NHL Returns To Sweden: Penguins And Predators To Face Off In 2025 Global Series

Sweden will once again host NHL regular-season hockey in November – and Sidney Crosby could be part of the action.

The NHL announced the 2025 Global Series is scheduled to feature the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins facing off at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 14 and 16. This is the first time the Penguins will play in Europe since 2008. The Predators played in Czechia in 2022 and Japan in 2000, but this will be their first time playing in Sweden.

Stockholm last hosted four games in November 2023 featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild. The city’s hosted the most NHL regular-season contests of any city outside of North America with 16 games – next season’s Global Series will increase that total to 18.

As the rosters stand, there’s some high-profile Swedish talent on both teams. The Predators’ top scorer, Filip Forsberg, is from Ostervala, Sweden, and the team also has defensemen Andreas Englund (Stockholm) and Adam Wilsby (Stockholm).

“Every time we are selected to participate in one of the NHL’s marquee events, it’s a testament to Smashville’s passion for our team and our sport both at home and abroad,” Predators CEO Sean Henry said in a news release. “This event will be particularly special for Filip Forsberg, who adores his home country, and the other Sweden natives on our team and in our organization.”

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has defenseman Erik Karlsson (Landsbro) and right winger Rickard Rakell (Sundbyberg) who played on Sweden’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad. Center Emil Bemstrom (Nykoping) has played for Pittsburgh and the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this season. And while Sidney Crosby isn’t Swedish, Canada’s captain at the 4 Nations Face-Off could play in just his second and third NHL games overseas in the fall, months before the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.

In total, 9.7 percent of NHL players this season were born in Sweden, the highest representation of players of any country outside North America. Rakell and Forsberg are tied for the fourth-most points of any Swede in the NHL this season, with 59. New Jersey Devils left winger Jesper Bratt leads the way with 80 points, while Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander (71) and Red Wings right winger Lucas Raymond (69) follow suit.

Raymond was at the last Global Series games at Avicii Arena before its renovation in 2024. The modernization project was meant to improve sightlines and bring seating closer to the action, according to the arena’s website. They also maintained the arena’s architecture, which includes the well-known dome that stands out in the city’s skyline.

The first opportunity for fans to buy tickets is at the first-ever Hockey Day In Sweden on March 21 and 22 in Linkoping. After that, ticket presales open on March 25 at 6 a.m. ET, and general sale begins on March 26 at 5 a.m. ET.

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