Elliotte Friedman hints at potential Oilers event overseas: 'Too much sense'
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes that a game between the Oilers and Senators in Germany next season makes "too much sense" due to Draisaitl and Stutzle.
The Edmonton Oilers could soon play a game in Germany, with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggesting an Oilers vs. Ottawa Senators matchup is a strong possibility.
"Have mentioned a few times now that the NHL wants to increase its footprint into Germany," he wrote. "Edmonton (Leon Draisaitl) vs. Ottawa (Tim Stutzle) makes too much sense not to happen. In his Board of Governors interview with Kyle Bukauskas, Senators owner Michael Andlauer sure made it sound like that's as inevitable as Thanos."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
The NHL's history in Germany
Germany has a long NHL history. In 1959, the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins toured Dortmund, Essen, Krefeld, and West Berlin. The Edmonton Oilers played exhibitions in West Germany and Austria in 1990 during the Epson Cup tournament.
Their most recent German visit came in 2018, when the Oilers faced the Cologne Sharks in Leon Draisaitl's hometown.
Coached by his father, Peter, the Sharks saw Draisaitl and fellow German Tobias Rieder combine for the first goal, and Edmonton won 4-3 in overtime. That trip continued with a regular-season opener in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Germany's NHL presence has grown. The 2024 NHL Global Series Challenge featured the Buffalo Sabres against EHC Red Bull Munich, opening the SAP Garden to positive reviews.
Why Ottawa and Edmonton are the perfect teams to face off against each other in Germany
With German stars like Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stutzle among the league's top players, a potential return by Edmonton would carry special significance. Fan interest is strong, with ticket demand already pointing to games as soon as 2026.
A matchup between the Oilers and Senators in Germany would combine history, star power, and Europe's growing hockey market, giving fans a chance to see two of the NHL's top German talents in action.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 229 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman hints at potential Oilers event overseas: 'Too much sense' Should the Oilers and Senators play a game in Germany next season? | ||
| Yes | 147 | 64.2 % |
| No | 82 | 35.8 % |
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