This weekend features the Global Series, one of the highlights of the regular season that is becoming an annual occurrence. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators go at it in Stockholm, Sweden, with a game on Nov. 14 followed by a Nov. 16 game. The Global Series is not only here to stay but is becoming a pivotal venture for the NHL, a league eager to expand its popularity in Europe and the untapped hockey markets.
For any hockey fan, this opens up a rabbit hole that’s worth diving into. Specifically, if the NHL has every team eventually go overseas, where are the best countries for them to play? Some teams make sense because their star players are from a specific country, while others have historic ties to a country.
There are a few things to keep in mind before diving in. One is that some teams have gone overseas and played in these spots previously. Two, there are a few teams with Russia on this list, and things are murky now, so let’s assume (and hope) that cool heads prevail and eventually allow the NHL to have games there, especially if it means Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin can play a game in Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Carolina Hurricanes – Denmark
Finland makes too much sense for the Carolina Hurricanes. Their top forward is Sebastian Aho, who is an icon in Finland. That said, the country that works, oddly enough, is Denmark. The country isn’t known for its hockey history, yet the small town of Herning produced five NHL players (it’s a cool story worth checking out). Frederik Andersen and Nikolaj Ehlers are both from Denmark, making the Hurricanes a prime team to go there if the league wants to explore the option.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Russia
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a surprising Russian presence on their roster. With Kirill Marchenko, Yegor Chinakov, and Dmitry Voronkov in their forward unit, while Ivan Provorov is on their defense, they have multiple key players on their roster from the country.
New Jersey Devils – Switzerland
If the NHL plays a game in Switzerland, something that should happen soon enough since the league opened its European headquarters there recently, the New Jersey Devils must play there. Nico Hischeir is their captain and arguably the best player to come from the country. Timo Meier and Jonas Seigenthaler are staples of their forward unit and defense. So, with the biggest Swiss presence in the NHL, the Devils are on the shortlist to play a game there.
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New York Islanders – Denmark / Russia
From a historic perspective, the New York Islanders are a prime team to play in Denmark. Frans Nielsen is the icon from the country and didn’t get the nickname “The Danish Prince” for nothing. So, the Islanders can play the Hurricanes in that first-ever Denmark matchup. Otherwise, their Russian presence is strong enough with Ilya Sorokin, Alexander Romanov, Maxim Tsyplakov, and Maxim Shabonov on their roster.
New York Rangers – Sweden / Russia
The New York Rangers must play in Sweden from a historic perspective. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the most famous Swedes in NHL history, who led them to a Gold Medal in the 2006 Olympics. It’s only fitting that he has the ceremonial opening puck drop with Mika Zibanejad taking the face-off. If that can’t happen, they can always be the Russian team to consider with Igor Shesterkin and Artemi Panarin leading them.
Philadelphia Flyers – Sweden / Russia
From a historic perspective, the Philadelphia Flyers should play in Sweden, considering the stars who have come to the team and made a significant impact (including the late Pelle Lindbergh, who had his career and life tragically cut short). The current group has a strong Russian presence, with Matvei Michkov and Nikita Grebenkin leading the way as the young emerging players.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Russia
The easy answer is Russia because of Evgeni Malkin. He’s a future Hall of Famer, and it would be great to see him play one NHL game in his home country. However, the Pittsburgh Penguins are also a good option for Russia, considering their future. Their best young goaltender is Sergei Murashov, and he’s poised to be a great goaltender as he continues to develop this season. So, even when Malkin retires, the Penguins might have another Russian player to turn to.
Washington Capitals – Russia
Alexander Ovechkin is the star on the Washington Capitals who deserves to play one game in Russia before retiring. However, Ovechkin started a Russian pipeline that allows the Capitals to have plenty of players from the country, including some of the team’s top prospects. It’s why the Capitals must be on the shortlist to play a game there if the NHL can do so someday.
