Should the NHL have a European Division?

[Guest jaytan]

I think the NHL should add a division in Europe, with five teams in European cities (maybe London, Stockholm, Berlin, Prague and Moscow). They'd come to North America for a couple long road trips to play against our teams and play the rest of their games on the Continent. We'd require the teams in Europe to have at least 75 percent of their players to be European and 75 percent of the players on North American teams to be from Canada or the US.

This would solve the problem of the foreignization of the NHL in North America (for example, fans in Detroit have trouble connecting with the very Euro Red Wings) and it would keep a lot of the top talent from Europe in Europe so the fans over there aren't cheated.

Obviously, the NHL wants to expand its fanbase to Europe, or they wouldn't be scheduling regular season games in London. I think this would be a good way to do it.

[dallas27 7]

Without knowing specific numbers on the nationality of all the players in the NHL I'd say roughly half the teams would have to be in Europe if not more. Could be wrong.

[jim3033 1]

I think the NHL should add a division in Europe, with five teams in European cities (maybe London, Stockholm, Berlin, Prague and Moscow). They'd come to North America for a couple long road trips to play against our teams and play the rest of their games on the Continent. We'd require the teams in Europe to have at least 75 percent of their players to be European and 75 percent of the players on North American teams to be from Canada or the US.

This would solve the problem of the foreignization of the NHL in North America (for example, fans in Detroit have trouble connecting with the very Euro Red Wings) and it would keep a lot of the top talent from Europe in Europe so the fans over there aren't cheated.

Obviously, the NHL wants to expand its fanbase to Europe, or they wouldn't be scheduling regular season games in London. I think this would be a good way to do it.

I don't like the idea. You would need super fast planes like the concorde to make it practical. I think it would take something away from the game to be honest. It's good for America to have Europeans strive to play over here too. Europe should organize their own pro-league.

I wish Bettman would focus everything on the States. Make a push for more highschool hockey teams and leagues. Make playing hockey more accessible. Partner up with Yahoo for more free streaming games on the internet with ads. Don't grow the NHL past 30 teams. He's such a weiner.

[timothy1997 0]

I am fine with an European divison but traveling makes it difficult. I am not opposed to having the European divison only play the North American divison in the finals. Something like MLB did before interleague play.

[eva unit zero 271]

A better setup:

The current NHL adds ten European teams, and divides into four ten-team conferences, with two five-team divisions each.

Teams play six games inside their division, four games inside their conference, and one game against each other conference. They would also play a second game against one other conference, rotating on a three-year basis.

The European teams would have two long road trips, where they would play ten games each. Whatever North American teams were playing in Europe would have a single long road trip to play all ten teams.

No roster requirement for percentage of players; that will sort itself out with a European majority in Europe and a North American majority in North America.

[Guest jaytan]

I like your modifications. My idea was pretty flawed because I was drunk when I thought of it. I'd think it would be really good for the game to get Europe involved in our championship. Their players would have more respect for trying to win the Cup, and their fans would no longer need to feel cheated by the sub-par level of play in their leagues. The one problem I foresee is that the European teams might attempt to use Olympic rules. I can accept teams choosing to have wider rinks for their home ice (in either continent - this would benefit the Wings, I think) but we can't ban fighting or reduce the level of physicality.

[GlasgowRed 0]

I'm pretty sure some of the European officials have been hinting at a European SuperLeague sometime in the future to rival the NHL as opposed to joining it. The Russians have definitely suggested something like this.

It would interest me as I live in Europe and get to see as much of my local team as possible, but I wish the standard was better.

Edited March 10, 2008 by GlasgowRed

[Jwo 7]

I don't think the IIHF would agree with this.

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

I don't think the players will want to go to London just to play one hockey game and then come back. I think this would be a bad idea to add them. Maybe some teams a little bit closer to America.

[rwfan007 18]

and you thought the wings playoff travel is bad now? Imagine having to fly to Sweden for game 6 and back home for game 7... nope, this is the NHL, play it in North America... this continent is big enough

[Guest Hank=FutureCaptain]

That would be a horrible idea. In every sense of the word.