Mar 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (left) and defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrate the game winning goal by Karlsson to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/baba390a-4256-4d62-81a9-93c24739e801.jpeg] Mar 11, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rickard Rakell (left) and defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrate the game winning goal by Karlsson to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) It looks like the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/] will be boarding a plane to Europe next season. On Tuesday, the NHL announced that the Penguins and Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] will play games on Nov. 14 and 16 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the league's Global Series during the 2025-26 season. And for Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson - both of whom hail from Sweden - it's the opportunity of a lifetime. "I came from a small town, so I never got the chance to see any professional hockey until I was probably 16 or 17," Karlsson said. "I think it's a great thing that the NHL does right now." The Global Series during the 2024-25 season featured games in Prague, Czechia and Tampere, Finland between the Florida Panthers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/florida-panthers/], Dallas Stars [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/dallas-stars/], New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/], and Buffalo Sabres [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/]. And the Penguins will return to Stockholm for the first time since 2008, when they kicked off their season there against the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/] as part of the NHL Premiere Series. Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates with teammates including forward William Nylander (88) after scoring a goal against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/3730c5af-d75a-4f0f-bed2-6180f10dbc33.jpeg] Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) celebrates with teammates including forward William Nylander (88) after scoring a goal against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images) "It's very exciting," said Rakell, who grew up just 10 miles outside of Stockholm in Sollentuna. "Just the chance to play in my home country and play in front of familly and friends and people growing up, different coaches that doesn't really have the chance to come and see me play over here. And my grandma, just for her to have the chance to see me play... it'll be a lot of fun." He also emphasized the prominent hockey interest and Sweden and how much it means to the kids aspiring to become NHL players. "The Swedish Hockey League... it's a good league," Rakell said. "But everybody dreams of the NHL. The hockey interest is huge. "I mean, for kids to have a chance to get close and watch NHL players and guys like Sid, Tanger, and Geno... it's a really big deal." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
