Drouin Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 http://thesco.re/19imWkG -- In a new interview with Slava Malamud for the Russian sports site Sports-Express, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly addressed the possibility of the NHL expanding to Europe. "Do we have plans to add European clubs? I do not think our view on this issue has changed over recent years," said Daly (via Google Translate) adding, "it's a real possibility, and in due time it will be seriously considered." Daly also poured some cold water on the prospect of NHL hockey being played on the European continent anytime soon, describing it as "not something totally inevitable." NHL expansion into Europe would presumably nudge the premiere North American professional hockey league into direct conflict with the Kontinental Hockey League. The KHL, a predominantly Russian league that already has clubs in eight countries and will expand into Finland at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, and the NHL have a storied recent history of antagonism. Their relationship is not currently governed by an active transfer agreement. In other "possible NHL expansion news" Bill Daly addressed the lure of the Pacific Northwest as an NHL destination during a Vancouver Canucks season ticket holder event on Tuesday night. "We don't want to target Seattle specifically" Daly told the assembled media, adding that "I'm not sure we ever really addressed Seattle as a specific alternative in the process [of figuring out what would happen to the Phoenix Coyotes]". Daly's comments would superficially appear to contradict a Hockey Night in Canada report from mid-June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HC20.0 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The NHL better not do this...... It's the NATIONAL Hockey League, not the World Hockey League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazmanian Devil Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 How would that even work? Imagine the travel times? And in a league where 53% of the players are Canadian, what desire would any of them have to play in Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JE14 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Imagine the time travel.......... If you could get around that then I could see it as a possibility but you could only put a team in hockey mad cities like one in Sweden, one in Finland and then that could ruin the SM-Liga and whatnot. Realistically it isn't farther to fly from Vancouver to Florida then it is to fly from New York to the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Also heard the sunbelt gets loosened a notch, to finally include Cuba. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Kane Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The NHL better not do this...... It's the NATIONAL Hockey League, not the World Hockey League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JE14 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Most European arenas are also a lot smaller in capacity than NHL, and we have the bigger ice surfaces! So they would have to build entirely new arenas because you can't have one half playing on a bigger ice sheet than the other! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
literaphile Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 The NHL better not do this...... It's the NATIONAL Hockey League, not the World Hockey League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlayStation Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Imagine 8-12 hour flights, games on at the most random times. Hell no to that, even if it was just the finals, why should european teams get the chance to win the cup? Those teams wouldnt be on par with the North American teams. Lame idea, wont happen ever, unless they create a commercial plane fast enough to reach Europe in 2 hours. Even then its unlikely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dKs89 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 lmao do you people expect they would actually travel across the world to play? They would be separate..Have you ever heard of NFL Europe? Get a grip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baka Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 If they manage to make it work I won't complain. Though it's hard to imagine it being remotely realistic given the absurd travel times, abusive hour fluxuations on the players, and the fact that fans would have to tune it at hours like 3-4AM just to watch their team play. Not to mention the fact that a decent amount of players would avoid signing with these teams to avoid such a consuming schedule. They will literally spend more time on a plane than playing hockey or even free time. But more power to them if they discover some amazing equation that makes it all work out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canucks#01fan Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 Id rather expand to mexico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danthecanucksfan Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 They considering Europe but not Seattle.... cmon really? Seattle/Quebec city > crazy Europe idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drouin Posted July 25, 2013 Author Share Posted July 25, 2013 They considering Europe but not Seattle.... cmon really? Seattle/Quebec city > crazy Europe idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombieksa Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 They considering Europe but not Seattle.... cmon really? Seattle/Quebec city > crazy Europe idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 The league is already international, the National part doesn't apply any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Sikes Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 did it ever? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tas Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 NHL formed in 1917 with 4 teams: Ottawa Senators, Toronto, Montreal Canadians & Montreal Wanderers, first US team didn't join until 1924. So yes it did apply, unfortunately now it has become the CAHL (Corporate America Hockey League). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Sikes Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 why unfortunately? you don't enjoy the quality of hockey we have now? or seeing 800 different players instead of 100? or watching games on tv? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pears Posted July 25, 2013 Share Posted July 25, 2013 I think the only way I could see this work is if there is something like a month long summer league and the season opener is pushed back to say November. Otherwise there would be just too much travel if this were in the regular season. Edit: Maybe the schedule could be something like a 2-3 week regular season and a 2.5 week playoff, 4 rounds, one game, winner advances to the next round/game. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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