Coyotes bringing strong team for NHL Global Series in Melbourne

When the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings hit the ice in Melbourne this September for their National Hockey League preseason matches, it will be history-making.

The NHL Global Series games set to take place from September 23-24 at Rod Laver Arena mark the North American pro league’s first visit to the southern hemisphere.

Arizona head coach Andre Tourigny said he and his charges were not taking the warmup matches lightly.

“We should be pretty much full line-up,” he said.

“I expect Keller, Crouse, Dumba and Schmaltz to all play.”

Co-captains Clayton Keller and Lawson Crouse lining up with the talent of Matt Dumba and Nick Shmaltz makes for a red-hot Coyotes side.

Tourigny said there would also be a pro debut for 19-year-old Logan Cooley.

A Pittsburgh native and Penguins system product, he was the third overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft.

Top NHL bookmakers have Cooley pegged at $14 to take out the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the best rookie in their debut NHL season.

He looks to be a strong prospect at centre, having scored 22 times in 39 games for the University of Minnesota in the 2022-23 season.

With strong rosters and two teams known for nurturing young talent, the stage is set for some competitive matches.

“We are delighted to bring the excitement and passion of the National Hockey League to the great sports fans of Australia with the 2023 Global Series games,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

“The Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings are two of our league’s rising young teams and among our most innovative and adventurous franchises.”

The series will be the NHL’s first played in the southern hemisphere, but not the first international trip for either the Kings or Coyotes.

The Kings have played preseason games in Austria (2007), Germany (2011) and China (2017), as well as regular-season games in England (2007), Germany (2011) and Sweden (2011).

In 2010, Arizona played one preseason game in Latvia and two regular-season games in Czechia.

The Coyotes are paying $71 with BetOnline to hoist the Stanley Cup for the 2023-2024 season, with the Kings at a much shorter $16 price, but their prospects will become much clearer after the preseason matches in Australia.

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