With the NHL playing pre-season games in different countries this season, they hope to continue that next season to continue reaching out to different markets. The Calgary Flames could be one of those teams.
This past season, we saw some teams head to China for some preseason games. The NHL has been looking to do this for a while with the hopes of expanding the market. This season, the LA Kings and Vancouver Canucks played two preseason games in China. The Calgary Flames might be following suite.
The NHL Board of Governors met yesterday to discuss some teams playing in more countries overseas for this upcoming season. However, this time, teams will actually be playing regular season games.
The Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils will be playing one game in Sweden, then the Winnipeg Jets and Florida Panthers will play two games in Finland in November.
Multiple TSN insiders have reported that among those games, the NHL is interested in a Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins preseason matchup in China – like this season. The discussion is still ongoing and is yet to be confirmed, however, it’s highly likely.
Ah yes, the infamous Bruins-Calgary rivalry. How could we forget?
I think it’d definitely be more interesting to get two rival teams to play overseas. A better way to expand the market by having a great game. Something like the Flames and Ducks, or the Flames and Canucks, or the Flames and Oilers.
Well.. I mean there was that one exciting game vs. the Bruins in Dougie Hamilton‘s first home game vs. the Bruins since being traded. Where the Bruins got the lead with a penalty shot goal with about a minute left of the game, the Flames tied it with like two seconds left, and Johnny Gaudreau scored in OT, getting a hat trick in the process.
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The only downside is that there is two less preseason games for all us in North America to attend. Oh well.