Sebastian Aho's full-circle moment with the Canes in Finland

Flashback: The NHL routinely plays a couple of games a year in Europe. The last time the Canes were involved was 2010 in Helsinki.

• In the audience that day was 13-year-old Sebastian Aho.

• The Canes later drafted Aho, and his play in Carolina made him an international star. Between winning the Cup and earning a bronze medal at the Olympics, 2026 has been a good year for the center, whose nickname is Fishy.

What they're saying: "For Fishy to go back, I mean he's been a great Hurricane for a long time and hopefully we celebrate him by playing the right way," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said about Aho, per The News & Observer.

• "I'm pumped to go there and play in front of people who have been close to me and haven't had the chance to travel [to North America]," Aho told reporters. "That's going to be special."

State of play: Two other Finns are on Carolina's roster: Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Juuso Välimäki.

• The Kraken also have three Finnish players serving as translators, sauna senseis and culinary tour guides, the Associated Press reports.

Zoom in: The Euro trip comes with a seven-hour time difference.

• Per Kotkaniemi's blog, the boys have already visited a Helsinki sauna, plunged into the Gulf of Finland and tried salmon soup.
• "It's been so much fun because the guys are trying to go in 100% and be as local as possible. It feels like everyone's trying to turn into Finnish people. They are listening to Finnish music in the dressing room and trying the food," he wrote.

What's next: The Canes and Kraken play two games at Veikkaus Arena.

• Thursday, Nov. 12, at noon ET.
• Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1pm ET.

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