Fasel Defends Europe against a Non-Existent NHL Threat

International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel may have come across as confrontational on Tuesday, as he voiced his concerns over a potential European division in the National Hockey League. However, those that harp on his supposed defiance are missing the larger point: The NHL does not belong in Europe or on any other continent aside from North America.

Speaking at a question-and-answer period at the World Hockey Summit in Toronto – where else – Fasel responded to a question asking how viable an NHL division would be by saying: “Try to come. Good luck.”

Taken out of context, sure, the sound bite may be interpreted as belligerent, like the growl of a chained-up dog at passers-by on the street. However, if one were to take a step back and actually take a look at the bigger picture, they would realize that Fasel was not urinating to mark his territory – or urinating at all, at least as far as the cameras showed. Instead he provided a reasoned argument as to why he would “fight like hell to not allow anybody to come from abroad”.

His main point was that Europe is strong enough to stand on its own two feet and that the pseudo rivalry currently on display between the continents, which segregates the hard-nosed North American style of play from the undeniable pure skill Europeans stereotypically possess, would be sacrificed were the NHL to enter Europe. Citing the infamous 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union, he pointed to a peak that the sport should forever aspire to reach again.

Fasel has a point that the international element that helps to shape hockey’s identity should not be stripped away bit by bit. Like during a lap dance from an erotic dancer who insists on no touching, all the client ends up getting, as her individual articles of clothing fall to the floor one after the other, is excited at the possibilities... never does he actually get to enjoy the proverbial fruit of her labour. If the NHL were to enter Europe, the only thing that would result is a washed-down brand of hockey about as defined as “dumbassery” in the dictionary... and potential fans just as confused and disinterested as a result.

Now, there’s no guarantee an eventual European division is actually in the works. All this is hypothetical, and with the amount of problems the NHL has to worry about closer to home, that’s likely all it will ever be: an already rustic-with-holes pipedream thought up as the next progression for a league that is just as likely to regress, contract, and collapse in on itself in several of its Southern markets. If the NHL is really looking at what it should do next, here is a brief list:

1) Figure out if the Phoenix Coyotes, who despite contending for the Stanley Cup last year were dead last in the league in attendance, are going or staying
2) Figure out what to do with the Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers, and Nashville Predators
3) Figure out why commissioner Gary Bettman even allowed the NHL to enter those markets in the first place
4) Figure out why Mr. Bettman was even allowed to head the league in the first place

And if the NHL is actually serious about expanding into new markets or moving some of those aforementioned troubled franchises into a new international division, here are some suggestions:

1) Quebec City
2) Winnipeg
3) Hamilton
4) Red Deer, Alberta
5) Iqaluit, Nunavut
6) Any other conceivable Canadian market short of Alert, with a reported population of just five

Indeed, Canadian markets have had huge success when it comes to regular attendance, so much so that four of the six Canadian teams placed in the top 10, and the last-place Edmonton Oilers boasted bigger numbers than any of the previously mentioned American teams.

Resolving these lingering issues should be the NHL’s top priority. As such, expanding overseas is not a realistic next step, let alone a solution to any one problem (which, for the NHL, are legion).

If the NHL is truly serious about building up its hype in Europe and elsewhere, they should strongly consider resurrecting, as a joint effort with the IIHF, a stronger, longer Victoria Cup tournament. In this revamped tourney, the reigning NHL champions should do battle with all of the top European elite league teams. The Victoria Cup currently pits one NHL team, not even the Stanley Cup winners, against one European team during each NHL pre-season.

While the Champions League hockey tournament in Europe was short-lived, reportedly only taking place in 2008-2009, it is a good idea in principle that could use a North American representative as a participant and not just a throw-in by the NHL that displays not a desire at strengthening international ties, but rather feigned diplomacy.

Fasel has a right to defend his turf, but it shouldn’t even be an issue at this point in time, because the NHL, especially with the collective bargaining agreement set to expire in 2012, has its hands full at the moment. Urinating or not on Tuesday as a sign of aggression, he needn’t even be wetting himself out of fear. If the 2004-2005 lockout is any indication, the NHL won’t be entering Europe for a long time.