NHL Hoping to Invade Europe Within 10 Years

Jordan Lalonde — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:56:34 -0400

The National Hockey League is hoping to invade Europe within 10 years.

"As time goes on, you'll see us making increasing movement into Europe," NHL commissioner Bill Daly told the Globe and Mail. "Certainly it's a possibility that within 10 years' time, we will be playing games there"

There were no guarantees, but Daly said he hoped to see the expansion happen.

Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford questions whether European countries can support an NHL team, and would like to see teams put back in Canada first.

"European cities do a good job for international hockey tournaments—but can those cities afford NHL prices for 42 regular-season games, plus playoffs?" Rutherford asked the Globe. "I don't know the answer—but if they can, then at some point there will be expansion in Europe.

"But first we have to expand a couple more teams back into Canada, get back into Winnipeg and put another team in Ontario, before we see expansion to Europe."

The NHL has already begin experimenting with games overseas, with places like Japan and England hosting regular-season games. But whether or not those places can support 82 of those games will remain up in the air for quite some time.

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NHL Hoping to Invade Europe Within 10 Years