Boston Bruins – Czechia
David Pastrnak scored his 400th career goal this week and, without question, is one of the best Czech players in NHL history. If the NHL goes to Czechia, the Boston Bruins must be on the shortlist for that reason. It also helps that they have Pavel Zacha, who is playing at a high level.
Buffalo Sabres – Sweden
Ukko-Pekka Lukkonnen makes the case for the Buffalo Sabres to play in Finland. However, the big contingency of talent is from Sweden. Rasmus Dahlin, Isak Rosen, and Noah Ostlund are from the country, and Dahlin is one of the game’s best defensemen. It makes Sweden the top choice for the Sabres, although historically, Dominik Hasek makes the case for them to play elsewhere.
Detroit Red Wings – Sweden / Germany
The Detroit Red Wings have plenty of history in Sweden and Russia, with Hall of Famers from both countries fueling the four Stanley Cup titles in the 1990s and early 2000s. Their current team also has Swedish talent, with Lucas Raymond leading the way while possessing one of the game’s best German players in defenseman Moritz Seider. Needless to say, the Red Wings still have a great international presence even if their players aren’t Sergei Fedorov, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Henrik Zetterberg.
Florida Panthers – Finland
The Florida Panthers playing in Finland is a given. Aleksander Barkov is one of the best to come from the country, while Anton Lundell is another two-way Finnish center who looks like a star in South Beach. Throw in Niko Mikkola and Eetu Luostarinen, and the Panthers Finnish presence is among the biggest in the NHL.
Montreal Canadiens – Czechia / Slovakia
The 2022 draft saw Juraj Slafkovsky and Simon Nemec go with the first and second selections. It was the first time that two Slovaks went with the top picks in the draft. Slafkovsky is a star in the making, so the Montreal Canadiens can always go there with that in mind. They can also play in Czechia based on Jakub Dobes and his trajectory. If he keeps it up, he might be in the starting net at the Olympics.
Ottawa Senators – Germany
The Ottawa Senators have a large global presence. Yet, it only makes sense that they are on the shortlist to play in Germany someday. Why? They have Tim Stutzle centering their top line, and the star has established himself as one of the game’s best.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Russia
The Tampa Bay Lightning are another team with a strong Russian presence. Nikita Kucherov is a perennial Hart Trophy finalist and one of the game’s most exciting wingers. Likewise, Andrei Vasilevskiy is a top goaltender who is still playing at a high level.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Sweden
The Toronto Maple Leafs must play in Sweden from both a current and a historic perspective. The late Borje Salming was a larger-than-life figure in both Sweden and Toronto who put together a Hall of Fame career and was one of the pioneers of Swedish hockey players. Mats Sundin is another icon who spent most of his Hall of Fame career with the Maple Leafs. Even in recent years, the team has had a handful of Swedes on it, making an impact, putting them at the top of the list.
Chicago Blackhawks – Czechia
Marian Hossa’s career took off when he landed in Chicago. He would always come up short of the Stanley Cup but when he joined the Chicago Blackhawks, he finally got the monkey off his back and then won two more titles before retiring. Hossa is why the Blackhawks should play in Czechia. Otherwise, Teuvo Teravainen makes a strong case for them to play in Finland.
Colorado Avalanche – Sweden
Gabriel Landeskog’s return is one of the best stories in hockey. He’s back with the Colorado Avalanche and starting to play at a high level, something the league hasn’t seen since his injury in the 2022 offseason. He’s the primary reason the Avalanche should play in Sweden someday.
Dallas Stars – Finland
Last season, during the playoff run, Pete DeBoer joked that he’s Finnish, considering the number of players on the Dallas Stars from Finland. Mikko Rantanen is the elite talent leading the way, while Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, and Esa Lindell also highlight their surplus of Finnish players.
Minnesota Wild – Anywhere in Europe?
The Minnesota Wild have a surprising international roster. Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin are from Sweden. Kirill Kaprizov is the Russian superstar. Mats Zuccarello is Norwegian. Nico Sturm is from Germany. Then there’s Marco Rossi from Austria. So, maybe the Wild will be the first team to play multiple games in multiple European countries as part of one road trip.
