NEW YORK -- The Blue Jackets are in the middle of their longest road swing of the season: five
games, two times zones and two countries.
That's nothing compared with the trip they might make next fall.
The Jackets have been invited by the NHL to start next season in Europe, general manager Scott
Howson said.
"We have been approached by the league, but that's all I can say," he said.
The Jackets are believed to be one of six teams weighing offers. The others include Minnesota,
Carolina, Boston, San Jose and Phoenix, according to ESPN.com.
In the past few seasons, the NHL has sent four teams to Europe to train and play two regular
season games. For instance, Detroit and St. Louis opened this season in Sweden, while Florida and
Chicago played in Finland.
Ten NHL teams have played at least once overseas. The league clearly wants to expand its
European presence. A league source told ESPN.com the NHL would like to see every franchise make an
overseas trip eventually.
Gary Meagher, the NHL's senior vice president of public relations, said the league is in the
"discussion phase" involving teams and sites for next year and could have something definitive by
January.
Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock knows some teams are lukewarm on the idea of traveling a long
distance for two games, but he's in favor of it.
"I think the positives definitely outweigh the negatives," Hitchcock said. "It helps you in a
lot of areas. Your team gets a chance to bond early in the season, you get to enjoy a new
experience and you get a good read on your players when they are placed in a foreign or different
atmosphere."
Hitchcock has ample international experience with Team Canada, but has yet to take an NHL club
overseas.
Such a trip also would raise the profile of a Jackets' franchise that has been relatively
anonymous until reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs last season.
Powering up
The Jackets' solid start comes as little surprise given the roster upgrade of the past two
seasons and the team's burgeoning young talent.
But few expected to see the Jackets enjoy so much success on the power play.
Before yesterday's games, they had the NHL's second-best power play, converting at 25.3 percent.
Only San Jose was better at 25.5 percent.
A season ago, the Jackets ranked last with the man advantage (12.7 percent).
Hitchcock said the addition of defenseman Anton Stralman and the emergence of a reliable second
unit have made a substantial difference.
Stralman has three goals and six assists on the power play in 19 games.
"You can't underestimate what Anton has added to the power play," Hitchcock said. "He brings
that right shot from the point we have needed.
"The other thing is we now have two good units. We don't have an issue starting the second unit
on the power play."
Winger Raffi Torres ranks sixth in the league with five power-play goals.
treed@dispatch.com
