Bruins and Oilers to anchor NHL’s German expansion in 2027-28

The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association have confirmed that the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers will each play two regular-season games in Germany during the 2027-28 season. The announcement, made in New York, signals a sustained effort by the league’s governing bodies to establish a permanent foothold in the European market rather than relying on isolated exhibition events.

The Bruins are scheduled to host their matches in Munich, while the Oilers will play in Cologne. The selection of Cologne is strategically linked to the presence of Leon Draisaitl, an Edmonton Oilers player who was born in the city. While the specific opponents for these fixtures have yet to be determined, the league has designated them as regular-season contests, a distinction that carries greater weight for attendance and broadcast rights than the previous Global Series games.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly framed the expansion as a governance and community engagement initiative. “These events represent an important step in our commitment to grow the game in Germany,” Daly said. He noted that by bringing more NHL games to what he described as one of Europe’s most dynamic hockey markets, the league hopes to deepen engagement amongst fans, partners, and local communities while creating a significant opportunity to grow the game throughout the country.

This move follows a trajectory of increasing regular-season activity in Germany. The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators are already slated to play two games in Düsseldorf in December. Those Global Series games will mark the second and third regular-season games the league has staged in Germany, following the 2011 match between the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings in Berlin.

The institutional commitment is now formalised for the medium term. The NHL and NHLPA are committed to bringing regular-season games to Germany for at least the next three seasons. This multi-year approach suggests a shift from sporadic international tours to a structured regional presence, aiming to cultivate a consistent fan base in German cities.

The 2027-28 schedule will thus see four regular-season games distributed between Munich and Cologne. As the league continues to refine its international strategy, the inclusion of teams with direct ties to the host cities, such as the Oilers in Cologne, appears to be a key factor in ensuring local relevance and attendance.