When the NHL presented the schedule for the upcoming season, much of the focus was on expanding the regular season from 82 to 84 games. Less attention was paid to the fact that the NHL will play around 20 afternoon games on Mondays local time.
The games are intended to attract audiences in Europe and, according to the NHL, primarily the German market. However, Edmonton, where the biggest German name in the North American professional league, Leon Draisaitl, plays, does not have a single afternoon game scheduled.
Dahlin's Buffalo first out
However, Rasmus Dahlin's Buffalo has had four early games and Gabriel Landeskog's Colorado has needed an early wake-up call on three occasions. Buffalo's meeting with Florida on October 12 will be the first game with an early start time.
But from the SHL's perspective, there is nothing negative about the NHL trying to take a bigger place on Mondays in Swedish homes, a day when no SHL matches are played.
If more people have access to watching the best hockey players on TV, they might want to watch an SHL game on Thursday or Saturday too, says Hemlin.
No surprise
The NHL's investment comes as no surprise to the SHL.
We know that the NHL has an interest in Europe with its "fan base" here. This is seen, among other things, in connection with the Global Series.
There will be no games in Sweden this winter, but Carolina and Seattle will meet in two games in Helsinki in November. And in December, a doubleheader between Ottawa and Chicago awaits in Düsseldorf.
"We have meetings with the NHL every year and get to know how they work. We will hear from them at the next meeting how this has turned out," says Hemlin.
+ The first match aimed at fans in Europe is Buffalo-Florida on October 12th at 7:00 PM.
+ A total of 22 Monday matches have received attractive start times against Europe this winter.
+ Matches start between 6:30 PM and 10:00 PM.
+ Teams with the most early Monday games: Buffalo and New York Islanders have four, Colorado and Washington have three.
