Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar was part of the initial wave of NHL stars that jetted to Europe when the lockout formally began, playing with his brother Gasper with Mora of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest league.
Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks has been a player that's held out from making the move to Europe — and at times has seemed set against doing so.
But according to Expressen (via Aftonbladet), Mora is in talks to bring Ryan over to Sweden.
From Aftonbladet (rough translation):
"Yes, we're looking at it, but there is nothing that is clear," confirming the club director Peter Hermodsson [to] the newspaper.
Previously, Mora superstar Anze Kopitar during the lockout - who came to play with his brother. But since Mora also has two [international players], Tyler Gotto and Prestin Ryan, a strengthening of Bobby Ryan did not take place without the get go.
"Yes, that's right. But because it's not something that is done than I can not comment on that," says Hermodsson.
(Keep in mind Ryan's already committed to a charity game in Atlantic City next weekend.)
While nothing's official — and hey, maybe these new talks between the NHL and the NHLPA produce a Turkey Day miracle — it would be fascinating to see Ryan head to Europe, considering his previous thoughts on the matter.
Said Ryan on Sept. 13, to the Orange County Register:
"I'm an NHL player. I'm not going to take somebody else's job overseas."
Said Ryan on Oct. 4, to the Courier-Post:
"I'm going to continue to skate with the guys ... whether it's coming back here [to South Jersey] for a couple weeks at a time. ... I think it's important to stay here [in the United States] and be part of the solution and not just run from it,"
Granted, those are thoughts in the first two months of the lockout, and now we're in spittin' distance of December.
Conditions change, and opinions right with them. And especially when "taking someone else's job overseas" results in you receiving rink-length rainbow passes from Anze Kopitar for the foreseeable future.
s/t to reader Krille Egnell of Mora, who adds "Mora IK is gonna have a meeting whit their sponsors tomorrow and see if there is a possibility."
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