Season 3 of the EURO Hockey League gets under way today with six games, including one that has the contestants with their chests puffed up more than one would imagine for the first step in a 82-game journey.
Roberto Luongo and Alexander Ovechkin lead Copenhagen into Paris, where before the game starts, they will have to endure a ceremony to raise a championship banner. Paris earned the Season 2 Cup by turning away the challenge of St. Petersburg in the Finals, but Copenhagen players believed they could have been in the showcase round with a little better luck. Today, they will try to show the hockey world they are still a force to be reckoned with. Beating Paris is no easy task. They still have a formidable lineup and Tuukka Rask in goal.
Elsewhere in the league, player movements have been interesting leading up to opening day. Gothenburg made two big trades and have just bought out the contract of Martin Brodeur, putting the 41-year-old up for grabs. The buyout came shortly after Gothenburg acquired Antti Niemi from Milan for two drafts picks. And then today, veteran winger Martin St. Louis was traded to Gburg for Ales Hemsky, Devente Smith-Pelley and a draft pick. The trade will move Cal Clutterbuck down to the third line as Gothenburg decides whether St. Louis or Jordan Eberle deserves first-line time with Eric Staal and Milan Lucic.
Frankfurt, known as a young team, picked two experienced forwards off the waiver wire. Vincent Lecavalier and Rich Peverley add more than $11 million in salary, but they also give the Inferno a strong second line with Alex Steen on the left wing. With Season 1 scoring king Steven Stamkos, Claude Giroux and Max Pacioretty making up another line, Frankfurt promises to offer stiffer competition this season. They also picked up former Zurich blueliner Barrett Jackman off waivers. Their first test comes at home today against Belfast.
Another game to watch will be the first England vs. Scotland match of the season when the Capitals visit the Dons. The question on home fans’ mind is will veteran Marc-Andre Fleury start or will the first pick in the draft, Braden Holtby, make his debut?
