I found the start of this NHL season completely anti-climactic and frankly, a bit dangerous -- didn't you?
The televised games -- if you could even get them -- were in the afternoon. And there were still exhibition games going on! But aside from being inconvenienced by the TV schedule, I found the Euro-excursion to actually be detrimental to hockey.
Take the Lightning, for example. Ten days and three countries, all multiple time zones away. In fact, they had one excrutiating day that included three countries, two plane flights and a game! That's nuts.
Sure, I suppose it's all about team building and for some guys, it's a chance to return home to be feted in front of the crowds who supported their journey to the NHL.
But remember last year? The Ducks blamed their whole sluggish season on their junket overseas. Players were tired, they couldn't adjust and injuries were exacerbated. From a fantasy perspective, I'm pretty sure I would have been beyond furious had a still-recovering Vinny Lecavalier suffered a setback or worse, another injury, when playing exhibition matches overseas.
The NHL is desperate to expand into Europe. But shouldn't they take the health of their players AND their current economically-challenged teams into consideration first?
Posted by Janet Eagleson at 10/8/2008 10:19:00 AM |
