Why It’s Time for the NHL to Add an In-Season Tournament

Will Unetich

A possible concept for a NHL In-Season tournament similar to what the NBA has implemented.

Coming off the excitement of the 4 Nations Tournament last season and the anticipation for the Winter Olympics in Milan next February, now is the perfect time for the National Hockey League to build off that momentum and incorporate an annual in-season tournament as of the 2026-2027 season. Out of “The Big Four” sports leagues in the U.S– the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL– the NHL has brought in a significantly lower amount of revenue compared to the other 3 leagues at just $6.8B as of 2023, compared to the $18.7B brought in by the NFL and $10.9B for the MLB and NBA. With an 82-game regular season that usually drags and lacks intensity during mid-season, fan engagement often diminishes until the playoff chase heats up. The NHL should seriously consider introducing an in-season tournament to inject a thrilling narrative into those frequently forgettable weeks of the season. Other sports, such as the NBA, have already done so and seen tremendous success, and hockey has shown recent proof that the fans are more than ready for it.

The NBA’s in-season tournament, which launched in 2023, has shown the potential impact such an event could have. Nationally broadcasted games saw a 26% increase in viewership compared to the previous year’s regular season games, and the league’s average attendance (18,206) was the highest it’s ever been in November. However, the tournament wasn’t only beneficial for the entertainment of fans, with players and coaches reflecting on the energy and intensity it caused. The Phoenix Suns coach, Frank Vogel, said, “Whatever they thought it was going to do from an excitement standpoint, I would say it’s times 100.”

Even more encouraging than this is the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off last season. The international event, featuring the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, delivered massive numbers. 16.1 million viewers in North America watched the championship game between Canada and the United States, the second-most watched game in the past decade behind Game 7 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and the Panthers, which drew 16.3 million viewers. The buzz around the event was undeniable, with the Sports Business Awards recognizing it as the “Sports Event of the Year”. The success of the 4 Nations Face-Off proves there is a large desire for high-stakes hockey outside of the postseason, and an in-season tournament can fulfill that exact hunger. 

The tournament could take on many different forms: following the NBA’s format of a group stage leading to the knockout rounds, or even a bracket that is determined by the current standings at the time of the event. If done right, an in-season tournament could be the exact piece the NHL has been missing to make the regular season matter just as much as its playoffs.