Denmark Hockey

The resolution of the NHL lockout brought a rapid-fire training camp and the start of regular season games just a week after the lockout was officially lifted.  Many players played overseas during the extended lockout.  This list includes Ottawa Senators teammates Zack Smith and Colin Greening and Nashville Senators defenseman Kevin Klein, who all plied their trade in Denmark. 

Klein, who played for Herlev Eagles during the lockout, has returned to Nashville with big skates to fill.  With Ryan Suter now the owner of a $100 million contract and a member of the Minnesota Wild, Klein is now paired with All-Star Shea Weber to form the Predators top defensive pairing.  Your classic stay-at-home defensemen Klein is a fan favorite and a vital cog in the Preds defense.  This year he’s continued a pretty remarkable statistic—last year he went the entire season without taking a penalty that left his club a man down.  He’s continued that pace in 2013 proving once again that he’s much more than a shot blocker and someone comfortable clearing the net, he’s a smart and savvy player that does the dirty work that allows Shea Weber to continue his freelancing ways. The Predators early-season struggles have been more offensive related than defensive.  They rank in the top ten in the league in goals allowed but are dead last in goals scored with just fourteen in nine games.  Klein has clearly done his part to help the defense with a plus/minus of +1 nine games in. 

For Ottawa Senators forward Colin Greening the young season has been a transition one thus far. Greening, who scored a career high twenty goals last season, has found himself on a checking line with the aforementioned Zack Smith and Erik Condra.  It’s a change for Greening who occupied a line with All-Star Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek last season. The Senators are off to a hot 5-2-1 start this season and the checking line of Greening, Smith and Condra has been a big factor in that success. The line has combined for ten points this season and is an impressive +7. 

Greening, who was leading the Aalborg Pirates in scoring with ten goals and eleven assists upon his return to Canada, and Smith who played a short six game span with the Frederikshavn White Hawks, were able to use the experience in Denmark as warm up to the NHL season and the opportunity to get first line minutes. Both Greening and Smith were able to log over twenty minutes per game on the top lines of their respective teams.  Their solid start has clearly been a factor in the Senators strong early-season play.  As third liners they’ve done a fantastic job matching up with the opposition’s top line while contributing in the scoring column on a nightly basis. 

The NHL season may only be ten games in but it’s pretty clear that the time in Denmark benefited Klein, Greening and Smith.  Rather than working themselves into game shape early they’ve been able to use their time in Europe to get off to strong starts.