the NHL has taken it one step further and outright replaced it.

Although different from the NBA Cup because it is an international tournament, the NHL has seemingly found a bonafide way to provide meaningful hockey over the mid-season break without making it a gimmicky all-star game that no one wants to compete in.

The NHL took a format that the NBA has been successful in, and combined it with the international element that hockey fans enjoy. It might be time to finally say that the in-season format works, and it might as well be here for good.

Shattering Expectations

When the 4 Nations Face-Off was announced, it was initially received as a chance to give the all-star format, and not much else. However, political developments increased the hype for the tournament like ever before, bringing a level of patriotism to the classic Canada vs United States matchup that hasn’t been seen for many since the Vancouver 2010 Gold Medal Finals.

To make a point, the NHL saw 16.1 million people tuned into the Canada-United States final, making it the highest-viewed non-NFL game broadcasted on ESPN+. According to the NHL, it reached one in four Canadians through Sportsnet platforms.

Even the NBA’s Emirates NBA Cup has been successful, with the Lakers and Pacers bringing in a 26% increase in viewership from regular season games in that slot before the tournament was introduced. Although the tournament saw a decrease in viewership alongside the entirety of the NBA this year, local viewership did increase by 6%, and group play games were up 7% compared to non-group play games, according to the Sports Business Journal.

Even from the perspective of the games themselves, each team played phenomenal hockey. Every single game of the tournament, from the matchups that don’t matter to the extremely important championship final, was playoff-hockey level from start to finish.

It even brought people into the sport who would’ve never watched a mid-season hockey game. People are taking the sides of either Canada or the United States in the battle for the NHL’s first international tournament since the 2016-2017 NHL season, which is approaching 10 years ago.

Giving The Mid-Season A Meaning

As mentioned, part of the reason why in-season tournaments have done well is that it gives the middle of the season and the mid-season break meaning for fans and players alike. It also allows teams who don’t have as many banners as the Lakers or Celtics to compete for a trophy of some kind. For example, the two previous runners-up to the NBA Cup were the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Two teams that- although they have competed in the NBA Finals, have no Larry O’Brien to claim for themselves. Winning the NBA Cup allows these fans to celebrate a cup championship, even if it isn’t the coveted prize.

For now, the 4 Nations Face-Off will be played every other year. Although, the NHL may use the tournament’s success to introduce their own spin on the NBA Cup, and add a tournament for their own franchises, compared to representing their countries. Maybe this combines with the NHL’s attempts at outdoor games and becomes the new year spectacle?