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The Wild will open the 2010-11 season in Niklas Backstrom's
hometown of Helsinki (AP Photo).
The NHL announced Tuesday that six teams will open their 2010-11 campaigns in Europe, and the Wild have been chosen to start next season with a pair of games in Helsinki, Finland against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The trip will be a homecoming of sorts for three key Wild players. Mikko Koivu is a native of Turku, Finland and linemate Antti Miettinen was born in Hameenlinna. The trip should be especially meaningful for goaltender Niklas Backstrom, a Helsinki native who began his career in the Finnish capital city for HIFK Helsinki back in 1995.
All three are slated to represent their country when the Olympic Games open in Vancouver next week.
Carolina also features three Finnish players on their roster. Top defenseman Joni Pitkanen is from Oulu, forward Tuomo Ruutu is from Vantaa, and forward Jussi Jokinen is from Kalajoki. Pitkanen and Ruutu are both tabbed for the Finnish Olympic team.
Two games will be held on October 7th and 8th, with both teams sacrificing a home game next season.
Minnesota’s expansion brethren Columbus Blue Jackets will open their season in Europe as well with two games in Stockholm, Sweden on October 8-9 against the San Jose Sharks.
The Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes will face off twice in Prague, Czech Republic on October 9-10.
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