The NHL is hoping to bring back regular-season games in Europe as early as next season, a source told ESPN.com. The league is looking at potentially having two regular-season games in Europe. It’s not a done deal and we’re already getting late into the calendar, so perhaps it won’t get done on time, but there’s still hope for next season. As well, word is the NHL is also looking at staging preseason games in China, which I would read as a reminder of the NHL’s interest in making sure it has its players participating in the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.