The NHL is sending the Seattle Kraken overseas next fall for a two‑game set in Helsinki as part of the 2026 NHL Global Series.
Seattle will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 12 and 14 at Veikkaus Arena, home of Jokerit and a building that has seen plenty of Finnish hockey history. These will be the first regular‑season games the Kraken have ever played outside North America.
The Kraken currently boast three Finnish players on the roster: Kaapo Kakko, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jani Nyman, though it is worth pointing out that Tolvanen is set to be a free agent this summer if the Kraken don’t sign him to an extension before the July 1 free agency period. In addition to the current rostered players, the Kraken have several Finnish prospects in the pipeline: Ville Ottavainen, Nikke Kokko, Julius Miettinen, Kim Saarinen, and Visa Vedenpää.
Why Finland? Why now?
The NHL has been taking regular‑season games to Europe for more than a decade, to help expand the fanbases that follow the league from afar. Finland, in particular, has become a staple stop, a hockey‑mad country with a deep connection to the NHL and a long list of stars who grew up dreaming of playing in the league.
Carolina, meanwhile, will be making its second trip to Finland for regular‑season play. They bring their own Finnish firepower in Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, so expect the locals to have plenty of rooting interests on both sides.
For fans in Seattle, this trip offers a rare and unique chance to see the Kraken play abroad while experiencing a foreign country. If you’ve ever wanted to combine a Kraken road trip with a European vacation, this is your moment.
Game times
- Nov. 12: 7:00 p.m. EET / 9:00 a.m. PT
- Nov. 14: 8:00 p.m. EET / 10:00 a.m. PT
Fans traveling to Helsinki should also expect a slate of events celebrating the NHL’s presence in Finland. More information is located here, and there’s also a sign-up page for fans looking for information on travel packages.
And really, that’s what makes this whole thing interesting. For a team that’s still figuring out who it is in the grand scheme of the NHL, a trip like this isn’t just a novelty stamped into the schedule, it’s a unique moment to reach fans abroad while creating a fun experience for fans making the trip. A little weird, a little cool, and very on‑brand for a franchise that somehow ended up with a ton of Finns in its prospect pool.
For the Finnish guys on the team, it’s a homecoming. For everyone else, it’s a chance to play in a country where hockey is basically a civic duty. And for fans, whether you’re actually making the trek or just rolling out of bed for a 9 a.m. puck drop, it’s something different, the good kind of different.