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Entries with the tag: europe

Europe is Worth it to the NHL

by Alanah McGinley on 10/16/08 at 04:15 PM ET
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From Mark Herrmann at Newsday:

[The New York Rangers] trip seems to have more than compensated in team chemistry what it had cost in practice time during a rushed training camp. That’s more tangible than the cool million dollars they earned by beating Metallurg Magnitogorsk for the preseason Victoria Cup in Switzerland.

American professional leagues do not release figures on exactly how much real compensation they receive for these trips, but the fact that they keep doing it tells you it is worth their while.

“Playing overseas is a marketing investment—for the league and the team,” said Stefan Szymanski, professor of economics and head of the MBA program at Cass Business School in London. “The long-term benefit is that the league will develop a new fan base.”

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Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers, NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: europe, marketing

An Eastern European League Can’t Challenge the NHL

by Alanah McGinley on 12/17/07 at 04:17 PM ET
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From Evan Weiner at MCN Sports,

The new Medvedev league isn’t going to create anymore interest in hockey in Europe. The existing Russia Super League is widely considered to be the second best level of competition circuit in the world behind the NHL. There is also a second league in Russia, the Premiere League. There are leagues throughout Europe and the National Hockey League has been hiring players from European countries for decades.

Getting players to perform in a new and what appears to be an eastern European league will not be a problem; there are more players than jobs available always. Getting teams properly financed is a major challenge. With the exception of London, Europe does not have North American style arenas with luxury boxes and club seats and in-house eateries that produce extra revenues. If Medvedev is serious about challenging the NHL financially, he better have deep pocketed owners who can afford to lose a lot of money.

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Filed in: NHL Talk, NHL Business of Hockey, Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: alex+medvedev, europe, russia, sweden

Riksman Quits

by Paul on 11/19/07 at 12:22 PM ET
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from the Peoria Journal Star,

Juuso Riksman is gone again. And this time, without permission.

The veteran Peoria Rivermen goaltender abruptly quit the AHL team late Saturday night after Peoria’s loss to San Antonio, saying he wants to head back to Europe….

“Juuso Riksman told us last week he wanted to come back and play for Peoria, so we dropped Jason Bacashihua to No. 3 on the depth chart and traded him to Colorado,” St. Louis Blues director of pro scouting and Rivermen general manager Kevin McDonald said Sunday. “Then last night he told us he was going home. We want guys on this team who want to be here. Riksman will be suspended.

“I don’t know where he’s going to play. Jokerit (the Finnish team Riksman played for in 2006-07) holds his rights in Europe and does not need a goaltender. And we retain his NHL rights and control of him here.”

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Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, European Hockey, Minor League, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: ahl, europe, goalies, juuso+riksman