Let it begin...NHL team vs. European team

Could a guy like Miro Satan endure intercontinental travel, even if it meant going back to Slovakia to play a game or two?

According to nos amis at TSN, a European team would face-off against next season's Stanley Cup Champion in September of 2008.

The IIHF apparently hopes that this exhibition will become an annual tradition, that most fans probably won't even bother with.

So:

European champion vs. Stanley Cup Champion = Something champion?

Really people, we need a name for this, "world champion" sounds too international, like a national team, and the term "world champion" has been abused enough greatly as it is.

I remember hearing the other day on TSN as well, that the NHL may expand...no, not in the US or Canada, but in Europe!
Cities like Moscow, Stockholm, Prague, Oslo may one day be home to an NHL team.

My question to you: does this foreshadow, or is it an indication that NHL hockey may one day end up in Europe?

But of course, there is intercontinental transportation involved here, which translates to jet lag, fatigue, time loss and I'd rather be on a plane heading to Chicago than to Olso, Norway.
I also don't think NHL'ers would appreciate the fact that they will constantly have to go to Europe and leave their family behind, and more teams in Europe may mean a longer schedule as well.

Transportation is one thing, but being able to attract a big enough audience AND build a succesful team in order to attract fans and support financially any new arena built is another.
There's no guarrantee that Europeans will switch from their Swedish Elite League Djugardens to watch some crummy Americanized Stockholm Stormers team!

Just a theory, it would be very interesting, but, I can already see the negative outweighing the positive, should this idea pan out.

--BBR

Halak/Jekyll and Aebsicher/Hyde...

Ever read that tauting psychopathic novel that goes by the quaint name of "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Stevenson?
Yeah, that Stevenson, the guy who supposedly was a schizophrene and exalted his horror into this book.

My essay due Monday on "duality" (a very vast and symbolic subject) in the book, inspired me to present to you this short but very helpful blog post, summarizing Jaroslav Halak and David Aebischer's season.

Gotta go write it now!

--BBR

McKenzie: NHLPA strike cancels IIHF meeting

Sources tell TSN that a meeting in Zurich to work on a new transfer agreement between the NHL and the International Ice Hockey Federation that was scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled because the NHLPA cannot send a representative.

The effect on the hockey world of the NHLPA's old problems, have been more important than most thought.

Just a week after getting rid of Bob Goodenow's successor, Ted Saskin, the NHLPA's strike has affected International Hockey as well as the NHL.

Bob McKenzie states on his blog that the NHLPA could not send a representative to a scheduled meeting in Zurich with the IIHF.

The meeting was supposed to be an attempt to salvage the failing player transfer relations with European countries and the NHL.

To give you a relevant example: Evegeni Malkin's little tiff with his former Russian team raised eyebrows, especially when Malkin fled Russia ajust a while after he signed a new contract that would keep him with Dynamo for the 2006-2007 season.

His Russian team attempted to take the matter into court, but the Supreme Court declined the inquiry.

Unless people want to see lawsuits and hockey international relationships vanish, I suggest that the NHLPA finds a way to re-schedule this meeting, and fast.

Summit Series '08?

There isn't much info available, but a russian newspaper "Sport Express" is reporting that in the autumn of 2008, Canada and Russia could possibly match up for a kind of "Summit Series".

It is rumoured to be discussed next week during a meeting with the IIHF with Hockey Canada leader Bob Nicholson.

Apparently, this series would help celebrate the 100th of the International Ice Hockey Federation.


Unlike the 1972 Summit Series, the '08 Series would begin in Russia and end in Canada.

However, "Sport Expres" also mentioned a potential deal breaker since the the NHL is in a difficult position with the Russian Hockey Federation on the topic of players coming to North America.

Can we possibly see a Sidney Crosby versus Alexander Ovechkin matchup? Something that will remind fans of Phil Esposito and Valery Kharlamov back in '72.


Bleu, Blanc et Rouge.