NHL's Deputy Commissioner admits some countries already making demands for 2024 World Cup of Hockey

The NHL's plan to stage a World Cup of Hockey in 2024 was supposed to see a return to a more traditional format where individual countries would be represented, rather than some of the ideas used in the past. That plan is already causing issues, though. The league stated just a few months ago that it really wants to have all the hockey-playing countries to participate. However, that isn't sitting well with everyone.

"NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says that 'some of the participating countries' in the 2024 World Cup of Hockey have objections about Russian players participating in the tournament," said ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

While Daly did not say which countries those were, it's not hard to figure out. Finland and Sweden have been quite vocal regarding their thoughts on Russian involvement in the World Cup. Both the Czech Republic and Slovakia have also expressed reservations about participating if athletes compete under the Russian flag. As for the possibility of Russian players participating under a banner other than Russia, such as the country has done in the past at the Olympics, it sounds as though that won't be tolerated.

"Simply playing under a non-Russian flag 'doesn't appear like it's going to be a fix'." said Wyshynski of his conversation with Daly.

The NHL is obviously in a sticky spot here. The league wants Russia to be involved for the "world" factor, but it's a PR nightmare for it to happen with the invasion of Ukraine still going on. It's one thing to compete in a league with and against Russian players representing a city that most of the players on the team didn't grow up in. It's another entirely when actually representing countries. To be blunt, there is no easy answer for the league.

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