Shooting Down the Swedish Hockey Myth

Critics of the NHL often point to Europe as a model for the future. They imagine European hockey as a game of creativity and skill, far more entertaining than the North American style of play. But one NHL defenseman was unimpressed by his overseas experience this season. Dan Boyle, who usually plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning, describes his year in the Swedish Elite League as "frustrating."

"I prefer the NHL style of hockey," Boyle told the Toronto Sun. "You always think European hockey is going to be more wide open and with more scoring and that sort of stuff, but it's almost the opposite. There is less scoring."

Boyle describes a league dominated by interference, lax officiating and conservative defensive strategies.

"In the playoffs, they were just draped all over me and nothing got called. They let everything go. I remember forwards looking at me and not even looking at the play, with their stick between my legs."

A year in Sweden also changed his mind about the NHL's rule against two-line passes. Many suggest the NHL should "open up the game" by dropping this rule. That would allow players to make long passes from their own zone across the centre-ice red line. Boyle says that just leads to a more defensive game.

"There was no red line in Sweden. But the teams are so far back you don't see the breakaways that often... I don't agree with taking it out any more. A couple of years ago, if you'd asked me, I would have been in favour, but now, absolutely not."