Report: The NHL is going to Russia!

Let’s go, Comrade!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Report: The NHL is going to Russia!
Zuma Press

There’s long been a rumor amongst hockey fans and media analysts that the NHL seriously considered a European expansion in the early 1990s before committing to expansion and relocation in Southern U.S. markets like California, Florida and Arizona. Forget the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Phoenix Coyotes. How about teams in Moscow, Stockholm, Helsinki, Prague and Saint Petersburg?

The ill-fated European expansion obviously never happened and with the emergence of the KHL all across the continent, it’s likely a dead idea at this point. Still, the NHL continues to grow its fanbase in Europe with its Global Series games featuring exhibition and regular season games in places like  Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Finland and the Czech Republic. Up next:  The Big Red Machine.

According to a report from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is trying to host a game in Russia, likely between the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals, but it won’t happen until 2021-22 at the earliest.

Check it out:



Alex Ovechkin vs Vladimir Tarasenko outdoors at the Red Square in Moscow? Let’s go!

The KHL All-Star Game held an outdoor spectacle at Red Square over 10 years ago and it was a sight to behold. 



It’ll be interesting to see if the NHL and KHL come together to coordinate on this event but… well don’t hold your breath.