NHL Hockey 3h Briefing
×Last updated: March 13, 2026, 3:42 PM ET
NHL Global Expansion
The NHL announced plans to expand its international footprint espn.com with the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators set to play two regular-season games in Germany next season as part of the league's Global Series initiative. The games mark the first NHL appearances in Germany since 2019 and represent the league's continued push into European markets, following successful international showcases in Sweden, Finland, and the Czech Republic over the past decade.
Recent NHL Developments
The league continues to build on recent momentum espn.com from strong domestic viewership and attendance growth, with the Global Series expansion coming as teams prepare for the upcoming draft and free agency period. League executives have emphasized that international games serve dual purposes of growing the sport's global appeal while providing unique experiences for participating teams and their fan bases, particularly as hockey's popularity continues to rise in non-traditional markets across Europe and Asia.