About to turn 37 years old, Henrik Sedin didnB次元官网网址檛 sound overly thrilled about the prospect of having to fly across the Pacific Ocean to play a couple of exhibition games ahead of the gruelling NHL season.

The captain of the Vancouver Canucks at the same time also understands what getting a foothold in China, a country of nearly 1.4 billion people, could mean for both the league and its players.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big market,B次元官网网址� Sedin said last week in Vancouver. B次元官网网址滻f we can get that market on our side and interested in our brand and sport, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be huge for us. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a good start.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks will meet the Los Angeles Kings in Shanghai on Thursday and Beijing on Saturday in two showcase games as the NHL makes its first foray into the country.

Vancouver 馃洬
Shanghai 馃洭 take flight with a swanky en route to China.

B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e just got to take it for what it is and enjoy the trip (and) make the best of the two games,B次元官网网址� added Sedin.

The Canucks departed on a roughly 10-hour flight from Vancouver to China around noon local time Sunday and, with the 15-hour time difference, arrived in Shanghai early Monday afternoon.

While probably not an ideal scenario for a rookie head coach trying to drag a team that finished 28th and 29th in the NHL the last two seasons back to respectability, Travis Green is embracing the chance for his group to bond and experience something different.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never been one to worry about things I donB次元官网网址檛 control,B次元官网网址� Green said at the start of training camp. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 a great opportunity for guys to get together on the road and go to China B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 going to gather that most of them have never been there B次元官网网址� and see a part of the world you might never get to again.B次元官网网址�

Vancouver forward Sam Gagner, who signed a three-year free-agent deal this summer, said heB次元官网网址檚 eager to get to know his teammates in a unique environment.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a positive, especially for a new guy,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漎ouB次元官网网址檙e away from everything. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be a good experience.B次元官网网址�

While the NHL isnB次元官网网址檛 sending its players to the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February, the league has a keen eye towards the 2022 Games in Beijing as China continues to invest heavily in winter sports, including hockey.

The Canucks B次元官网网址� who along with the Kings are among a number of NHL teams that have already held youth camps for Chinese players B次元官网网址� are looking forward to the chance to help grow the game in the worldB次元官网网址檚 most populous country, which has embraced the NBA over the past couple of decades.

But what the NHL doesnB次元官网网址檛 yet have is a marquee player like former basketball star Yao Ming, meaning fans in China need an introduction to the sport in other ways to get them interested.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be fun,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver centre Bo Horvat. B次元官网网址淗opefully we can put on a good show.B次元官网网址�

With long road trips and cross-continental flights a fact of life playing on the West Coast, the Canucks have invested heavily in sleep science in the past. General manager Jim Benning said the club has done everything it can to ensure things goes as smoothly as possible.

B次元官网网址淲hen to leave to fly over there B次元官网网址� when to come back to give the players the best opportunity to get their rest,B次元官网网址� said Benning. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e talked about everything from meals (and) making sure the players have some of the things they like to have.B次元官网网址�

Fans back in Vancouver will have to wake up early or stay up late to see the games, with ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 opening faceoff set for 4:30 a.m. PST and SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 scheduled for 12:30 a.m. PST.

Apart from practising and playing, the Canucks will also get to play tourist, with a trip to the Great Wall of China among the planned outings.

B次元官网网址淕etting to see a new culture is not something we usually get a chance to do,B次元官网网址� said centre Brandon Sutter. B次元官网网址滻B次元官网网址檓 sure weB次元官网网址檒l have a couple fun days.B次元官网网址�

But in the end, the trip is about business as the NHL looks to expand its footprint in a country seen as having vast and untapped potential.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 growing,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver forward Daniel Sedin. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 good for our league to get in there.B次元官网网址�

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press