NHL to Prague

A recent report by the Boston Globe (found here) claims that the Bruins will be opening the 2010-11 season overseas, continuing a trend that the NHL has been developing in the past few seasons.

As the title suggests, the Bruins will be opening their season in the Czech Republic's capital city. Who are they playing? According to the report, the Phoenix Coyotes.

Now, I don't know the reason you would want to send a sun-belt team that has trouble filling it's arena at home to a foreign country to do the same. Yes, Phoenix has been great this season. Yes, Bryzgalov is a beast...but come on.

My choice? Minnesota. Not because of the Massachusetts/Minnesota hockey rivalry, but because the home arena need a home team, and two of the best play for Minnesota. Martin Havlat and Marek Zidlicky both of the Wild, and both now of the Czech olympic team.

Oh, but Phoenix has Zbynek Michalek! And I say to you: Who? I know, I know, he's Milan's brother. We will discuss this in an upcoming Friday Pack of Cards. But Havlat and Zidlicky are bigger names, and have easier to pronounce names.

All in all, these overseas games end up being more of a preseason game that counts. I'm sure all will be well, and the Czech Republic produced Double J, so they must like hockey.

Still, it would be nice to see the NHL make a little more effort to improve quality than to stick to fairness.