[Market Buzz] Overseas, the Ultimate Road Trip - Fantasy Sports Forums

GMGates · #1 10-04-2011, 12:47 PM

Overseas, the Ultimate Road Trip

In Sunday's edition of the Studs and Duds, I had pondered the benefits of an NHL franchise playing their preseason versus European teams, specifically following the New York Rangers. The findings were quite refreshing, and if the pattern holds, many other teams will want to join in.

As you probably remember, the NHL made history in 2007 when they sent the Anaheim Ducks, the defending Stanley Cup champions at the time, to play two regular season games in London, England, versus their Californian rivals of Los Angeles. Every season since, the NHL has sent four or more teams to open their respective campaigns overseas.

Looking back at the history of the game, overseas exhibition matches date back to the 1938 season, when the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings played games in both, Paris, France, and London, England. It is a delight to know that these one of a kind road trips, spread across Europe to Japan, have been a long standing NHL tradition.

When thinking about the positives of what can be described as the ultimate road trip, I immediately wrote down team-building, confidence boost and hometown heroes. Those three elements can be summed up into what Rick "Shoeless" Wakeman later stated as mental toughness. You simply cannot take away what this trip can do for an NHL club.

Many of these players get to visit countries and experience the game of hockey in a way that they might not have ever done otherwise. Add to the fact that fellow European teammates such as New York's Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik were given the chance to play in front of their home country. That is priceless. Both Rangers received chants, ovations and pregame celebrations. While high on emotions, the entire squad gave it their all for their fellow brothers, and happen to take away much more than just a win - something you simply cannot replace.

"I will never forget this." Lundqvist said. "There were a lot of young players on the ice today fighting for a spot, and it was great to see how we played. It means a lot to me and I told them that after the game."

Brian Boyle added "Everybody is trying to make their mark and put their best foot forward to start the season, so it was an important game for all of us, but there was an added motivation for Hanky. He's done so much for us. There are nights when he stands on his head and wins us games, so this was special to him and it was important to us because it was special for him."

How can you not get goose bumps thinking of that?

But as great of a road trip it may be, it does take toll on their bodies. There is no denying that it is a hectic trip with a lot of traveling and little down time. This obviously is not the best way to start the season against other well rested clubs. In addition, the different rink size throws a curveball at skaters who like to play a certain way as it changes the fine tuning of specific plays. Same can be said about the coaches who are trying to properly evaluate them, find the right chemistry and eventually make the right cuts. This was obviously felt in New York's 8-4 loss to Switzerland's Zug on Monday night.

Some players can't wait to get back on home ice, especially Brandon Dubinsky.

"I'm certainly looking forward to it [playing on NHL ice] with the way I play," Dubinsky said. "It is certainly a different experience [on the bigger ice], especially when it goes D-to-D. Sometimes they get those passes [completed] where on normal ice it's a little bit easier [to defend them]. It'll be nice getting back to a surface that we're used to."

--

Above and beyond the pros and cons of starting the season in Europe, there definitely seems to be good vibes following these teams on their trip back home. One look at the following will tell you as much...

2008- Pittsburgh opens the season in Prague, Czech Republic vs. Ottawa
2009- Chicago opens the season in Helsinki, Finland vs. Florida
2010- Boston opens the season in Prague, Czech Republic vs. Pheonix

The trend may be purely coincidence, but it is something to note. If anything, it motivated my selections for the 2011-12 Stanley Cup finalists in hopes that the pattern continues. Might be a long shot, but GMGates’ preseason predictions for the Stanley Cup Final will be the New York Rangers vs. Los Angeles Kings. Two teams will start the season together and end it against each other!

@GM_Gates

praba · #2 10-04-2011, 12:56 PM

the only thing going against the rangers is their D. but then again i'm pretty sure lundqvist would still be a vezina candidate if i was his only dman.

ross10019 · #3 10-04-2011, 12:56 PM

Nice post GMG!

I personally think that the extended travel hurts these teams at the beginning of the season, for sure (I'm thinking of Anaheim last year and the Kings the year prior), but in the long run it is good for the team.

I would not be surprised at all if the Rangers were to go all the way this year. People will scoff at that but, if they can avoid injury (e.g., they can't afford at all to lose Staal for any stretch), they can do some real damage in the playoffs especially with the playoff experience and grit they've acquired.

LA? Well they are a more mainstream choice, and for good reason, add Richards to that aleady deep and skilled mix of players and, pronto, Cup contender.

GMGates · #4 10-04-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by praba

the only thing going against the rangers is their D. but then again i'm pretty sure lundqvist would still be a vezina candidate if i was his only dman.

If their D lacks, I feel that their crew of strong two way players will pick up the slack - especially when it matters. But yes, NYR is my long shot pick. Gotta make it fun! It would be a great story to close up the season after such an emotional start... and we are still preseason! haha...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ross10019

Nice post GMG!

I personally think that the extended travel hurts these teams at the beginning of the season, for sure (I'm thinking of Anaheim last year and the Kings the year prior), but in the long run it is good for the team.

