NHL postpones 2020-21 trips to Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany and Finland, affecting four teams
The NHL is staying home next season.
The league announced Friday it has postponed its Global Series for the 2020-21 season in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting four teams.
The Nashville Predators and Boston Bruins were scheduled to open their regular season in Prague, Czech Republic, the home country of Bruins players David Pastrnak and David Krecji. The Predators then were to finish their training camp with exhibition games in Switzerland, home of captain Roman Josi and defenseman Yannick Weber, while the Bruins were to finish their camp in Germany.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche were scheduled to open their seasons with two games in Helsinki, Finland. Colorado's Mikko Rantanen and Joonas Donskoi are from Finland, as is Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
"The NHLPA and the NHL remain committed to maintaining and growing our international presence," the league said in a joint statement with the players' association. "We hope that our fans overseas understand the need to postpone the 2020 games, but we look forward to being back with them in 2021."
The 2019-20 NHL season has been on pause since March 12. The league intends to finish this season, whether with regular-season games or by going straight to the playoffs, but no plans have been finalized.
"We are disappointed by the postponement of the NHL Global Series but fully support the decision and appreciate all the thought and consideration invested in the postponement's handling," Predators president and CEO Sean Henry said. "At the appropriate time we look forward to playing in front of Europe's passionate Predators fan base."
Josi said in November how much he was looking forward to playing at his hometown arena in Bern, the one he and Weber played in as youths, and recalled looking up to Weber when the two were growing up in Switzerland.
"It's pretty special for me. My whole family is there," Josi said. "All my best friends I grew up with are there. ... It's going to be emotional."
Predators general manager David Poile called the trip a "once-in-a-lifetime memory."
"It will provide for some great team-bonding opportunities and will be super special for our captain Roman Josi and fellow Bern native Yannick Weber," Poile said in a statement.
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