After electing not to send players to the 2022 Olympics, the NHL and NHL Players' Association are discussing the potential of holding their own best-on-best tournament.

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun reports the two sides plan to meet for a second time next week to discuss the possibility of bringing back the World Cup of Hockey in 2024.

"Yeah, plans are afoot. The NHL and NHLPA had a meeting last week about the next best-on-best event, the World Cup of Hockey, to be held in 2024. The two sides plan to meet again next week," LeBrun said Thursday on Insider Trading. "They also plan to bring in the IIHF and the country stakeholders in another big meeting in the next couple of months.

"Here’s the most interesting part, by far. The strongest possibility, in terms of a window to hold the World Cup in 2024 is in February, mid-way through the 2023-24 season, which is a complete departure from past World Cup and Canada Cup events that are usually held in September before the season. The NHLPA has asked the league for years to think about holding the events mid-season.

"NHL owners won't be super happy about this if it does go through. But the plan right now, the strongest option being discussed is Feb. 2024 for a World Cup of Hockey. And of course, they are also committed to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy."

The NHL last held the World Cup of Hockey tournament in 2016, with Canada defeating Team Europe 2-0 in a best-of-three series to claim the title. The format, which featured an under-23 Team North America in addition to Team Europe, was the last time many of the NHL's stars represented their countries as the league also elected not send players to 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang.

There have been three previous World Cup of Hockey tournaments, with Toronto playing host in 2016 and 2014 and Montreal and Philadelphia sharing hosting duties in 1996. Canada won each of the previous two events, while the United States won the debut tournament in 1996.