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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Could More Afternoon Games To Help NHL's Growth Overseas?

The Panthers and Jets played a pair of games in Finland last week as part of the NHL Global SeriesGETTY IMAGES

The NHL is "continuing to cultivate interest in established hockey countries" like Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, and one player has a "modest proposal for continuing to stoke the interest in the sport in Scandinavia and across Europe," according to Stephen Whyno of the AP. The Panthers and Jets played a pair of games in Finland last week, and Capitals C Nicklas Backstrom, who is Swedish, said, "One thing that I know former players have been talking about is maybe more games earlier on the weekends so they can actually watch. Prime time here is middle of the night there. To make it more popular in Europe and Sweden, I think more games in the middle of the day on the weekends would be great. That’s how you can get it more popular." Panthers C Aleksander Barkov, who is Finnish, said, "Whenever that happens, games at 12 or 1 p.m. Eastern time, it’s like 7 o’clock in Finland or (nighttime) in Europe, so people can see. Of course there’s a big audience there." However, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said that he is "not sure hockey can grow more in places like Sweden and Finland where there are already strong domestic leagues and a steady flow of talented players reaching the NHL" (AP, 11/3).

TOUGH TRANSITION: Upon returning from Finland, Jets RW Blake Wheeler said that the trip was "worthwhile, but the disruption to the team’s schedule and routine is challenging." Wheeler said playing only two games over a 12-day stretch due to travel is "tough" and also a "little bit frustrating." Wheeler: "You deal with it the best you can." He added, "Half the days were spent sleeping, half the nights were spent watching shows on Netflix. Guys were messed up the entire time. I think their team was, too. I think that’s kind of the frustrating part doing it in the middle of the season, kind of throwing a wrench in everyone’s routine." Jets C Adam Lowry said, "It’s good and bad I think. You look at our schedule the rest of the way and it’s kind of jam-packed. You go over there and you play two games and you have five days (off) on both sides basically. You’ve got to make those games up somewhere else" (WINNIPEG SUN, 11/5).

NEXT UP? In Buffalo, Mike Harrington noted the possibility of the NHL hosting a game in Stockholm would "seem to put the Sabres squarely on the radar for a trip to the other side of the Atlantic," as the team is "full of Swedes." In September, Bettman "wouldn't directly address a potential overseas trip" for the Sabres. What he did say was that "every team in the league has shown interest in the games." Sabres co-Owners Terry and Kim Pegula have made it clear to the league that they "want their franchise involved in as many marquee events" as Bettman and the NHL will give them (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/4).

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