NHL: Alexandre Texier will not join Blue Jackets, and World Cup of Hockey in 2024
The Daily Goal Horn
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Columbus Blue Jackets forward Alexandre Texier will not join the team for the upcoming season, per the recommendation from the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
“During the past year, I have experienced some personal issues and challenges and I feel I need to be close to my family at this time,” Texier said in a statement. “I have love and respect for the city of Columbus, the Blue Jackets, and the fans as everyone has always treated me first-class. I truly appreciate the support, help and empathy I have received from team management, the coaching staff, doctors, trainers and my teammates. This was a hard decision, but it is the best one for me right now.”
Alexandre Texier will not join Blue Jackets
Texier will not be paid by the Blue Jackets during the upcoming season. The 22-year-old native of France will be allowed to sign a one-year contract to play in Europe for the 2022-23 season.
Texier recorded career-high totals in goals (11) and points (20) in 36 games with the Blue Jackets last season. He was granted a leave of absence in March after sustaining a fractured finger in a game on Jan. 26.
“Alexandre Texier and I recently had a very long conversation in which he indicated to me that he was not ready to resume his career in the NHL at this time,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a release. “While we are disappointed Tex will not be joining us for the 2022-23 season as we anticipated, his mental health and well-being remain our top priority and we will continue to support him in any way we can.”
Texier has 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists) in 123 career games since being selected by the Blue Jackets in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
World Cup of Hockey 2024
In 1996, the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) put together the inaugural World Cup of Hockey. This tournament would take the place of the Canada Cup which ran from 1976-1991 and saw Team USA atop of the hockey world for the first time since 1980.
The showcase of the world’s best hockey talent took place only two more times after in 2004 and 2016.
Today, at the NHL’s European Player Media Tour in France, it appears the World Cup is coming back.
“We’re moving full steam ahead and that means we’re continuing to have regular meetings,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “We’re out in market already moving ahead with plans for a February 2024 World Cup. We’re still on schedule.”
The league and IIHF are currently looking for a two week window in February to hold the tournament. It would act very much like a break for the Winter Olympics that was supposed to happen this past season.
The NHL was forced to opt-out of Olympic participation due to a spike in COVID cases that forced 9 teams to shutdown and caused a premature extended holiday break in December.
“Since the CBA extension was reached 17 months ago, NHL players have looked forward with great anticipation to once again participating in the Winter Olympics,” NHLPA head Donald Fehr said. “Until very recently, we seemed to be on a clear path to go to Beijing. COVID-19 has unfortunately intervened, forcing dozens of games to be postponed this month alone. No matter how much we wish it were not the case, we need to utilize the Olympic period to reschedule these games… We expect that NHL players will return to the Olympics in 2026.”
–The Daily Goal Horn staff contributed to this article