As the NHL gears up for this year’s playoffs which will be filled with excitement and close games, the NHL has already shifted focus to next year in terms of scheduling. It was announced today that the NHL will be taking some preseason and regular-season games overseas for the 2022 Global Series. With Hockey played worldwide and a portion of NHL players originating from European countries, it is essential to tap into those markets and give the fans opportunities to witness their country’s stars live.
For the 2022 Global Series, the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche, and Columbus Blue Jackets all have the honor of representing the NHL on their tour through Europe. The Global Series will consist of two exhibition games and four regular-season games played in four cities outside North America, marking the first time the NHL will play international games since 2019.
Playing on the international stage is nothing new to the NHL, as they have played 32 preseason games and 28 regular-season games in Europe from 2007 to 2011 as part of the NHL Premiere Series and from 2017 to 2019 as the NHL Global Series.
The 2022-2023 season will kick off with the Predators and Sharks playing two games at O2 Arena in Prague on October 7th and 8th. This will not be the first time O2 Arena has hosted an NHL game. They have been the host to five previous since 2008, with the most recent being the October 4th, 2019 matchup, when the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3.
The NHL will mix it up for the preseason with the Predators taking on SC Bern of the Swiss National League at PostFiance Arena in Bern, Switzerland, on October 3rd. For the San Jose Sharks, they will match up against Eisbaren Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on October 4th.
This will be the first time in franchise history that the Predators will play in Europe and the second international game. They played the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on October 6th, 2000.
The Blue Jackets and Avalanche will kick it off playing in Tampere, Finland, for two games at Nokia Arena on November 4th and 5th. The games will be the first two NHL regular-season games to be played in the city, as they have only hosted preseason games in 2009 and 2010.
This will be Colorado’s third time playing in Europe. They played two previous games in the 2017 NHL Global Series against the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm, with both games resulting in losses.
This is an exciting series the NHL is able to bring back as they continue to grow the brand and reach fans across the globe. It is an experience for fans and all the players and their families as they get to mix it up and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It will be most memorable for the players who get to return home and play in front of family and friends for the first time in a while.
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