The Kraken Are Going to Finland, and It's a Big Deal
Mark your calendars, 12s. The Seattle Kraken are heading to Europe for the first time in franchise history, and they are taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in a pair of games that will put the Emerald City on the global hockey map.
The NHL and the players' association just announced that Seattle and Carolina will square off on November 12 and November 14 in Helsinki, Finland as part of the league's Global Series. This is a massive moment for the Kraken, who are making their first international trip in their sixth season of existence. The Hurricanes have been abroad before, but not since 2010, so this is a huge spotlight moment for both franchises.
Two Finns Ready to Represent
Here is what makes this trip extra special: both teams have Finnish players on the roster. For Seattle, Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen bring some serious hometown pride to the ice. For Carolina, Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are the Finn contingent. All four of these guys will have a chance to play in front of their people, and that is the kind of stuff that gets fans fired up. Just a heads up though: only Kakko and Aho and Kotkaniemi are locked in for next season so far.
The Global Game Is Growing
This is not some random one-off thing, either. The NHL has been taking regular-season games to Europe since 2007 and has already played 42 of them. Helsinki's Veikkaus Arena (formerly known as Hartwall Arena) has hosted seven of those games, with the most recent one back in 2018 when Florida and Winnipeg faced off. Plus, the league has two more games scheduled for December in Duesseldorf, Germany with Ottawa and Chicago battling it out.
So the Kraken are not just heading to Finland to hang out. They are part of a bigger NHL push to grow the game internationally. November 12 and 14 in Helsinki. Lock it in.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Seattle Kraken.
View X conversation →🔮 Trade Seattle Sports on Kalshi
Did you know you can trade on Seattle sports outcomes on Kalshi, the only federally regulated prediction market in the US? Kalshi is available in Washington state. Bet on Seahawks games, Mariners season outcomes, Kraken playoff runs, and more. No sportsbook account needed.
💰 Limited offer: Get a FREE $10 when you sign up!
👉 Sign up at Kalshi.com and use promo code SEATTLEONTAP to claim your free $10.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.