When reports surfaced not too long ago that the Chicago Blackhawks would only have 40 home games at the United Center in the 2026-27 NHL regular season, it became apparent that a special announcement was on the horizon at some point. As it turns out, the Blackhawks will participate in the 2026 NHL Global Series, with the league returning to Germany for the first time in 15 years.
The NHL made the annoucement official on Friday morning, as the Blackhawks will face off with the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 18 & 20 at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany. This marks the start of a three-year run in which the NHL will play in Germany.
The Senators’ leading scorer so far in the 2025-26 campaign is German-born forward Tim Stutzle, who’s recorded a team-high 30 goals and added 40 assists for 70 points. Because of Stutzle’s presence, the German fans will likely be cheering against the Blackhawks in December for the two tilts.
“I think German hockey has been growing a lot, and there are a lot of great players from there,” said Stützle. “Now that they [the NHL] have been committing to playing games there and supporting kids as well. It’s huge. Hopefully it gets even more people to play hockey in Germany. It’s really exciting news.”
The Blackhawks posted a video on social media of Connor Bedard’s reaction to the news, and he tried (emphasis on tried) speaking German to share the announcement. Hilarious.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly also offered a comment on the 2026 NHL Global Series Germany announcement on Friday.
“Our deepened commitment to Germany as an important hockey country marks a critical next chapter for the NHL. By further investing in one of Europe’s most dynamic sports markets – both through the execution of major events and the development and implementation of grassroots initiatives – we intend to strengthen our presence and build stronger connections with German fans, partners and local communities. In prioritizing our efforts here, we hope to accelerate hockey’s growth across the region, creating meaningful impact from the ground up.”
The NHL currently has more German talent than ever, with Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) and Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) joining Stutzle among the nation’s biggest hockey stars. With the league committed to coming to Germany for the next three seasons, there will likely be future games involving the Oilers and Red Wings in 2027 and 2028.
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