Stanley meets Gagarin, A modest proposal

27 Nov 2012 | By Tyler Bilton

The NHL is bringing in some federal moderators to help clean up this mess and I am not holding my breath. When this mess eventually gets cleaned up, and it will, the NHL will need to reinvent itself in order to bring back the fans, sponsors, and communities it has so badly treated (I am speaking to the players, owners, and especially Gary Bettman).

I have a great idea to boost the fans interest, get those sponsorship dollars rolling in, and help the global growth of the game.

One benefit of the lockout is that some hockey fans have shifted their attention east; to a league that has a ‘K’ instead of a ‘N’. Eyes were opened to a league that is foreign yet entertaining and familiar with its rough play, goals, celebrations, and NHL names. The league has some attendance and economic issues, but it is only 5 years old. Expansion is on the horizon for the league and now is the time for the NHL to realize the leagues importance for the global betterment of the game.

I propose that the Gagarin Cup Champion (KHL) meets the Stanley Cup Champion (NHL) in a best of three game series before the start of each season. For example, if the games were to be played this year, Dynamo Moscow would meet the LA Kings. The champion would be crowned world champion for the year. Commissioner Medvedev has expressed interest in a two champion game before, so I know he is on board.

Think about it, what other major pro sport, aside from soccer, could claim a world club champion? Super Bowl champions claim the title ‘world champions’ despite not competing against a club outside of the continental USA. MLB has the World Series, despite no other club outside of North America competing in it. NBA, ditto.

The question of host site is probably on your mind, to that I have a solution that will finally turn the All-Star game from a lecture on English literature into an exciting spectacle. Goodbye Winter Classic, hello International Classic. The International Classic will be played outdoors, in January and will feature the best NHL stars against the best KHL stars. Winner of the game gets hosting rights for the Summit Series Cup (clever name, right). Imagine, finally, an all-star game that is exciting and actually means something. The NHL will need some excitement because it will soon find itself competing for ratings against the new NCAA football playoff format. The site for the International Classic would rotate every year.

Next season, the KHL is hoping to put a club in Italy and Croatia and it is no secret that Commissioner Medvedev wants to make the KHL a global league. He has expressed interest in putting clubs in Sweden, Finland, Germany, China, Japan, and even Korea. Is it just a matter of time before we could see the KHL taking a page out of the old WHA and putting clubs in North American markets? Seattle, Quebec City, Hamilton, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Houston, and Toronto version 2.0 are all potential markets for a KHL club.

Regardless of what happens in the following weeks of federal moderators sitting in the NHL lockout negotiations, the league has suffered damages. It has a bad image and needs to shake things up, why not try this?