NHL sending mixed signals with international approach

As the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers prepare to open their seasons in Sweden on Oct. 6, the emphasis on the NHL Global Series by the league can begin to be seen.

The start of the regular season in Europe comes after a number of preseason games in China, as the NHL aims to grow its audience abroad.

“In order for us to really begin to grow the game internationally, we need to have regular presence with events,” commissioner Gary Bettman told NHL.com.

Photo via NHL.comHockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea suffered heavily from low ratings, likely due to the absence of NHL players in the Games. While there has been no definite decision made regarding the 2022…