Some NHLers play ‘Risk’ on road trips. Here are 10 other games they can play

Some new information about how NHL players spend their free time had us thinking ...

We don’t often hear about what NHL players do to unwind while on the road during a long season. A lot of talk around players centers on their on-ice play, but not what comes before or after as their team travels across the country.

Hockey fans got a glimpse into that world when Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt got talking to the San Jose Sharks and the Washington Capitals about how the game of Risk became a phenomenon in their locker room during travel time. It’s a great piece, one that shows an insight into hockey players that we don’t often see.

But, it also got us thinking. Risk is a great game, but there has to be other board games or video games out there that NHL teams could be playing in their spare time on the road, right? So, we’ve taken a look at some of the games hockey teams should play this year, based on how they have done as we near the halfway mark of the 2017-18 season.

Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers: Broforce

If you’ve never heard of Broforce, the game itself is pretty simple. At its heart is a run-and-gun platformer game, with an action-movie hero coating. Considering both the Flyers and Ducks have engaged in some highly-touted fisticuffs this year, a bro-style shooter feels appropriate for two of the tougher teams in the league.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Monopoly

The Penguins have two straight Stanley Cups and are gunning for a third this season. Pittsburgh has also won five championships since 1992 and have had their fair share of Hall of Fame talent pass through their locker room in the last few decades. Safe to say, the Penguins are pretty good at an NHL Monopoly, so the board game should be easy for them.

Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames: Ticket to Ride

Both the Avalanche and Flames have the NHL’s longest travel miles this season, and a game centered around putting together the longest train rails feels absolutely appropriate for these two Western Conference teams.

Chicago Blackhawks: Pokemon Go

As the trade deadline approaches, we’re almost certain Blackhawks’ general manager Stan Bowman is getting ready to nab all of the free agents on the open market. Let’s just hope it goes better for Bowman than the official Pokemon Go event in Chicago that nosedived hard over the summer.

San Jose Sharks: Game Of Thrones Risk

The Sharks already have an affinity for Risk, so slapping the Game of Thrones brand across it makes this even better considering Joe Thornton and Brent Burns look like extras from the famous TV show.

Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, Arizona Coyotes: NHL 18

Listen, the Oilers, Sabres, and Coyotes are all, once again, having bad seasons of hockey. While they can’t hit the reset button in real life, playing a season in NHL 18 may help soothe their souls in yet another year they’ll have to throw away.

Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues: Portal 2

Portal 2’s co-op mode is maybe the best co-op mode in video games. You had to work perfectly in sync with your teammate to finish the levels set out for you, which required communication and precise teamwork. Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos of the Lightning, along with Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz, and Vladimir Tarasenko of the Blues have been among the NHL’s best teammates at the top of the scoreboards this season, making this game a perfect fit for these perfect fits.

Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils: Splatoon 2

By my calculation, every young person has a Nintendo Switch. Don’t question this logic, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. In any case, the NHL’s youngest stars like Auston Matthews, Nico Hischier, and Noah Hanifin all probably would be entranced by this colorful shooter game that they can carry around on their portable video game devices.

Vegas Golden Knights: Dungeons and Dragons

There’s nothing more stereotypical in storytelling than a rag-tag team coming together to defeat the overwhelming odds placed against them. Before this season, the Golden Knights were scattered across 30 other NHL teams. Now, they’re sitting pretty in a Pacific Division playoff spot. It’s a perfect Dungeons and Dragons narrative and I won’t hear otherwise.

Washington Capitals: Cuphead

Honestly, beating a level of Cuphead may be easier than winning a Stanley Cup right now for the Capitals.

We still love you guys, though.