What happened: Twenty youth hockey players from Kaapo Kakko's former junior club attended practice at the NHL Global Series in Helsinki for a meet-and-greet with the forward. Kakko answered questions from the visiting group following the on-ice session. The youth team made the trip from his hometown of Turku ahead of the weekend schedule in Finland.

Why it matters: The visit marks a homecoming stretch for Kakko, who took the ice in Helsinki earlier in the week to prepare for international regular-season play. The 2026 Global Series serves as Kakko's first NHL games in his home country since turning professional.

What to watch: The Global Series schedule in Helsinki continues Saturday with a matchup against the Hurricanes at 1 p.m. ET.