NHL sets Global Series schedule to open 2022-23 season in Europe

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association set the schedule on Thursday for the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks to open the 2022-23 season in Europe with the return of the Global Series. The Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets will follow in early November with a visit to Finland.

October will mark the NHL’s first overseas games since 2019 as a result of the pandemic.

The Predators and Sharks will square off for two games in Prague, Czech Republic at O2 Arena on Oct. 7-8 – with San Jose’s Tomas Hertl, Radim Simek and pending Nashville UFA David Rittich slated to in their home country for the first time as NHLers.

Prior to that, both teams will complete their training camp in Europe, as part of the Global Series Challenge Games.

Predators captain Roman Josi will lead his team through the paces in his hometown of Bern, Switzerland, for an exhibition against SC Bern of the Swiss National ‘A’ League on Oct. 3.

The Sharks will wrap up camp in Berlin, Germany, with an Oct. 4 meeting against Eisbaren Berlin of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Both teams will then travel to Prague.

One month later, the Avs and Blue Jackets will head to Tampere, Finland, for a pair of games on Nov. 4-5 in the hometown of Patrik Laine. Avalanche star Mikko Rantanen also hails from Finland, along with pending RFA Arturri Lehkonen, Blue Jackets pending UFA Joonas Korpisalo and Columbus general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.

Teams who have played in Europe in recent years achieved significant success later in the same season.

In 2018-19, the Boston Bruins advanced to the Stanley Cup Final after opening the season in China. In 2019-20, the Tampa Bay Lightning captured the Cup following a two-game November trip to Sweden.

2022 NHL Global Series Schedule