Nashville Predators – Switzerland
The other team in the NHL with a big Swiss presence is the Nashville Predators. Specifically, they have Roman Josi, who is one of the game’s best defensemen and arguably the best player to come from Switzerland. The Predators also have a strong Finnish presence with Juusa Saros in the net, plus a handful of Swedes, notably Filip Forsberg but if there’s ever a game in Switzerland, it should be Devils vs Predators.
St. Louis Blues – Russia
The St. Louis Blues are in a downward spiral, and it’s hard to find a star to showcase at the moment. That said, Pavel Buchnevich is one of the top Russian players, and Philip Broberg is an excellent Swedish defenseman. So, maybe a bounce-back from either will make a good audition for either country.
Utah Mammoth – Czechia
The Utah Mammoth have Czech-mates as their goaltending duo. Karel Vejmelka is their go-to starter, while they signed Vitek Vanecek as their backup. The upstart team doesn’t have a strong presence overseas yet but this is a start.
Winnipeg Jets – Switzerland / Finland
The Winnipeg Jets, ironically, have a strong American presence. The team in the True North has Kyle Connor, Neal Pionk, and reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck leading them. While they lack a strong international presence, Nino Neiderratier provides a good case for the Jets to play in Switzerland. Then again, Teemu Selanne is an icon who paved the way for other Finnish players.
Anaheim Ducks – Finland / Sweden
Selanne is the legacy player from the Anaheim Ducks but Leo Carlsson is the future. There’s a chance he’s a top-five center in the NHL in a few years. He’s leading the Ducks to a strong season and is a rising star in Sweden as well, with fans gravitating towards him as the next great.
Calgary Flames – Finland / Sweden
The Calgary Flames have a handful of Swedish players, headlined by Rasmus Andersson. Of course, this can change if he’s traded by the deadline or the Flames to a teardown. If that happens, the best spot is Finland, considering Miikka Kiprusoff’s success with the franchise.
Edmonton Oilers – Germany
The Edmonton Oilers have two of the best players in the NHL. One of them is, without question, the best German player in hockey. Leon Draisaitl is an established star with the Oilers and would be the ideal player to showcase if the NHL goes to Germany. It’s only fitting that he goes up against Stutzle and the Senators.
Los Angeles Kings – Sweden
Anze Kopitar is the captain of the Los Angeles Kings but he’s retiring at the end of the season. Adrian Kempe, meanwhile, is their best player and presumably will be around for the foreseeable future. He’s one of the best Swedish players in hockey, so don’t be surprised if the Kings end up playing a game in Sweden someday.
San Jose Sharks – Sweden / Germany
Led by William Eklund, the San Jose Sharks have a strong Swedish presence on their roster. With four players from Sweden, it makes sense to go there for a game. That said, it’s worth noting that the ownership group, led by Hasso Plattner, is heavily invested in growing the game in Germany, including building one of the big arenas there. So, expect them to be one of the few teams in the country if the NHL does a mini series of sorts.
Seattle Kraken – Finland
The Seattle Kraken are hoping that Kaapo Kakko becomes a star with his new team. They acquired him last season and hope he looks like the player the New York Rangers hoped he would become when they selected him with the second pick in the 2019 draft. If he does, he’ll lead a team with three Finnish players to contention (and presumably, a game in Finland).
Vancouver Canucks – Sweden
The Vancouver Canucks have seven Swedes on their roster, none more notable than Elias Pettersson. Pettersson is the lightning rod on the Canucks but they also have Marcus Pettersson, who is playing well on the defense, and Jonathan Lekkermaki, who is one of their exciting prospects. Throw in the Sedin history, and it’s only a matter of time before this team is playing in Sweden.
Vegas Golden Knights – Russia
The Vegas Golden Knights don’t have a lot of hockey history but their current roster is filled with international stars. Two of the notable ones are Pavel Dorofeyev and Ivan Barbashev, two Russian wingers who have a knack for finding the back of the net.
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