The Edmonton Oilers could be one of the teams heading overseas in 2026. That’s the speculation following chatter around this week’s NHL Board of Governors meetings. One of the items discussed during the meetings was the league’s continuing growth of the game outside of North America.
As insider Elliotte Friedman noted in Monday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, one of the countries that the NHL is most interested in growing the game is Germany. As such, the NHL could schedule games in 2026, targeting the German market.
Immediately, the team that jumps to mind is the Edmonton Oilers. Superstar Leon Draisaitl, of German origin, would be a huge draw. In addition, the Oilers have a stable of stars that would certainly draw fans, not just from Germany, but from around Europe.
However, it’s not quite a done deal yet. The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta had this to say about the potential for the Oilers, or any other team, playing in Germany next season:
“Sounds like we may see the 2026 NHL Global Series go to Germany. There still seems to be some work on that front, but there’s a lot of chatter surrounding regular-season games somewhere in Germany next season.”
Of course, there would have to be logistical issues to sort out. But the sense is that the NHL would love to have teams, such as the Oilers, play overseas next season. An announcement will likely come in a few months down the road.
Oilers Not Only Team with German Connection
The Edmonton Oilers are not the only team with a German connection. Another club with close ties to Germany is the San Jose Sharks. As Friedman noted, German business Hanso Plattner is the majority owner of the Sharks.
Plattner is the brains behind the German software company SAP. Hence, the Sharks’ home arena carries the company’s name.
So, could this situation mean a Sharks-Oilers series in Germany next season? It would make sense insofar as the German connections and the fact that both clubs play in the Western Conference. The Sharks would also be an attractive team given the young talent it possesses.
Ottawa Senators May Also Draw Attention
Another team that could draw attention in a potential Germany-based Global Series is the Ottawa Senators. Like the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl, the Senators have another German star: Tim Stutzle.
Stutzle has emerged as one of the NHL’s brightest young stars. So, could a showdown between German stars like Draisaitl and Stutzle be something on the horizon?
It’s a possibility. Making that happen would depend on the Oilers and Senators’ willingness to go overseas next season. Again, the speculation regarding the Oilers, Sharks, and Senators hinges on their German connections. But that connection doesn’t preclude other teams from going.
There should be more clarity on which teams could be going to next season’s Global Series. But one thing to keep in mind is that the NHL expects every team to partake in such events. As Friedman noted, the switch to an 84-game season intends to offset the lost revenue that comes with playing overseas or outdoor games.
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