Leon Draisaitl Is Helping Bring the Oilers to Germany

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Leon Draisaitl Is Helping Bring the Oilers to Germany

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Aug 20, 2026 11:47 AM ET

The Edmonton Oilers are about to become a much bigger part of the NHL’s push to grow hockey in Germany, and Leon Draisaitl is right at the centre of it. The NHL and FC Bayern have announced a new multi-year partnership that will connect hockey and soccer fans through events, social media, youth programs, merchandise, watch parties, and different fan experiences. Basically, the NHL is teaming up with one of Germany’s biggest sports brands to increase interest in hockey while also strengthening FC Bayern’s connection with fans in North America.

The Oilers’ Draisaitl Will Be Front and Center

And for Oilers fans, the most exciting part is that Draisaitl is going to be one of the biggest faces of the whole thing. Draisaitl joined German NHL star JJ Peterka and Bayern player Alphonso Davies for the announcement at FC Bayern’s training facility in Munich. Having Draisaitl involved makes perfect sense. He’s not only one of the best players in the NHL; he’s also one of Germany’s biggest hockey stars and one of the most recognizable players in the sport.

Now the Oilers are going to get an even bigger spotlight in Germany.

As part of the NHL’s 2027-28 Global Series, Edmonton will play a pair of regular-season games in Cologne at Lanxess Arena. That’s especially cool because Cologne is Draisaitl’s hometown. So this won’t just be another international event for the Oilers. It’ll be a homecoming for one of the most important players in franchise history.

For German Players, It Must Be Great to Show Their Skills at Home

You can already imagine how big that weekend could be. Draisaitl returning to Germany with the Oilers, playing regular-season games in front of friends, family, and a whole lot of German hockey fans, is the kind of story the NHL is going to push hard. And honestly, they should. It’s a perfect chance to show off both the player and the team.

The partnership will also include street hockey events in Munich, watch parties, appearances, youth programming, and activities at Bayern’s Allianz Arena. So this is about more than just selling jerseys or playing a couple of games overseas. The NHL and FC Bayern are trying to build a long-term connection between their fan bases.

The Oilers Play in Germany During the 2027-28 Season

The Oilers will have to wait until 2027-28 for their trip to Germany. This season, Düsseldorf will host games between the Ottawa Senators and the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 18 and 20, 2026. But when Edmonton finally arrives in Cologne, Draisaitl is going to make it feel like the whole hockey world is coming home with him.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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