 The NHL took a greater interest in international play . The Canada Cup , a tournament that featured the top professional players in the world , was held first in 1976 , and then four more times until 1991 . It was succeeded by the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 . Beginning in 1975 , Soviet club teams began touring North America , playing NHL clubs in exhibition games that were known as the Super Series . The Calgary Flames and Washington Capitals similarly toured the Soviet Union in 1989 in the first " Friendship Series " . The Soviet national team defeated an NHL all @-@ star team in a 1979 challenge series , two games to one , and split Rendez @-@ vous ' 87 , a two @-@ game series held in Quebec City . 
