NHL and NHLPA executives are expected to announce on Friday the details of the rekindled World Cup of Hockey, a tournament that will feature eight teams, including two unconventional ones.
Zay Jones Youth Jersey . Besides Canada, the U.S., Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Finland, the league and union will announce a European All-Star team will participate. That team will be stocked with players who come from countries other than those participating as nations. Also, the tournament will feature a team with North American players under the age of 23. An executive with an NHL sponsor confirmed the details to TSN. The tournament will also feature a best-of-three final, which will help to drive up the broadcast and sponsor rights for the tournament both in North America and Europe. The National Hockey League and its players association have told team executives they hope to generate between $75 million and $100 million from the rekindled World Cup of Hockey. A person familiar with the matter told TSN that the tournament, which is scheduled to be held in September 2016, will raise about half its revenue from the sale of broadcast and internet streaming rights. The NHL and NHLPA have predicted those rights may garner close to $50 million. Its a gamble to spend so much on a tournament like the World Cup when theres no guarantee Team Canada will advance beyond the round robin portion. But if it does, there could be a big payoff in TV ratings. The final of the World Cup will be a best-of-three format, TSN has learned. Besides TV rights, the NHL and NHLPA will also sell sponsorship rights to the World Cup. They anticipate selling to eight premier corporate sponsors and negotiating deals of at least $1.5 million in each category, a source told TSN. The NHL and NHLPA will also garner revenue from ticket and merchandise sales. However, its expected that the NHL and the Players Association will have to pay Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment at least $5 million for hosting the three-week tournament. While executives with the Montreal Canadiens wanted to host some of the World Cup games at the Bell Centre, the NHL and its players union decided to host all of the games in Toronto. That way, if the tournament is a success, they could auction off the rights to host the games in 2019, perhaps, to the city that offers the best revenue guarantee - be it Montreal, New York, Stockholm, Moscow, or another city. To be sure, there are still many unanswered questions about how much profit the NHL and players union will generate from the World Cup. They need to pay for insurance for all of the players. Typically, the NHL and the Players Association buy premiums that offer better coverage than simply career-ending policies. Payouts are rare, but they do happen. The Islanders John Tavares, for instance, was covered by an insurance policy when he was injured during the Winter Olympics earlier this year in Sochi, Russia. The Islanders were compensated by an insurance company for the time he missed. Its unclear how much insurance will cost the NHL and NHLPA. Then Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson said last August that it would cost at least $1 million simply to pay for insurance for the 47 Canadian players invited to Team Canada workouts in advance of the Winter Olympics. NHL player agent Allan Walsh said some NHL players have been skeptical over whether its a good idea to steer away from the national team concept. Some players believe this should be limited to players playing for their country, Walsh told TSN. What are you playing for if its Team Young Guns or European All Stars? What are you playing for? Thats a problem. Its an issue. Walsh said featuring a young guns team particularly could lead to lopsided scores. The downside is that team gets pounded, Walsh said. I dont think it would have an impact on the players psychology or career - just an impact on the legitimacy of the team in the tournament, when people sit back and say whether this kind of team was a good or bad idea. Still, Walsh and other agents said there could be a great payoff for the league from marketing a team built around young stars like Nathan McKinnon, Connor McDavid and Jonathan Drouin. Walsh said that while some fans have called for the NHL and NHLPA to include teams from Slovakia or Slovenia, that might not be practical, since the tournament is run by the league and its players association - both of which want to use the event to build the profile of their own players, not those playing in leagues overseas.
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Jordan Poyer Womens Jersey . Louis and Ryan Kesler have demanded to be traded.PARIS -- French league champion Paris Saint-Germain broke the record for most points in a season by defeating Lille 3-1 on Saturday. PSG has 86 points, two more than Lyons record in 2006. Brazilian defender Marquinhos headed home a rebound in the 41st minute after Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama denied Lucas Moura. Lucas proved more clinical in the 66th, taking a pass from Javier Pastore to double the lead with an angled strike. The PSG winger fed Blaise Matuidi for the third goal in the 83rd. Lille substitute Jonathan Delaplace capitalized on a turnover from Marco Verratti inside the area to score a consolation goal in the last minute. "We rediscovered a PSG clinical in front of goal," PSG coach Laurent Blanc said. "Its been a while since we last scored three goals." The hosts were down to 10 men in the 36th when Lille midfielder Marvin Martin was sent off for a stamp on Yohan Cabayes right ankle. Cabaye was carried off and replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 42nd. Blanc rested Brazil defender Thiago Silva and Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani. PSG clinched its fourth league title on Wednesday despite losing 2-1 to Rennes. Saint-Etienne made up ground in the race for the last Champions League berth by moving within two points of third-place Lille with a 3-1 win at Nantes. The team finishing third qualifies for the preliminary round of the Champions League. Saint-Etienne striker Mevlut Erding opened the scoring by nodding in a free kick from Max-Alaain Gradel in the 10th.
Cody Ford Womens Jersey. The visitors took a 3-0 lead with a penalty from Gradel in the 23rd, and a curling shot from Erding on the stroke of halftime. Nantes winger Serge Gakpe scored late. Second-place Monaco, already assured of a Champions League spot, beat relegated Valenciennes 2-1. Fifth-place Lyon had its lead over Marseille cut to one point in the race for the last Europa League spot. Lorient edged Lyon 1-0 with a low strike from midfielder Cheick Doukoure in the 53rd. Lyon was down to 10 men from the 13th when defender Mouhamadou Dabo was red-carded for tripping Bryan Pele. "Its a bad result," Lyon coach Remi Garde said, "but we still have our fate in our hands." Marseille drew 1-1 at Bordeaux. Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou headed in a cross from Brice Djadjedje in the 31st before Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabate equalized with a close-range effort in the 66th. French Cup winner Guingamp secured safety by beating mid-table Toulouse 2-0. Evian and Sochaux were the only teams still under the threat of relegation and will meet in the last round next Saturday. "We have the luck to play this last match at home," Sochaux coach Herve Renard said. "There will be a great atmosphere. Its up to us to turn it into a beautiful day." Evian downed Nice 2-0 to stay 17th, one point clear of Sochaux, which won 2-1 at Rennes. Last-place Ajaccio stunned Reims 2-1, and mid-table Bastia beat Montpellier 2-0. ' ' '