U.S. Open Cup, hockey style?

I believe that hockey is a sport which is getting to be very popular. In most NHL markets, the game is growing. In other places, the sport needs a pick-me-up which would help teams in specific leagues grow.

In soccer, the U.S. Open Cup has been around for nearly one hundred years. The event has always been United States soccer’s national championship, and has grown in popularity, with eight MLS teams being knocked out this year in the first game of the tourney by lower division teams.

Bolded teams get a bye into the second round. This would be as of 2012-13 season. There will be a random draw for the rest of the teams. Anything could happen. A SPHL team could host a NHL team. Games would be played during the middle of the regular season. Don't know if this would be a workable idea, but would be very interesting.

96 teams would be a part of it at first, with possible expansion.

NHL

Anaheim Ducks
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Phoenix Coyotes
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
St. Louis Blues
Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals

AHL (top nine American teams get byes)

Adirondack Phantoms
Albany Devils
Binghamton Senators  
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Charlotte Checkers
Chicago Wolves  
Connecticut Whale
Grand Rapids Griffins  
Hershey Bears
Houston Aeros
Lake Erie Monsters
Manchester Monarchs  
Milwaukee Admirals  
Norfolk Admirals  
Oklahoma City Barons
Peoria Rivermen
Portland Pirates
Providence Bruins  
Rochester Americans
Rockford IceHogs
San Antonio Rampage
Springfield Falcons
Syracuse Crunch
Texas Stars
Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins
Worcester Sharks

ECHL

Elmira Jackals

Reading Royals

Trenton Titans

Wheeling Nailers

Cincinnati Cyclones

Evansville IceMen

Fort Wayne Komets

Kalamazoo Wings

Toledo Walleye

Florida Everblades

Greenville Road Warriors

Gwinnett Gladiators

Orlando Solar Bears

South Carolina Stingrays

Alaska Aces

Colorado Eagles

Idaho Steelheads

Utah Grizzlies

Bakersfield Condors

Las Vegas Wranglers

Ontario Reign

San Francisco Bulls

Stockton Thunder

CHL (just top four in each division except for this year)

Missouri Mavericks

Rapid City Rush

Quad City Mallards

Wichita Thunder

Allen Americans

Texas Brahmas

Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees

FHL (Federal Hockey League, top teams)

New Jersey Outlaws

Danbury Whalers

Thousand Islands Privateers

SPHL (Southern Professional Hockey League, top 2 teams plus the other team in finals qualify)

Augusta RiverHawks

Columbus Cottonmouths

Pensacola Ice Flyers