Hold onto your hats, Seattle, because the National Hockey League just dropped the 2026-27 schedule, and it includes some absolutely massive news for our Kraken! Our boys are officially headed to Finland on November 12 and 14 for the NHL Global Series to face off against the Carolina Hurricanes. This is not a drill, folks; our Emerald City ice warriors are going international!
Finland Awaits Our Emerald City Ice Warriors
Yeah, you read that right: Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle, Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Joey Daccord and the whole squad are crossing the pond to take on the Canes on European ice. This isn't just a couple of regular season games; this is the Seattle Kraken, our young franchise, representing the Emerald City on a massive international stage. Think about it: our guys, out there in Finland, showing the world what Seattle hockey is all about! It's an incredible opportunity for the team to bond, to sharpen their game against a tough opponent like Carolina, and honestly, to just be *seen*. We've been building something special here, and now the world gets a front-row seat to watch our Kraken light it up. You know our guys like Brandon Montour and Adam Larsson are going to bring that defensive grit, while Chandler Stephenson and Berkly Catton will be flying up the ice. Get ready to cheer from afar, or maybe even plan a trip if you're feeling adventurous!Beyond the North Sea: A Season Packed with Action
While we're all buzzing about Finland, the league schedule is absolutely loaded with other key dates to keep our eyes on. The 2026-27 season officially kicks off on September 29. That night, the Carolina Hurricanes will be raising their Stanley Cup banner before they drop the puck against the 2025 champs, the Florida Panthers. Talk about starting strong, right? Other massive events include the NHL Heritage Classic on October 25, featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets. Then there's the NHL Global Series Germany on December 18 and 20 with the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks. The Winter Classic on December 31 pits the Colorado Avalanche against the Utah Mammoth, which will be a cool outdoor spectacle. And you know we'll be glued to the screen for the All-Star Skills Competition on February 5 and the All-Star Game on February 6. Plus, the NHL Stadium Series on February 20 sees the Vegas Golden Knights battle the Dallas Stars.Old Grudges and the Final Push
We also get to see some serious rematches throughout the year. The first showdown between last year's Stanley Cup Finalists, Carolina and the Vegas Golden Knights, goes down on December 21 in Sin City, with the return match in Carolina on January 17. Keep an eye on October 21 too, when Brady Tkachuk and the Florida Panthers roll into Ottawa. Those Senators fans are going to give him a "warm welcome" for sure, if you catch my drift. And speaking of returns, Quinn Hughes, now with the Minnesota Wild, heads back to Vancouver to play the Canucks on October 25. That trade was rough for the Canucks faithful, but who knows, maybe the crowd at Rogers Arena will be cool about it. The regular season wraps up on April 10, one of two days where every team is on the ice. That final day is always a wild ride, and every game means something. We'll need our Kraken to be hitting their stride by then, pushing for every single point. It's going to be a long, incredible journey, and we're here for every single second of it, Seattle!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.