The Kraken Are Going International: Finland Games Will Change Everything
Mark your calendars, because the Seattle Kraken are about to make history. The team is headed to Helsinki, Finland this fall to play two regular-season games against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 12 and 14 at Veikkaus Arena, making it the first time in franchise history the Kraken will compete outside North America. This is huge, and if you have been waiting for a reason to plan an international hockey trip, this might be it.
The Global Stage Awaits
The Kraken just became the 27th active NHL franchise to be selected for the Global Series, finally joining an exclusive club. Since 1997, the league has staged 48 regular-season games at venues outside North America across six different countries. Eleven of those games have been played in Finland alone, and seven specifically in Helsinki. Veikkaus Arena, formerly known as Hartwall Arena, last hosted the 2018 Global Series matchup between the Florida Panthers and Winnipeg Jets. Here is the kicker: this will be the first time the Kraken have played overseas, while their expansion cousins in Vegas, the Golden Knights, have not yet managed the same feat. That is a bragging right worth savoring.
Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said it perfectly in a team 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." This is the fifth straight year the NHL has traveled to Europe for regular-season games, and Europe's hockey fans are in for a treat.
The Finnish Connection Runs Deep
Here is what makes this trip even cooler: the Kraken have serious Finnish talent on the roster. Kaapo Kakko, a winger born in Turku, won bronze for Finland at the 2026 Olympics and is heading home. "Super excited. First time for me," Kakko said. "See all the family... it's going to be fun." The team also has Eeli Tolvanen, another Finnish winger who won bronze at the Olympics and actually played 74 games across two seasons for the Helsinki-based hockey club Jokerit, which plays at Veikkaus Arena. Just under 5% of active NHL players in 2025-26 are from Finland, making Kakko and Tolvanen extra special pieces of this puzzle.
Prospect Jani Nyman from Valkeakoski was recalled from the AHL last week as an injury replacement and could make the trip. Top goaltender Nikke Kokko from Oulu has played the entire season in the AHL but has a shot too. The Hurricanes are bringing their own Finnish firepower with Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
How to Be Part of History
Tickets go on sale March 31 at 10 a.m. Eastern European Time, or 1 a.m. PST, through LiveNation. Both games will kick off early in the morning for Seattle fans, at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively. The Kraken are working with their partnerships to streamline travel and arrange events for fans making the trip.
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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.