The announcement builds on broader expansion efforts, including the NHL opening a European office in Zurich and the anticipated impact of events like the World Cup of Hockey 2028 and the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Context includes past Stutzle moments in 2023 Stockholm and the upcoming December 2026 events, illustrating ongoing international growth.

The league acknowledges international expansion as a long-term investment, noting international revenue is a small share of earnings and stressing the goal of sustained presence and gradual growth of hockey ecosystems.

Ottawa captain Brady Tkachuk, who helped Team USA win gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, is expected to lead the Senators on this overseas trip.

Connor Bedard will make his first overseas trek with the Blackhawks for this series, underscoring the league’s effort to showcase young talent globally.

Finland has hosted 19 Global Series games to date, including recent exhibitions like the 2024 Nokia Arena event in Tampere.

The NHL today announced the 2026 Global Series in Germany, matching the Ottawa Senators against the Chicago Blackhawks in regular-season games in Dusseldorf on December 18 and December 20, as part of a broader push to grow hockey in Germany.

German star Tim Stützle, who grew up near Dusseldorf, is highlighted as a catalyst for local engagement, with fan stations, talks with former NHL players, and even the Stanley Cup helping attract attention.

Germany is a focal point of the NHL’s international expansion, building on a history of stops in Stockholm, Prague, and Tampere and leveraging the country’s strong sports infrastructure and enthusiastic fan base.

Reports suggest there could be additional NHL games in Finland, likely in November, signaling continued European expansion.

Both participating teams bring overseas experience: Chicago in Finland (2009) and Czechia (2019), and Ottawa in Sweden (2008, 2017, 2023).

For Chicago, this marks their third regular-season overseas trip, following Helsinki in 2009 and Prague in 2019.