The Wide World of Hockey

Keeping an eye on things around the world is much easier than it used to be. Just a few keystrokes, perhaps some bad translation program, and you are there for hockey around the world.

In previous posts, I've provided some crucial links to the top league in Europe, the Kontinental Hockey League, but here are links to other elite leagues across the Atlantic.

In Sweden, the Elitserien is the top league to watch there. The league has an English-language blog to help draw you in. Here's the league's website. That was a montage for Rogle BK in 2011-12 that you were watching above. The Elitserien is not taking locked-out NHLers unless they sign on for the full season. Anze Kopitar is with Mora IK in the HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier or relegation league for professionals. That website is here.

Finland's top-level league is the SM-liiga. Here is the English/condensed version of the league's official website.

Although the KHL has placed a team in the Czech Republic, the Extraliga remains the top domestic circuit in that country. If you do not speak Czech, you will need a translation function on your browser for the league's website.

A number of locked-out NHLers are making their way to Switzerland, where they will play in the National League A, that country's top-level circuit. The league website is here.

At least one NHLer has found work in the DEL, or the Deutche Eishockey Liga, the top circuit in Germany. The league website is here.

And finally, Red Wings prospect Tomas Tatar is playing in the Slovak Extraliga. Here is the website of that league.

Keep in mind that I am not just watching locked-out NHLers, who may be in these leagues for a short time. I am also watching for players who are drafted NHL prospects and those young players who might just find themselves at the NHL draft next summer. More on those players in a later post.