Europe vs NHL

[Michael9 57]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=206911&hubname=nhl

MOSCOW (CP) - An NHL team and a European team will square off next year in what the International Ice Hockey Federation hopes will become an annual exhibition series, a source told The Canadian Press on Monday.

IIHF President Rene Fasel is scheduled to make the announcement Tuesday during a news conference at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

The series will take place in September 2008.

Ideally, the IIHF would like to have the Stanley Cup champion meet a European champion but that won't be the case for the first event. One NHL team will be selected ahead of time for the inaugural event in 2008.

It's one of several things the IIHF has planned to celebrate its 100th year anniversary. Another is bringing the world championship to Canada for the first time as Quebec City and Halifax are hosting the competition next spring. The IIHF knows that it is not being promised the Stanley Cup winner in 2008 but has requested the NHL champion starts participating in the annual series starting in the fall of 2009. The NHL has yet to make a decision on that, but it appears unlikely.

Some believe this is the first step in what would be a long process that could lead to having European teams one day compete for the Stanley Cup.

Last month, Fasel proposed a Champions League format that would pit the top club teams in Europe against each other in a tournament similar to soccer's Champions League.

He said then that he'd like to have it in place to coincide with the IIHF's centennial anniversary.

"This is a vision that we have had for quite some time and started to work actively on for several months," Fasel said at the time. "There are still details to be ironed out, but we are sure that we have a financial and sportive foundation that will imply a new era for European club hockey and club hockey worldwide."

A prize pool of C$15 million would go to teams that make the final bracket and a bonus of C$929,300 would be paid to the European winner.

Fasel also said then that the IIHF had already been through preliminary discussions with the NHL about an annual exhibition series.

"This is something that we have been trying to make feasible for years and finally we believe that together with our partner NHL we have a concept for an annual September showdown," he said.

How do think this is gonna go?

[jay 1]

Personally, I think it'll be lousy. NHL players already play 8-9.5 months a year on average... this will add another month to the schedule for some teams and I just can't see that going over too well.

[Langkow22 5]

Sounds Good to me Im already going to see the ducks v kings game in london hopefully they play this one actually in europe I could do with a holiday LOL.

But the level of hockey over here isnt as good as the nhl but its pretty damn close would be an awsome match to see.

[daca 0]

A hockey version of the Champion's League would be so sweet. One of my favorite competitions to watch.

[Lfntn10 0]

Didn't the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Jokerit one year?

[mac23 0]

It would be cool, but I don't see the players liking it too much. They only get paid if they make it far enough, otherwise they just play for the hell of it. Pros like $$$, so unless they give them all money to play, I don't know how well this will go.

[Razr 2]

They need to pick a Canadian team that isn't loaded with Euro's to make it interesting.

[daca 0]

if they organized it like the UEFA Champion's League, there would be revenue in the form of sponsorships and from the governing body to the teams competing. i think this would be an awesome idea.

[The Playoff Beard 0]

That sounds like a real treat for hockey fans! Like daca said, hopefully it will be like the Champion's League. That would be incredible.

I love International Hockey it's so wide open.

[Alias81 0]

Sounds Good to me Im already going to see the ducks v kings game in london hopefully they play this one actually in europe I could do with a holiday LOL.

But the level of hockey over here isnt as good as the nhl but its pretty damn close would be an awsome match to see.

I hope you don't mean the level in England is pretty damn close, I'm in England quiet alot and ctach quiet a few games and the level is comparable to maybe ECHL or something along those lines although I hear before the wage cap in England the level of hockey was much higher, but still...

[kosydar 0]

Didn't the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Jokerit one year?

They played in Sweden and Finland (I think) during the 03/04 preseason.

[D3nZ 0]

Apparently Fasel wants the Habs to be that team. I remember during the Pat Burns Era, the Canadiens went to Moscow to play against the Red Army. That was probably the last time the Habs did so since almost all the good European born players are now comming over.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=206997&hubname=

[Chadd 916]

While I love the concept, I do agree with Jay that the NHL is already playing one hell of a long season. Unless the team was using it in place of their training camp, it really makes it somewhat unfair for them. If it is in place of their training camp, you aren't going to see hockey played at the highest levels and teams will be putting guys on the ice who won't be skating when the "real" games start.

[tomh7 2]

I could see this more friendly to the NHLer's if it were simply an exibition (similar to the ASG) that would be played about a month after the Cup Finals (to allow the Cup wiinners to rest). Basically a best of 3 between the European Camps and the Stanley Cup Champs. Just my opinion. The whole idea reminds me of "Mystery Alaska".

[swede 49]

They need to pick a Canadian team that isn't loaded with Euro's to make it interesting.

Why?

[cougarscaptain87 12]

i believe hes refrencing so its not like watching a euro league game, seeing as quite a few american teams are loaded up with euro players, as to where the majority of canaiden teams have alot more canaidens (obviously)

[TCsnipes9 0]

I could see this more friendly to the NHLer's if it were simply an exibition (similar to the ASG) that would be played about a month after the Cup Finals (to allow the Cup wiinners to rest). Basically a best of 3 between the European Camps and the Stanley Cup Champs. Just my opinion. The whole idea reminds me of "Mystery Alaska".

That would never happen. I know Id be pissed if I just played for 9 months, and over 100 games, only to find out Im going over seas for an exhibition. If anything thats a lot LESS friendly, than more so. Not a chance.