AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 11
Monday, August 11, 2008
Europe, anyone?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The NHL exhibition schedule released today includes Tampa Bay playing Eisbaren Berlin in Berlin, the New York Rangers playing SC Bern and Metallurg Magnitogorsk in Bern, Pittsburgh playing Jokerit in Helsinki and Ottawa playing Frolunda at Gothenburg.
It had already been announced that the Rangers, Penguins, Senators and Lightning will play five regular-season games in Europe.
This year, for the first time, a European player captained a Stanley Cup champion.
So, I’m wondering, how long is it before European coaches start coming to the NHL? Coaches move internationally in soccer, with the Premier League in England having lots of foreigners calling the shots. And Canadian coaches have jobs in Europe; former Capitals coach Glen Hanlon, for instance, coaches Jokerit.
In an era when free agents’ choices about where to play has such a great impact on the success of a team, would a Russian coach, for instance, attract Russian players and possibly give his team a leg up? Or would Canadian and American players shy away from that team?
Services »
