Penguins, Sidney Crosby return to Stockholm for 2025 NHL Global Series: ‘It's hardcore'

New York Times

18-03-2025

As a boy, Rickard Rakell made the 20-minute trip from his home municipality of Sundbyberg to Sweden's capital, Stockholm, for a Swedish Elite League game in a domed arena affectionately called Globen. He and other local youth players joined the professionals along the blue line for a performance of the country's unofficial national anthem, 'Du gamla, du fria.'
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This remains one of Rakell's treasured hockey moments.
Another one is on the horizon.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators will play two regular-season games in Stockholm in November as part of the NHL's Global Series. A renovated Globen, now known as Avicii Arena, will stage the games on Nov. 14 and 16, and the Penguins will play outside of North America for the first time since two games against the Ottawa Senators in October 2008.
'Sweden's a small country, but the hockey is huge,' Rakell said. 'Just for kids to have a chance to get close and watch NHL players — guys like Sid and Geno — it's a really big deal.'
Rakell and fellow Swede Erik Karlsson are eager to show off their country's finest food, arts and culture while also entertaining family and friends. They'll surely be celebrated as returning heroes.
They're realists, though. They're aware of the opportunity for Swedes to witness Sidney Crosby for the first time in almost two decades. As Rakell said, 'it's hardcore.'
The NHL is no stranger to bringing regular-season games to Stockholm as part of its regular Global Series of international games. In past visits, the league has sought teams with Swedish stars. It will have that with Rakell and Karlsson, presuming those players aren't traded this offseason, and the Predators' Roman Josi.
However, after consulting with Swedish officials, the NHL recognized a desire for European fans to 'see the superstars,' said David Proper, the league's senior executive vice president of media and international strategy.
'Pittsburgh gives us the benefit of both,' Proper said. 'But we've heard they want to see Sidney Crosby live. And if he and the team are interested, that makes a big difference.'
Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Penguins, informed the NHL early in its tenure that it hoped for inclusion in the Global Series. FSG is a global sports conglomerate, and promoting one of its newer properties overseas is part of a broader business and marketing strategy.
'The Global Series is a great opportunity for the Penguins and Predators to continue to grow the game in a market that is not traditionally exposed to NHL hockey in person,' said Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas in a text from the GM meetings. 'The Penguins organization and players are excited to showcase our talents on the international stage, and we especially look forward to our own Swedish-born players — Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell — getting the opportunity to play in their native country in front of friends and family.'
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Crosby, a stickler for routine, needed no arm twisting. He is surprised it took as long as it has for the Penguins, one of the NHL's highest-profile American teams, to be part of another Global Series. Proper confirmed the Penguins' participation in five outdoor games — two Winter Classics and three Stadium Series — since their last trip to Stockholm contributed to the gap between Global Series appearances.
Speaking after practice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Monday, Crosby laughed while trying to recall off-ice activities he'd done with Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the only teammates remaining from the Penguins' previous trip to Stockholm.
There was a scavenger hunt around the city. They toured the Vasa Museum in Djurgården, home to a nearly fully intact 17th-century ship. And a lot of walks around the older sections of Stockholm.
'We just had a lot of time to be able to do that stuff,' Crosby said. 'I was younger and hadn't seen that much of Europe. It was really neat.'
Some personnel on the Penguins' previous European trip took a while to warm to Stockholm.
The traditional Thursday meal of pea soup and pancakes did not agree with Marc-André Fleury. Mario Lemieux's famously shoddy back stiffened from the smaller beds lower to the floor. A flight attendant tried to sneak autographs from players on a trip to Helsinki, Finland, for a preseason game against Jokerit.
Also, everybody was tired all the time.
'There was a lot of that, too,' Crosby said, again laughing, quickly stressing the experience was 'really nice.'
He may not be as eager for Rakell's promised Foods of Sweden tour, but Crosby can appreciate what it will mean for Rakell and Karlsson to reveal their homeland to teammates and team personnel. Crosby had a similar experience when the Penguins played a preseason game in Halifax, Nova Scotia a couple of years ago.
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'You're playing in the NHL, you're proud to have your team there and proud to represent where you're from, and have friends and family see games,'
Crosby said. 'It's one of those experiences that you try to embrace. It's busy, but it's a good busy.'
Rakell won't mind fielding ticket requests from family and friends. He is eager for his grandmother, who recently turned 90, to see him play with the Penguins for the first time.
'She's actually too old to travel, so I'm coming to her,' he said.
Karlsson joked that the experience could leave him exhausted given the anticipated obligations. He has played in the Global Series in Stockholm with the Senators and in Prague with the San Jose Sharks. He hopes to 'show the guys what actual meatballs and potatoes are.'
'I know we get it over here sometimes, but it's a little different,' he said. 'It's cultural things, stuff like that. Most of the guys have probably been to Europe at some point — probably not to Sweden, that's not at the top of your list. That's why it's fun to bring everybody over. It's an excuse to show everyone a little bit of what we love about our country.'
Some questions readers might have about the Penguins' playing in the Global Series:
The Penguins will be the home team for one game in Stockholm. They will play only 40 regular-season games at PPG Paints Arena next season.
The NHL and Live Nation will offer ticket presales on March 25. Tickets are available to the public beginning March 26.
Pittsburgh International Airport does not offer non-stop service but does provide direct flights to London (British Airways) and Reykjavík, Iceland (Icelandair). Those carriers have non-stop flights to Stockholm.
In Pittsburgh, the two games will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh. In America, the games will air on the NHL Network outside of the participating markets.
(Top photo of Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)