Full question and answer:

Is it a reality now that the Washington Capitals, for example, will travel to Russia now and will have a series of games against KHL clubs?

We talked about this topic as well. This is because the owner of the Capitals Ted Leonsis is interested in such a trip. And Bettman’s position is that if this progress in our relationships remains, nothing will be an obstacle for games between KHL and NHL clubs. I hope we will overcome our differences.

And then Chesnikov followed up with Bettman

After you find some common ground, would it be possible to see an NHL team, like the Capitals for example, in Russia?

Well, when people and organizations work together, I suppose anything is possible.

Thanks for this G.O.D.

It would be so awesome to see an international game with the Caps and some KHL clubs. Maybe play Kozlov, Fedorov, Nylander, and Jagr. I wonder at what point in the year they would do this if it ever happened.

The possibility of the Caps playing @ Russia is intriguing. A Winter Классические in Red Square? It’s just too bad the time zones are all wrong. No one Stateside will be able to see the game(s).

I wonder what Bruce and McPhee think about it. As far as I remember, the teams that have played overseas to start the season the past two years have not had good things to say about the exhaustion it inflicts on the players.

Why even bother with those jokers? All this does is legitimize the KHL. That’s no good for anyone, especially not a team that has such a strong Russian connection. From an NHL standpoint, why do it? Everyone knows the NHL is the best. You get the CHI and NYR going over there “star studded” and they don’t give a shit and lose to a KHL team. It legitimizes them. Until those punks at the KHL start being reasonable with their transfer requests I have no interest in doing anything that helps them. The better they do the more they poach, and the better quality they poach. The Caps especially would be a great attraction for obvious reasons. Why should we? I’m sure some of the Russians would enjoy playing in their home country, but that’s what Sochi is for.

It’s a burden on the Caps to even do it. Aside from the 3-4 guys that are Russian you’re only uprooting the rest of the team, completely changing their routine and body clock, and then asking them to do it again after a few meaningless games and a couple games that could and should have been played in America or Canada (but who are we kidding? The NHL has no interest in marketing Canadian teams). And if you think it will be cool to see your guys play in front of other countries, just remember that these games are not being played on your schedule. Why do any NHL fans deserve to lose a home game?

It doesn’t “grow the sport.” I’m all for growing the sport in places that it isn’t already hugely popular. That doesn’t apply to Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic (though their youth system has gone to shit so maybe they could use a hot North American beef injection to spur enthusiasm), etc. It really is just a gimmick that is a burden on NHL fans and players and I don’t see any discernible benefit to the league, teams, or fans.