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Elliotte Friedman reveals Nashville's Sweden games vs. Penguins could lead to crucial decisions
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey News
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that, depending on how the Predators perform against the Penguins in Sweden, there could be major roster decisions made.
History has shown that NHL teams that play regular-season games overseas often return home with serious momentum. Of the 10 seasons in which there were European matchups, six participating teams went on to win the Stanley Cup.
What each team is hoping for during the Global Series
Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators hope that trend carries into their 2025 NHL Global Series clash in Stockholm, Sweden.
Nashville heads into the weekend dead last in the Central Division at 5-9-4, while Pittsburgh tries to recapture some of the magic that helped it win three Stanley Cups this decade.
The Penguins have lost four of five but remain third in the Metropolitan Division courtesy of an earlier 8-2-2 burst.
Still, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin pace the team in points with 20 and 22, respectively, proving they have some magic left in them as they approach their late 30s.
However, Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs three years in a row and is no longer the juggernaut it once was. The last big breakthrough came in 2008-09, a season highlighted when it started in Stockholm.
The overseas-to-success pattern has continued for the Blackhawks, Bruins, Kings, Lightning, and, most recently, the Panthers. It's a list both Pittsburgh and Nashville would love to join.
Why this weekend is so important for Nashville
Another layer of pressure on this weekend: NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that, based on how Nashville fares against the Penguins in Sweden, big roster decisions could be in play for the Predators.
"One of the teams I'm really watching is Nashville, these two games that are in Sweden, they suddenly feel very very heavy; decisions could be made depending on the way they play here, that's how it feels."
- Elliotte Friedman
- Elliotte Friedman
The team is already scuffling, so these two games suddenly carry more weight than a standard November trip.
For Pittsburgh, it's a chance to reconnect with its winning roots. For Nashville, it may be a turning point. Either way, Stockholm could shape the direction of both franchises long after the weekend ends.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 14 | 72 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman reveals Nashville's Sweden games vs. Penguins could lead to crucial decisions Will the Penguins win both games in Sweden? | ||
| Yes | 11 | 15.3 % |
| No | 61 | 84.7 % |
| List of polls | ||