It's a European Game...?

The NHL has formally announced that the 2008-09 season will open in Europe, just like it did this year.

However, there is one difference: four teams will open their seasons in Europe.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators will open in Stockholm, Sweden, while the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning will play a home-and-home in Prague, Czech Republic.

Granted, these countries love hockey. The game in Sweden will be nice because the Swedes love Daniel Alfredsson, and the Czechs will go nuts for Jaromir Jagr.

But, in my humble opinion, this is not the greatest of ideas.

First, I remember how the Anaheim Ducks played after starting the season in London, England - they were tired and didn't play well.

Second, why in the world is the NHL focusing on Europe? Is this further proof that Bettman wants to expand across the pond?

Silly me, I thought the NHL wanted to make hockey more popular in the US, where they already have 24 teams but are hardly more popular than Major League Soccer.

I thought that it didn't make sense to play four games overseas and forfeit most of that revenue. I don't think the money from those sold out arenas are going back to the NHL clubs...

I thought the only logical thing would be to stabilize your product where it already exists before branching out. Maybe relocate a few franchises to cities that actually care about hockey...perhaps focus the cash and the efforts on marketing plans and events this side of the Atlantic...

But hey, what do I know?