Penguins going to Sweden for two games next season

The Penguins are going international next year

It’s been a while since the Pittsburgh Penguins have played in Europe but that is about to change. The NHL announced the Pens will play a pair of games against the Nashville Predators in Stockholm next season as part of the 2025 Global Series.

From the league:

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins return to Stockholm to face the Nashville Predators in the 2025 NHL Global Series Sweden presented by Fastenal.

The games will take place at Avicii Arena on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16.

Crosby, in his 20th NHL season, has played overseas once in his illustrious career, with the Penguins against the Ottawa Senators as part of the 2008 NHL Premiere Series in Stockholm. He had two assists in two games, a 4-3 overtime win and a 3-1 loss.

Pittsburgh has three Sweden-born players on its roster: defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Rickard Rakell and Emil Bemstrom. Karlsson and Rakell represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off last month.

“I think it becomes a big thing for us,” said Rakell, a native of Sundbyberg, Sweden. “I think [it’s special] just to have a chance to play in your home country or play in front of, like, your youth team or old coaches that you had growing up. For you to have a chance to have family or friends come and see you and your teammates play, I think it’s a pretty special thing.”

The Pens played in Sweden in October 2008 at the start of the 2008-09 season.