© Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI

PRAGUE — The NHL will continue expanding its international footprint after playing a preseason game in Germany, two regular-season games in Czechia and two regular-season games in Finland this season.

NHL deputy commissioner, Bill Daly, discussed the league’s plans to expand its markets during the European Player Media Tour on Wednesday. He said they have a list of locations they’re interested in for hosting games and establishing teams. While acknowledging that they have appeared to establish a pattern of rotating between Finland, Sweden, and Czechia, he advised not to become too comfortable with this rotation as it could change in the near future.

Once this season concludes, the NHL will have hosted 20 regular-season games in Europe since 2017. These include nine games in Sweden (eight in Stockholm and one in Gothenburg), six games in Finland (four in Tampere and two in Helsinki), and five games in Czechia, all of which took place in Prague.

During that period, it will have participated in 13 preseason games across Europe, Asia, and Australia. This includes three games in Switzerland, with two in Bern and one in Lausanne, as well as three games in Germany, one each in Munich, Berlin, and Cologne.

The League has not held a regular-season game in Switzerland ever, and only once in Germany, back in 2011. The last time it played two regular-season games in London was in 2007.

Daly expressed that everyone probably has a mental list of priority markets. He believes there’s a shared desire to return to London, both from their side and the NHL Players’ Association, to host a game. He also sees Germany and Switzerland as potential locations for regular-season games in the foreseeable future.

Daly anticipates that the NHL will journey back to Australia for preseason games. The League’s first visit to the Southern Hemisphere was marked by two preseason games between the Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings. These games were played on a temporary ice rink set up inside Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on September 23rd and 24th, 2023.

“Daly stated, “I believe it was a beneficial experience. You begin with the players and the teams to see if they had a good experience. Playing two preseason games is quite a journey, but the positive feedback from both clubs makes it easier to persuade future clubs that Australia would be a valuable initiative.”

I believe that all our business expectations from it have been successfully met. I view it as a favorable sports market, particularly in North America. It seems to me that the fans identify themselves with North American sports, and it is a financially and economically mature market.

As long as the clubs continue to have a positive experience, it remains logical for us to utilize it as a means to grow our business.

When questioned about the possibility of the NHL returning to Melbourne or exploring a city like Sydney, Daly responded, “That’s a valid query. I’m not certain we’ve reached a stage where we’ve figured that out.”

The issue in Australia is the quality of ice compatible with NHL standards.

Daly said, “Creating quality ice at Rod Laver Arena presented challenges. It’s crucial that we get it right to avoid risking player safety, especially during a preseason game. Before we decide to proceed, we must ensure that we are capable of producing high-quality ice.”

This season, in the first event at Munich’s new SAP Garden, the Buffalo Sabres will take on EHC Red Bull Munchen in a preseason game. The game is scheduled for September 27, 2024, as part of the NHL Global Series Challenge Germany, which is presented by Fastenal.

The 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia, sponsored by Fastenal, will feature two regular-season games between the Sabres and the New Jersey Devils. These games will take place on October 4-5 at O2 Arena in Prague.

The Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers are set to play two regular-season games at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland. These games, happening on Nov. 1-2, 2024, are part of the NHL Global Series Finland, with Fastenal as the presenting sponsor.

Dallas just made the Western Conference Final for the second straight season. Florida just won the Stanley Cup after going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2022-23. The game will feature several players from Finland, most notably Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, a Tampere native.

Daly said, “This is set to be a clash of titans, with two of the league’s top teams, both having a strong Finnish presence, making it an intriguing match-up.”

NHL players are slated to take part in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. However, discussions are still ongoing between the League, the International Olympic Committee, the NHL Players’ Association, and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

“From what I understand, we are completely on schedule with the venue,” said Daly. “The expectation was to complete the venue by October 2025 and conduct a test tournament in December 2025, which I believe is crucial. The construction is going well. We have yet to conclude all dealings with the IOC, NHLPA, and IIHF. This is still an ongoing process, but I don’t foresee any problems.”