I would not be surprised at all if the Rangers were to go all the way this year. People will scoff at that but, if they can avoid injury (e.g., they can't afford at all to lose Staal for any stretch), they can do some real damage in the playoffs especially with the playoff experience and grit they've acquired.

LA? Well they are a more mainstream choice, and for good reason, add Richards to that aleady deep and skilled mix of players and, pronto, Cup contender.

Thanks ross!

LA is definitely a more mainstream pick. Last night, while doing my brackets, I had LA vs. CHI meeting first round (4th and 5th seed) and really contemplated the winner of that series. However, like you stated, LA made some great moves and inevitably swayed my vote to their side - after a long 7 game series of course!

All in all I find it's a pretty attractive match up. They will start the season together, and finish it together!

subcrazy · #5 10-04-2011, 07:16 PM

Very good read. Would love to see that final la and nyr.

GMGates · #6 10-05-2011, 12:39 AM

Tuesday October 4th

It's kind of hard to do Studs and Duds when all you have at your disposal are half completed boxscores from the three games played versus European teams. So I'll take the opportunity to dig deeper into this piece with quotes from Tuesday's games.

Hectic preseason

"We have had a pretty long preseason and a pretty heavy workload here for the past three weeks. It's been too long. Guys want to play in a real game. Preseason is exactly that -- preseason. Now we are ready to jack up the intensity and play a real game where every little detail counts."
~ Dustin Brown, Los Angeles

Rink Size

In this case though, a smaller speedy player can take full advantage of the bigger ice (see Dubinsky above)

"With the big ice you don't want to be too aggressive on a guy because if you get it by him you have a lot of room towards the net, so sometimes you just have to collapse a little and give up the outside."
Tyler Ennis, Buffalo

Hometown Heroes

From Helsinki, Finland - two more join the celebration.

"It was awesome. I didn't really know what to expect, but obviously when I stepped on the ice it was unbelievable. The fans were great, and it was something that I will always remember."
Teemu Selanne, Anaheim

"I was surprised at how nervous I was. It was just an exhibition game, but in the warmups it felt like it was one of my first games."
Saku Koivu, Anaheim

"I was really happy for him [Selanne]," Koivu said. "I got an amazing reception but it was his night, being from here and playing against his old team. It was nice that he could feel the appreciation they have for him, for all the things he's done for the club over the years."

--

Studs and Duds will officially kick off Thursday, October 6th. Before puck drop, expect an extended edition of the Studs & Duds recapping the entire 2011-12 preseason. It's going to be a good one!

Best,
Gates

Carcillo · #7 10-05-2011, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMGates

Tuesday October 4th

It's kind of hard to do Studs and Duds when all you have at your disposal are half completed boxscores from the three games played versus European teams. So I'll take the opportunity to dig deeper into this piece with quotes from Tuesday's games.

Here's the boxscore from Anaheim's game:

06.12 Corey Perry (Saku Koivu) 0-1
12.16 Perry (Teemu Selänne, Ryan Getzlaf) PP 0-2
38.56 Tommi Kivistö (Ilari Filppula, Ben Eaves) 1-2
39.55 Cam Fowler (Bobby Ryan, Francois Beauchemin) 1-3
41.33 Riku Hahl (Teemu Pulkkinen, Janne Lahti) 2-3
56.03 Eaves (Juhani Tyrväinen, Filppula) 3-3
61.13 Getzlaf (Lubomir Visnovsky, Perry) 3-4

Goalies:
Eero Kilpeläinen J 6+5=11, Frans Tuohimaa J 4+4+1=9
Jonas Hiller A 6+14+10+0=30

Carcillo · #8 10-05-2011, 07:22 AM

Here's the boxscore from Buffalo's game:

07.18 Tyler Ennis 0-1
11.22 Ennis (Ville Leino, Mike Weber) 0-2
18.19 Luke Adam (Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville) PP 0-3
20.06 Seidenberg (Mauer, Ullman) 1-3
21.11 Brad Boyes 1-4
27.50 Sifers (Glumac) PP 2-4
33.58 Christian Ehrhoff (Marc-Andre Gragnani, Pominville) PP 2-5
38.02 Vanek (Adam) 2-6
48.52 Glumac (Lehoux, El-Sayed) 3-6
53.43 Pominville (Vanek) 3-7
56.13 Leino (Boyes, Ennis) 3-8

Goalies:
Brathwaite 19 saves, Bruckmann 19 saves
Enroth 27 saves

Carcillo · #9 10-05-2011, 07:24 AM

And the boxscore from the Kings' game:

0:1 – 00:36 – Williams (Kopitar)

1:1 – 12:51 - Aubin (Cook, Traverse) – PP

1:2 – 13:25 – Martinez (Richards, Gagne)

2:2 – 17:32 – Schmidt (Jensen, Wolf)

3:2 – 31:42 – Aubin (Brooks, Dolak)

3:3 – 33:32 – Kopitar (Williams, Parse)

3:4 – 39:46 – Richardson (Stoll, Scuderi)

3:5 – 43:50 – Moreau (Scuderi, Kopitar)

4:5 – 59:31 – Brooks (Dolak)

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