NHL Global Series: Inspiring a New Generation of Hockey

by: Christina Winnegar

This article provides an objective analysis of the game and is authored by an independent writer not affiliated with the team or league

The 2024-25 NHL regular season opens when the Buffalo Sabres face the New Jersey Devils in the 2024 NHL Global Series Czechia on Friday (1 p.m. ET; 7 p.m. Local Time), the first of two games between the teams held at O2 Arena in Prague. The NHL Global Series aims to allow international fans to show up and support their favorite teams and expand their knowledge of the league into an entirely different market. 

The two teams that will be going head to head in a two-game series this year have quite the history behind them. After being fired as the New Jersey Devils Head Coach in March after four seasons, Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff is back to lead the team to potentially improve their playoff contention after guiding them to their last postseason in 2011. In his previous time with Buffalo from 1997-2021, Buffalo advanced eight times and reached the Stanley Cup final in 1999, ultimately losing to the Dallas Stars in game six. 

Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, former coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs was hired two weeks for the position after he was fired by Toronto. He became their third coach since March after Ruff was fired and replaced by interim coach Travis Green. Keefe gained experience overseas during his final season as coach of the Maple Leafs in the 2023-24 season. Winning 3-2 against the Detroit Red Wings on Nov. 17, 2023, and 4-3 in overtime against the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 19 in the 2023 Global Series Sweden. 

Both teams are optimistic and driven in their efforts during training camp to gain the title of the first win of the 2024-25 season after struggling immensely in the previous season. The Sabres placed sixth in the Atlantic Division after missing the playoffs for the thirteenth consecutive season. The Devils placed seventh in the Metropolitan after previously making it to the second round in the 2022-23 playoffs before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes. Both teams had player injuries that sustained a great amount of ice time missed by key players. For Buffalo, Dylan Cozens, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jack Quinn, all totaled to miss 76 games for the Sabres last season. As for New Jersey, Dougie Hamilton, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Timo Meier. With all of the key missing players back on the ice and in good health. Both teams have full-strength rosters going into the 2024-25 season. 

Reported roster by Lance Lysowski (The Buffalo News) for the final Sabres practice in Prague reads, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Zach Benson, Jacob Bryson, Bowen Byram, Kale Clague, Connor Clifton, Dylan Cozens, Rasmus Dahlin, Dennis Gilbert, Jordan Greenway, Henri Jokiharju, Peyton Krebs, Jiri Kulich, Sam Lafferty, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Beck Malenstyn, Ryan McLeod, JJ Peterka, Owen Power, Jack Quinn, Lukas Rousek, Mattias Samuelsson, Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Jason Zucker. 

Reported Roster by Amanda Stein (NewJerseyDevils.com) for the final Devils practice in Prague reads, Jake Allen, Nathan Bastian, Shane Bowers, Jesper Bratt, Seamus Casey, Paul Cotter, Nico Daws, Nick DeSimone, Brenden Dillon, Nolan Foote, Dougie Hamilton, Erik Haula, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Curtis Lazar, Kurtis MacDermid, Jacob Markstrom, Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Simon Nemec, Stefan Noesen, Ondrej Palat, Jonas Siegenthaler, Tomas Tatar, and Colton White. 

A new name on the Devils roster going into the 2024-25 season, a rookie from the University of Michigan, Seamus Casey. In May 2024, Casey signed his three-year, entry-level contract to begin his professional career with the Devils. Following his contract, the defenseman appeared in his first Prospects Challenge in September. Keefe, thoroughly impressed by Casey’s progress and abilities on the ice, confirmed his NHL debut on October 4th against the Sabres. A player to keep your eyes on after his sophomore season (2023-24) at the University of Michigan, Casey recorded seven goals and forty-five points in thirty-nine games, earning All-Big Ten First Team and First Team All-American honors. 

The pairing of the two teams for the NHL Global Series Czechia is a really innovative marketing strategy to drive new fans into the market from different countries. The NHL primary markets are currently in North America. By having teams play internationally, it is opening up a whole new fan base. By growing the knowledge of the game, it allows for it to continue to expand, bringing in new relations as well as new opportunities for players around the world and continuously inspiring the next generation of players and fans around the globe.