The Kraken Are Going Global: Finland Games Will Change Everything

The Seattle Kraken are heading to Europe this fall, and it is a massive moment for the franchise. For the first time in team history, the Kraken will play regular-season games outside North America when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes at Veikkaus Arena in Helsinki, Finland on November 12 and 14 as part of the 2026 NHL Global Series. Tickets drop March 31, and the team is already working with partners to help fans make the trip across the Atlantic.

Helsinki Awaits: What This Means for the Kraken

This is a huge honor. The Kraken become the 27th active franchise selected for the Global Series and its predecessors, joining an elite group that stretches back to 1997. Since then, the NHL has staged 48 regular-season games at venues outside North America across six different countries. Finland has hosted 11 of them, with seven specifically in Helsinki. Veikkaus Arena last hosted the 2018 Global Series between the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets. Interestingly, the Hurricanes have already played there before, facing the Minnesota Wild in the 2010 Premiere Series. The Kraken are actually ahead of Vegas on this front: the Golden Knights still haven't played a regular-season game overseas.

General Manager Jason Botterill called it simple in his statement: "We're extremely excited for the games in Finland next season. It's an honor to be a part of a premier international event like this for the NHL and showcase our team on the global stage. It's going to be an unforgettable experience for our team, and we hope as many Kraken fans as possible join us in Helsinki next year."

The Finnish Connection Gives Seattle an Edge

Here's the thing that makes this special: the Kraken have Finnish players who can really connect with the home crowd. Kaapo Kakko, born in Turku, is one of two full-time wingers from Finland on the roster. Both he and fellow winger Eeli Tolvanen won bronze for Finland at the 2026 Olympics. Tolvanen actually spent 74 games across two seasons playing for the Helsinki-based club Jokerit, which calls Veikkaus Arena home. "Super excited. First time for me," Kakko said. "See all the family… it's going to be fun." He added about the honor: "Doesn't matter where you're from, it's an honor to play in this league. We don't have too many players from Finland, so it's a big thing."

The Kraken also have prospects who could make the trip. Prospect Jani Nyman from Valkeakoski was recalled from the AHL last week as an injury replacement and has a shot. Top goaltender prospect Nikke Kokko, from Oulu, has played the entire season in the AHL and could also get the nod. The Hurricanes bring their own Finnish contingent with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi on their roster.

Getting There: Game Times and Travel Details

Mark your calendars. Tickets go on sale March 31 at 10 a.m. Eastern European Time, which is 1 a.m. PST, through LiveNation. Both games will have early morning starts in Seattle: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Pacific respectively. Helsinki is 10 hours ahead of Seattle in November. This is the fifth straight year the NHL has traveled to Europe for regular-season action, part of a bigger push to engage European fans. Four regular-season games are scheduled for Europe next season overall. Besides the Kraken games, the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will meet December 18 and 20 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.