Determining a schedule with thousands of games on it, while managing schedules of other leagues or events that share the same venues, while managing traveling time and road trips for the different teams is tougher than most here like to think
That said, overseas regular season games are dumb and shouldn't happen. To kick off the pre-season? Sure. Play all the games in Sweden or Finland or China you want. However every teams final 1 or 2 pre-season games and all regular season games should be on actual NHL team rinks.
Isles schedule is weird to start the season. Huge layoffs in between the first 3 games and then 3 games in 4 days in Cali (which actually does make sense).
vs. Sharks 10/8
@ Preds 10/13
@ Ducks 10/17
@ Kings 10/18
@ Sharks 10/20
The Cali dates make sense.
The 3 off days between the road game in Nashville and the game in Anaheim is pretty awkward. I wonder if the Isles went back to New York, or went to Cali early. I bet I know which ones the players wanted to do.