It took 16 years and a Stanley Cup win for the NHL to finally give the Carolina Hurricanes another trip abroad. I'd say that they made the most of it. The Canes swept their two-game set with the Seattle Kraken in Helsinki, Finland, stomping them on both occasions. Finnish superstar Sebastian Aho scored twice on Thursday in a 4-1 win before they went even bigger in a 5-1 victory on Saturday.
It hasn't even been 24 hours, and I'm already dreaming of the team's next adventure, both at home and abroad. Given their recent success, I'm optimistic that we won't have to wait so long to see them do it again, and I have thoughts on where they should play next. Outlined are three options for the NHL to consider for the Winter Classic, the Stadium Series, or the Global Series.
Winter Classic: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Since its inception in 2008, the Winter Classic has remained one of the most anticipated games of the season. There were two venues I was seriously considering, though neither has any direct or obvious ties to the Carolina Hurricanes. The first is Lambeau Field, which is a stadium I'm shocked the league hasn't visited before. The other is outside the box and would be a first-of-its-kind game.
Who says that the Winter Classic has to be played in North America? The NFL has sent teams to London for several years, and the NHL has played games in London before, doing so in 2007. We already know that 2027's contest will be in Utah, and 2028 has been teased to return to Buffalo for the 20th anniversary, so let's get the Winter Classic to England for its 21st birthday.
It's admittedly unorthodox to try to play an NHL game in Great Britain, but Wembley Stadium is one of the most famous stadiums in the world. It seats 90,000, which, assuming the event is sold out, would make it the third-highest-attended outdoor game in NHL history. It's a new venue in a recognizable place. It's ambitious for sure, but it would be pretty cool.
Potential Opponents: Without much of a connection between the Canes and Wembley Stadium, you could send anyone to London. For a big game like this, I'd assume you would send two of your best. If we're going East vs. West, one of Vegas, Colorado, or Dallas would have plenty of heat. If we're pitting East rivals together, Carolina and Florida fighting it out on the pitch would be gold.
Stadium Series: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, NC
Last August, as the MLB was holding its first game at a NASCAR track, the NHL sent representatives to Bristol Motor Speedway, sparking the rumor mill that an NHL game at Bristol might be in the future. Those rumors reached a fever pitch in January when a supposed leak indicated that the Canes would face the Nashville Predators in the 2027 Winter Classic at that venue.
This was quickly proven to be false by local reporters in both Raleigh and Nashville, and the NHL announced a few days later that Utah would host Colorado during their New Year's spectacular. It doesn't mean that it can't happen in the future, but if we're going to do an outdoor game at a NASCAR track, there's only one acceptable venue.
I said it when the league was first scouting Bristol as a future game site, but Charlotte Motor Speedway is where that game should be played. NASCAR and North Carolina go hand in hand. The tailgating for this game would be unlike anything that has ever been seen. The crowd would be rowdy hours before puck drop, and they wouldn't stop until well after it ends.
Potential Opponents: There is only one opponent that is acceptable for this occasion, and I've already mentioned it. If this game isn't Nashville and Carolina, with a NAS-CAR scorebug, I don't want it. There's enough history for this matchup to make sense. I don't see this matchup being worthy of a Winter Classic contest, but it would be more than appropriate for the Stadium Series.
NHL Global Series: Copenhagen, Denmark
There's a good reason why the NHL is always playing in Sweden and Finland. While Canadians and Americans are the two most represented countries in the league, Swedes, Russians, and Finns round out the Top 5. Getting to Russia right now is a bit touchy, so Sweden and Finland get a lot of love. Since 2022, Czechia is the only other country to host a game, playing four games in Prague.
The next six international games will be played across Germany, with Ottawa and Chicago playing two before Christmas this season before hosting four more next year. The NHL has also visited Japan and Great Britain, so they're in need of a new place to play. I know that there aren't many of them in the league, but why not visit Denmark?
For starters, the league's premier Dane, Nikolaj Ehlers, plays for the Hurricanes, so there's already a reason for Carolina to be a representative. Second, they've never played a regular-season game in Denmark, nor has Denmark hosted a major tournament since the 2018 IIHF World Championships. The league wants to expand its audience, so why not try somewhere you've never been before?
Potential Opponents: If there were the slightest chance that this could be played next year, I'd say get Frederik Andersen and the Edmonton Oilers over there. However, since Germany has the Global Series next year, and I doubt Andersen will play much longer, it's likely just a pipe dream. Instead, give me whichever team Oliver Bjorkstrand is playing for in a few years.
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