The Penguins will be heading to Stockholm, Sweden next season for a pair of games against the Predators as part of the NHL's Global Series, an initiative aimed at bringing NHL hockey to non-North American markets.

Before the Penguins were announced as one of the Global Series participants, I polled Penguins players and asked where they'd like to go for a Global Series game, with a couple of stipulations: I told them it didn't have to be a realistic pick, using Sweden as a "realistic" example because of the Swedes on the team. I also told the European players that they couldn't pick their own country, because that'd be too easy. I didn't anticipate two of the Canadians cheating the spirit of the Global Series and picking Canadian cities, but in hindsight, it's totally unsurprising that those two went the way they did.

Here's how the Penguins (and some now-former Penguins) answered the question.

Vasily Ponomarev: "That's a really nice question. I was in really different countries in Europe and I can compare what life is like there. I would like to play in Zurich because Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I was there once or twice and it as a great experience, and in my life I want to play there one more time. But if it's possible I want to go to England again. I was once there and it's a city or country I'd like to be in again. But if I'm thinking about my family, it's probably easier to get to Latvia or Finland because it's closer to Russia. In my opinion, if just to be selfish, I would say Switzerland or England."

P.O Joseph: "Probably somewhere in Africa, honestly. I saw a video with the Kenya team a few days ago, actually, and I liked it. So, maybe just bring some smiles over. That would be fun."

Vincent Desharnais: "I'd probably say Sweden. I've played with a lot of Swedish players, and they've always told me how beautiful Sweden is and how it's a nice culture. And I don't think I've met one Swede that's mean or is not nice, so I would probably say Sweden."

Phil Tomasino: "Definitely Italy. My dad's from Italy, and I've never been. So I'd say Italy."

Jack St. Ivany: "London would be really cool in England. That'd be a fun place to play, I feel like there's a lot of rowdy soccer fans there. Hockey would be treated similar there, I think."

Sidney Crosby: "I was going to say Halifax again, but I'll say Rimouski."

Owen Pickering: "Iceland. It's a super cool country, and my family is from there. It'd be pretty cool."

Sam Poulin: "Italy or Spain. I've never been, and it looks pretty fun to go there and visit."

Matt Grzelcyk: "I would say Switzerland, because it's beautiful. I've been there before, only for like, a week. Does it have to make sense or no? (Me: Not at all.) I would like if we went to like, Greece or something, that'd be really cool, because obviously it's not las popular of a sport over there, but it'd be a hell of a vacation for us. It's somewhere I've never been, so that would kind of check a lot of check marks for sure."

Kris Letang: "Dubai. I just love Dubai."

Boko Imama: "Barcelona. I went there on a trip this summer and it's an amazing city."

Matt Nieto: "I would want to go to Germany. I think it would be cool to go out there and experience it, maybe a city like Berlin."

Bryan Rust: "Iceland. It seems like a beautiful country and it seems like a unique place to go."

Noel Acciari: "Probably Australia, I think that'd be fun, a good area. No, I'm going to switch. Italy would be fun."

Anthony Beauvillier: "Iceland, I've always wanted to go there."

Michael Bunting: "Ireland. My family's from Ireland, like my heritage is there."

Joel Blomqvist: "Sweden would be pretty nice, or Czech. I haven't really explored that country yet. I'm seeing they have great fans, so that would be pretty cool."

Jesse Puljujarvi: "Czech. The World Championship was there last year. There's good food, nice weather and nice shopping, too."

Valtteri Puustinen: "I'd say Prague. We played there last year in the World Championship. It is such a nice rink, and really nice fans. The city is good."

Kevin Hayes: "Ireland. I feel like there's not a lot of hockey there, and both teams would be happy to go there. Good golf."

Ryan Shea: "Probably Switzerland. I've heard nothing but good things about it. When Nashville went the environment was crazy, probably because of Roman Josi."

Alex Nedeljkovic: "Italy or Greece. Italy because we were there this summer, and I want to go back tomorrow. Greece, I haven't been, but I've always wanted to go there."

Ryan Graves: "I feel like it would have to be Sweden, or maybe Russia for Geno. I don't know if I want to go to Russia right now, but G wants Russia."

Rickard Rakell: "I'd go somewhere in England, maybe we'd get the soccer fans there, the chanting."

Blake Lizotte: "I'd say Iceland. That would be cool place to live, cool place to see. It's a long way across the pond, obviously, but that'd be fun."

Marcus Pettersson: "We were talking about this the other day, London would be kind of sick. But it's just figuring out the location, I don't know what arenas they have there that could hold one for a lot of people. You see the NFL go to London, and I feel like growing the game there would be awesome. You see Germany, Czech, Sweden, Finland, it's huge because they're hockey-crazy countries. But London would be a good place and the travel isn't as bad either, it's quicker travel."

Erik Karlsson: "Switzerland, maybe."

Cody Glass: "Great question. If I had to pick anywhere I haven't been to, Ireland would be cool to be out there. We (the Predators) did one in Prague and Switzerland, that was pretty cool. Ireland or France would be cool."

Drew O'Connor: "Somewhere where hockey's not that big. They always go to good spots, but I also feel like they go to places that already know hockey pretty well. I think it would be cool to go somewhere where it's not as well known. Australia would be cool, but that would be tough to start the season off in Australia then come back. I'll say Spain."

Tristan Jarry: "Victoria. (Me: ... in British Columbia?) Yeah."