The Kraken Are Going to Finland and It's Actually a Big Deal
Mark your calendars, because the Seattle Kraken are about to make history. The NHL just announced that Seattle will head to Helsinki, Finland in November to play the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the league's Global Series. This is huge: it's the Kraken's first international trip in their sixth season of existence, and it's happening November 12 and 14.
A Trip Across the Atlantic for a Historic First
The Kraken have been around since 2015, and they've never played a regular-season game overseas until now. Meanwhile, Carolina is making their second trip abroad, though their last international game was way back in 2010. Two games in Finland might not sound like much, but for an expansion franchise that's still building its identity, playing on the world stage is a statement. The league and the players' association announced the matchup Monday, cementing this as official.
The Finnish Connection Runs Deep
Here's what makes this matchup even more interesting: both teams have Finns on their rosters, and they'll be heading home in a sense. Kaapo Kakko and Eeli Tolvanen wear green and blue, while Carolina has Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Kakko and Aho are both locked in under contract for next season, so expect some extra motivation when these teams face off in the Finnish capital. There's nothing quite like playing in front of your home country fans.
The Bigger Picture
The NHL has been spreading regular-season games around Europe since 2007, and these Helsinki games are part of a larger push to grow hockey globally. Veikkaus Arena (formerly Hartwall Arena) has hosted seven of the league's European games, with the most recent one back in 2018. Plus, the league has two more international games scheduled for Germany in December with Ottawa and Chicago heading to Duesseldorf.
So when November rolls around, the Kraken will be representing Seattle on the world's biggest hockey stage. Time to get ready for some transatlantic hockey.
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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.