League’s European ambitions unclear
Florida and Winnipeg played for a second straight day Friday in Helsinki to cap the NHL’s curious visit to Europe again this season. Commissioner Gary Bettman said there are plans to return and play preseason and regular-season games next year in as many as four European destinations: Prague, Stockholm, Germany and Switzerland.
A venture that started in 2007 has grown to 23 regularseason games in Europe and leaves one to wonder what is the end game here? Understanding many players in the NHL have European roots, is it anything more than a goodwill mission by the league to showcase those players abroad? Is it simply an annual money grab as this week’s two games sold out in five minutes?
Or do Bettman & Co. see the day where there’s actually an NHL team — or division of teams — based in Europe? That’s a tough one to wrap a wrist shot around.
With an already taxing travel schedule, it’s no small task for teams to pick up and play a game or two 8-to-11 time zones away, only to return and try to be on equal footing with the 25 or so teams that didn’t have to make that commitment. After playing a couple of exhibitions against teams in Switzerland and Germany, Edmonton and New Jersey played once — one game! — in Gothenburg, Sweden to open the season Oct. 6.
This from a league that snubbed Pyeongchang by not allowing its players to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics. And whose presence in Beijing in 2022 does not appear bright after Bettman said there’s an overwhelming view the Games are “terribly disruptive” to the season and that previous participation proved “difficult and less than satisfactory.” Don’t ask the players, though. They disagree.
Bettman suggested a season-opening game in 2019 is planned for Prague with two November games to follow in Stockholm. This after preseason games could be played in Switzerland and Germany again.
You have to figure the Sharks’ German owner, Hasso Plattner, could have some pull if he wants his team showcased. San Jose last played overseas to open the 2010-11 season by splitting a pair of 3-2 decisions against Columbus when Plattner was a minority shareholder of the team over which he’d take ownership control in 2013.
Didn’t see that coming: It’s early, but surprising to see the Islanders (7-4-1) and Senators (5-5-2) having some earlyseason success, considering the respective departures of captains John Tavares (Maple Leafs) and Erik Karlsson (Sharks). Credit savvy President Lou Lamoriello and respected head coach Barry
Trotz for New York’s newfound focus. Ottawa is simply benefiting from a fresh start with controversy in the rearview mirror. No hangover here: Think
Alexander Ovechkin partied a bit too much after finally winning the Stanley Cup? Guess again. He came into camp with less body fat than before last season when he impressed the Capitals’ brass with his fitness level. And Ovie has 10 goals and 16 points in 11 games.
Bullish on Gourde: The Lightning agreed with Yanni
Gourde — all 5-foot-9, 172 pounds of their second-line left wing — on a six-year, $31 million contract extension Friday. That’s the same Gourde, 26, who appeared in 83 games for the Worcester Sharks from 2012 through ’14, and even played eight games in 2013 with the defunct San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL.
Briefly: How tempted are the Kings to make a change behind the bench with John
Stevens considering their 3-8-1 record, and the fact Staples Center is only a half-full barn already. … There are similar rumblings for a potential coaching change in St. Louis, where Mike Yeo even acknowledged his uncertain future this week. … Suspended indefinitely by the NHL and having served two months of jail time for domestic assault, former Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has applied for reinstatement. Now 28, Voynov spent three years in Russia’s KHL and won a gold medal for his nation at this year’s Winter Games.