TORONTO — The thirst of hockey fans for international, best-on-best play snowballed last week with news that the NHL is making plans to hold a four-team, in-season tournament next season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed the concept at the League’s Board of Governors meetings in Seattle on Tuesday. The NHL hasn’t held or participated in an international tournament since the World Cup of Hockey 2016. Before we proceed any further, a couple of facts need to be pointed out. First, Commissioner Bettman emphasized that nothing has been finalized. And though he indicated the United States, Sweden, Canada and Finland would be the four participating countries, there has been no confirmation. That hasn’t stopped hockey lovers across the globe from daring…
