As many as eight teams could open next season in Europe

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3614334

While I'm all for making the NHL more popular, you got to wander if they are taking this idea of playing a few games to start the season in Europe a little overboard, even if it is just a few games to start a season.

[Guest mindfly]

Some folks in sweden think it's an insult for the american fans to start it over here, the only thing bettman and the fellas should do is to get more nhl coverage in europe preferable on HD, as it is now we have canal+ and NASN, if you're lucky to have them both then you might be able to see 3 games a night, and sometimes it's 5-6games a night maybe even more so sometimes you can't watch your team because those channels didnt pick the game... and the quality is not good at all.

More quality broadcasting in europe(sweden) and ill be forever grateful

Edited September 28, 2008 by mindfly

[55fan 5,133]

Some folks in sweden think it's an insult for the american fans to start it over here, the only thing bettman and the fellas should do is to get more nhl coverage in europe preferable on HD, as it is now we have canal+ and NASN, if you're lucky to have them both then you might be able to see 3 games a night, and sometimes it's 5-6games a night maybe even more so sometimes you can't watch your team because those channels didnt pick the game... and the quality is not good at all.

More quality broadcasting in europe(sweden) and ill be forever grateful

Hi, Mindfly. I know English isn't your first language, but I'm a bit confused about what you mean. Do you mean the Swedes are insulted by the Americans or that the Swedes feel that the Americans should be insulted by the NHL?

Your English is really good, but that part was a bit fuzzy. Thanks!

[Guest mindfly]

Hmm it's like this

It's the same as if the Swedish Elite League, SEL, would start their first games of the season in U.S, the swedes would go mad if that were to happen. The average swede wants NHL to stay in america and SEL to stay in sweden... I'm not of that opinion though

The swedes have compassion for the american fans and think it's totally out of place to have games played here on the other side of the atlantic because NHL should be played in america/canada

The swedes basically don't like it when the sports and NHL are all about commercial interests.

All this is what the average swede thinks... but last time i checked the penguins-senators games were sold out so im not so sure

Blah, I'm no good at explaining things... lol atleast i tried

Edited September 28, 2008 by mindfly

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

I hate it when leagues play games over seas!! To me it seems somewhat arrogant!! They have their own sports and leagues over there and, for the most part, could not care any less of this country or our sports. Something tells me fans in this country would be somewhat annoyed with being bombarded with European leagues playing here.

[Kronner55 1]

I, for one, would absolutely love to watch a SEL game!!!! Sadly, we don't have that televised here at all. (as far as I know) However, I don't think it should be a regular event around here either.

Hope they respect how other countries feel & don't go pushing into places they aren't welcomed.

Edit to clarify that by "they" I mean the NHL.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Kronner55

[55fan 5,133]

Hmm it's like this

It's the same as if the Swedish Elite League, SEL, would start their first games of the season in U.S, the swedes would go mad if that were to happen. The average swede wants NHL to stay in america and SEL to stay in sweden... I'm not of that opinion though

The swedes have compassion for the american fans and think it's totally out of place to have games played here on the other side of the atlantic because NHL should be played in america/canada

The swedes basically don't like it when the sports and NHL are all about commercial interests.

All this is what the average swede thinks... but last time i checked the penguins-senators games were sold out so im not so sure

Blah, I'm no good at explaining things... lol atleast i tried

You explained it well. Thank you.

I think it would be fun for SEL and NHL teams to play each other in exhibition games. Use the rules of whatever country hosts the game. It wouldn't be more than a game in each country. Sort of a goodwill thing.

[Cern 0]

I, for one, would absolutely love to watch a SEL game!!!! Sadly, we don't have that televised here at all. (as far as I know) However, I don't think it should be a regular event around here either.

Hope they respect how other countries feel & don't go pushing into places they aren't welcomed.

Edit to clarify that by "they" I mean the NHL.

People would think they're watching NASCAR on ice.

[Winther 6]

You explained it well. Thank you.

I think it would be fun for SEL and NHL teams to play each other in exhibition games. Use the rules of whatever country hosts the game. It wouldn't be more than a game in each country. Sort of a goodwill thing.

The Senators are actually playing an exhibition game with Frölunda Indians in Gothenburg before the Pens-Sens games in Stockholm.

[Guest mindfly]

Yep, and pens will play jokerit in the finnish elite league, SM-Liiga, before playing sens

[55fan 5,133]

Yes, I saw that. That was my line of thinking. Instead of us going over and playing us, we would go over and play some of their teams, and they could come and play some of us here.

Sorry. I see now that I was expecting you folks to read my mind.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Geez, why don't we just move the whole NHL across the pond and call it a day?