Sheldon Keefe addresses Auston Matthews' suggestion for playing the next Global Series in Mexico City
The Maple Leafs have spent the better part of the last week in Sweden for the NHL's Global Series. While there, they not only came away with four points, but were able to give their fans overseas the opportunity to see them play and meet them. It also gave players from Sweden and around Europe the opportunity to have their friends and families join them for a few days.
Following their 4-3 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild today, Auston Matthews was asked about the Global Series and where he would like to see the NHL visit next. Matthews said he would like to play in Mexico City, his mother Ema's hometown. Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe thinks it would be a great idea.
"Sounds like a wonderful idea. Good on Auston. I know that is a very important place to him.
The more places you can connect to like that It is probably not as entrenched in the culture there as it is here, but places like that are tremendous. More importantly, to have someone like Auston there would be so important to him. It speaks to how diverse our game is and how much it has grown in that sense."
The NHL has said in the past that they would like to visit Mexico City and while teams like the Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning would normally be the favourites to be selected due to travel, Matthews' heritage, superstar status and connection to the city makes the Leafs an obvious choice.
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 19 | 272 ANSWERS Sheldon Keefe addresses Auston Matthews' suggestion for playing the next Global Series in Mexico City Should the NHL Global Series go to Mexico City next? |
Yes | 138 | 50.7 % |
No | 134 | 49.3 % |
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