from lliotte Friedman of Sportsnet,
Hockey fans of a certain age will remember Hakan Loob darting around the ice in his number 12 Calgary Flames jersey. In 1987-88, Loob became the first Swede to score 50 goals in an NHL season. A year later, he won a Stanley Cup.
He returned to Scandinavia after that championship, ending his playing career in 1996. It was not the end of Loob’s hockey existence, as he became general manager of the Swedish club he starred for, Farjestad. He won four championships in that position before moving up to President of Hockey Operations for the organization, a position he still holds.
On Wednesday, as the various countries reveal their first 16 roster spots for the World Cup of Hockey, Loob will lead a meeting in Dusseldorf, Germany that could have a major effect on the future.
According to a couple of sources, Loob is bringing together more than 50 teams from approximately 15 countries, including Russia’s KHL. The goal is to create something called the European Hockey Club Alliance. Right now, outside of the NHL itself, hockey’s power runs through the International Ice Hockey Federation and each nation’s governing body.
For example, the NHL negotiates transfer agreements with individual countries. These pacts set the rules for player movement and payments for, say, a Swede being drafted by an NHL team.
continue plus 30 Thoughts, mostly trade deadline day related...
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