The NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes are looking outside North America for talent and new business opportunities, according to Ron Francis. Francis, who is in his second season as the team’s GM, said it is important to the organization’s success to be on top of hockey’s global developments. “I think the more markets that we can get into, the more success we can have and that’s only positive for our game in the long run,” he said. The Hurricanes currently have six European players on their 23-man roster and more in their farm system. Francis told SBD Global that the Hurricanes are covering all of Europe’s top leagues and tournaments in their search for talent. "It’s critical,” he said. “When you look at our lineup, we got a lot of European players in it. I always joke and say, ‘If a kid can play, no matter where he is we’ll find them.’” This weekend’s NHL All-Star Game, which takes place in Nashville, Tenn., will provide the league and its franchises with extensive global exposure. Showcasing the league’s top players, however, is only one way to grow the game on an int'l scope, Francis said. “As a league, we are doing a lot of things,” he said. “The NHL reinstituted the World Cup of Hockey next September, which is a tremendous tournament and will be followed all over the world.” The NHL decided to revive the tournament, which will take place in Toronto from Sept. 17-Oct. 1, after a 12-year hiatus. The third World Cup of Hockey will feature six national teams -- Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic and the U.S. -- as well as a Team Europe and a U23 Team North America. The two-time Stanley Cup champion also added that a lot of int’l hockey federations are working together to try and grow the game globally.
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Ron Francis
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PLAYING OVERSEAS: Unlike the NBA and NFL, the NHL is currently not playing any regular-season games outside North America. The league hosted a number of regular-season games in Europe as part of its NHL Premiere series between ’07-11. The Hurricanes participated in the event in ’10, playing two games in Finland. Francis called the series a success but acknowledged the logistical difficulties of making it work. “[It’s] a little bit tricky with the 82-game schedule,” he said. “We just finished a grinding month here in January. I’m not sure we could have fit in a trip to Europe and back for a hockey game. But I think if the schedules worked out the proper way then absolutely you can do that.” Despite several reports of a comeback, the league has not yet publicly announced whether or when NHL Premiere will return. Francis is certain that the league is looking at all possibilities to expand its int'l reach. While it is not yet known if NHL players will participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the hockey Hall of Famer is confident that it will have a positive effect on hockey in Asia. “I’ve heard good things,” Francis said. “I know a former teammate of mine, Jim Paek, has been over there working as coach. And talking to him he said it’s really interesting and exiting.”
