The Blue Jackets will open the 2010-11 season with two games in Sweden, multiple NHL sources told The Dispatch.
No date or opponent has been set, and an NHL spokesman would not confirm the report yesterday, nor would Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson.
Sportsnet.ca reported that the NHL has settled on six clubs to play in Europe at the start of next season: Columbus, Boston, Carolina, Minnesota, Phoenix and San Jose.
The Blue Jackets have four Swedish players: defenseman Anton Stralman and forwards Kristian Huselius, Sammy Pahlsson and Fredrik Modin, although Modin will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
This season marked the third straight to open with games in Europe. Detroit and St. Louis played two games in Stockholm, Sweden, and Chicago and Florida played two in Helsinki, Finland. But the NHL has a history dating to the 1930s of playing games overseas.
According to the Boston Globe, the Bruins will face the Phoenix Coyotes in two regular season games in late September in Prague, Czech Republic to open the 2010-11 season.
Nach Prag würde ich auch fahren, ist von mir aus eh kürzer als nach Köln. Wären da nicht die tschechischen "Abzocker". Die nehmen doch wieder Preise vom anderen Stern. Wenn es wieder so ein Ding wird wie damals, als die Rangirls und die Tampaschwuppen da waren, lasse ich es wahrscheinlich besser sein.
The Blue Jackets will play the San Jose Sharks in Stockholm, Sweden, at the start of the 2010-11 season, The Dispatch has learned.
The Jackets will play two games in Europe -- a home game and a road game -- but it's unclear if both games will be against the Sharks or if they'll both be in Stockholm. Best guess for the opener is Thursday, Oct. 7.
Other clubs known to be traveling to start next season abroad are Minnesota, Carolina, Boston and Phoenix. Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Wild and Hurricanes will play two games in Helsinki, Finland, while Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe reports the Bruins and Coyotes will square off for two games in Prague, Czech Republic.
The NHL did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Confirmed If there were ever two teams destined to play in Eastern Scandinavia, it was the Finn-stocked Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild. Turns out that's exactly where they'll be kicking off the 2010-11 season. http://www.canescountry.com/
Take heart, brighter days will come ...
🖤 I'll stay in love, and I'll stay alive; Calling the chaos my home 🖤
edit: Der Link will sich nicht linken lassen, daher macht entweder copy/paste oder geht einfach auf die NHL Seite...
Zitat The Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild will play two regular-season games against each other at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday, Oct. 7 and Friday, Oct. 8.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks will square off for two games at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9.
The Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will play each other at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10.