For the first time in 17 years, the Penguins will play in Europe.
The NHL announced today that the Penguins and Predators will play two games in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and 16 as part of the NHL’s Global Series, aimed at growing the league in non-North American markets. The games will be held at Avicii Arena, one of the homes of the Swedish clubs AIK and Djurgardens, after the building underwent extensive renovations over the last year.
“I think it becomes a big thing for us,” Rickard Rakell said Monday of the NHL’s efforts to host games in Europe. “Just to have the chance to play in your home country, or play in front of your youth team or old coaches that you had growing up, and for you to have a chance to have family and friends come and see you and your teammates play, I think it’s a pretty special thing.”
Mike Sullivan called the news "exciting" at today's morning skate.
"I think anytime you get an opportunity to participate in events like that, I think it's exciting for our players, I know it'll be an exciting venue," he said. "I had the privilege to be a part of that on one of the other teams that I had coached a bunch of years back, and it was a great experience. I think it takes on a particular meaning for the guys like (Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson). It means a lot to those guys to have the opportunity to go back and participate in an NHL game in their native country."
The Penguins’ last trip to Europe was also to Sweden, opening the 2008-09 season in Stockholm at Avicii Arena (then called the Stockholm Globe Arena) with a pair of game against the Senators. They won the opener 4-3 in overtime, with Tyler Kennedy scoring the game-winner after a turnover from Ottawa's Jason Spezza. The Senators won 3-1 the following day.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
2:22 pm - 03.18.2025Cranberry, Pa.Penguins to play in Sweden in November
For the first time in 17 years, the Penguins will play in Europe.
The NHL announced today that the Penguins and Predators will play two games in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and 16 as part of the NHL’s Global Series, aimed at growing the league in non-North American markets. The games will be held at Avicii Arena, one of the homes of the Swedish clubs AIK and Djurgardens, after the building underwent extensive renovations over the last year.
“I think it becomes a big thing for us,” Rickard Rakell said Monday of the NHL’s efforts to host games in Europe. “Just to have the chance to play in your home country, or play in front of your youth team or old coaches that you had growing up, and for you to have a chance to have family and friends come and see you and your teammates play, I think it’s a pretty special thing.”
Mike Sullivan called the news "exciting" at today's morning skate.
"I think anytime you get an opportunity to participate in events like that, I think it's exciting for our players, I know it'll be an exciting venue," he said. "I had the privilege to be a part of that on one of the other teams that I had coached a bunch of years back, and it was a great experience. I think it takes on a particular meaning for the guys like (Rickard Rakell, Erik Karlsson). It means a lot to those guys to have the opportunity to go back and participate in an NHL game in their native country."
The Penguins’ last trip to Europe was also to Sweden, opening the 2008-09 season in Stockholm at Avicii Arena (then called the Stockholm Globe Arena) with a pair of game against the Senators. They won the opener 4-3 in overtime, with Tyler Kennedy scoring the game-winner after a turnover from Ottawa's Jason Spezza. The Senators won 3-1 the following day.
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