It’s All-Star weekend and that means two things: Connor McDavid will likely take home another fastest skater award, and the NHL Board of Governors meeting takes place to discuss all the dumb rules they implemented years ago, as well as everything else hockey. Other than that I don’t really pay attention to what’s going on this weekend to be honest. Some interesting news broke out of the Governors meeting this morning though, the Oilers are going oversea!
Oilers will play an exhibition games at the end of camp in Germany (Draisaitl) while Devils will play one in Switzerland (Hischier)
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 27, 2018
The NHL has been trying to increase games overseas in an effort to expand the game and league for a while now and it’s finally the Oilers turn to participate! Looks like they’ll be going back to Leon Draisaitl’s home country to play an exhibition pre-season game, and then they’ll hit up Sweden for a regular season game against New Jersey.
This is hilarious because it’s as if the NHL knows already that Edmonton will be drafting Rasmus Dahlin first overall and will be able to make his NHL debut in his own country! This is expert level of anticipation if you ask me. In an effort to bring local heroes back to their home country with these international games, it will be pretty nice of them to have Dahlin play his first NHL game in front of his friends and family.
Jokes aside, I admire the NHL’s effort to try spread the game overseas to countries who can never watch NHL games. It will give Oscar Klefbom and Adam Larsson to play in front of some family as well! My question is to you Oilersnation, will you be going to Sweden this Fall to watch these games? We took over Las Vegas, I don’t see why we can’t flood Germany and Sweden with Oilers fans. I say we load up the NationPlane and head over for the weekend of our lives! I’m sure a few mentions towards @WanyeGretz will do the trick and get the ball rolling.
Next year’s NHL international schedule:
— Devils-Oilers open their regular season with two games in Sweden.
— Jets-Panthers play two games in Helsinki in November.
— China, TBA.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 27, 2018
Looks like some more teams will be playing some games overseas to kick off the 2018-19 season as well so should be a fun time in the NHL. Do you think this is a good call for the NHL to play international games? Or should we just keep the league within our own borders. Let me know in the comments!
