Insider Darren Dreger leaks info of 2028 World Cup

TSN insider Darren Dreger has leaked information regarding the NHL's 2028 World Cup, which reportedly will be held without involvement from the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the sport's largest governing body.

Dreger reports that the IIHF will not be involved in the tournament in that the NHL and the NHLPA are hoping to make a formal announcement about the tournament during the 4 Nations Face-Off next month.

Presumably, this decision was made at least in part to guarantee Russia's involvement in the tournament. The IIHF currently has sanctions in place against Russia and Belarus due to the ongoing military dispute in Ukraine.

By distancing themselves from the IIHF, the NHL also ensures that the tournament will be run under NHL rules and, maybe most importantly, can hire only NHL officials. It's not exactly a secret that IIHF officiating can be a bit... spotty, to say the least. Say what you will about NHL officiating, but they are much, much, MUCH more consistent than international officiating.

My big question though is... does anyone care?

Truly, does anyone care about the World Cup?

There have been just three of them in history with no real reasoning for why and when they were held. 1996, 2005 and 2016. Now 12 years after the last one we're gonna dig up this corpse again? Who cares? Just give us the Olympics every four years.