STOCKHOLM — The initial announcement came in April: The Wild would be one of four teams competing in the NHL’s Global Series, with a pair of games in Sweden in November inserted into their busy schedule.

The anticipation of the trip has provided something for the team — particularly the Swedes — to look forward to for months now. And now that they’re finally in Stockholm, the team’s Swedish players are embracing the trip back home as best they can.

Forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin hail from Karlstad, a mid-sized city a few hours from the capital. Marcus Johansson makes his home there in the offseason, as well.

Goaltender Filip Gustavsson’s hometown of Skellefteå is even further away — about eight to nine hours north of Stockholm. Goalie Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild’s first-round draft pick in 2021, whom they brought along with them on the trip, is from Västerås, a city about 65 miles west of Stockholm.

While none of the Swedes call the capital city their hometown, the trip has special meaning to the team’s Swedish contingent, even though it’s a business trip, and the Wild, who have lost three straight games, know that.

“We have to find our balance, having that time to spend together as a group and really bond and create those connections with each other and also know when it’s time to work and put in the work,” Eriksson Ek said.

While there’s plenty for the Wild to work on, it’s also a time for the Swedes to show off their home country to their teammates, fielding questions about what restaurants to eat at and what to do with Thursday’s day off.

Wallstedt, coach Dean Evason said, took some of the younger players on the team out Tuesday night, showing them around town.

“It’s really exciting,” Brodin said. “I’ve never been a part of this, doing stuff like this, so I’m really excited. I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming for the games, too, so it’s really exciting to get them to see me play in Sweden.”

Having loved ones who don’t often have a chance to make the trip Minnesota in the stands is one of the most meaningful parts of the whole experience, Eriksson Ek, said.

“That’s kind of one of the most exciting parts, being able to play in front of friends and family that really haven’t been able to make it to North America and watch me play since I left Sweden,” he said.

He also views it as a good bonding opportunity for a team that has been going through a tough patch.

The first part of the trip has been a mixture of practice and time off, while the second part will feature games against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

It’s the first time the Wild have left North America since October 2010 when they traveled to Helsinki, so given the rare opportunity, players are hoping to make the most of their time abroad.

The Wild arrived in Sweden on Tuesday afternoon after an eight-hour overnight flight that left Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport at 10 p.m.

Wednesday featured a practice at Hovet Arena, the first hockey arena in Stockholm. A large contingent of Wild fans who made the trip took in the practice from the stands. At night, players attended a team dinner at famed-Swedish chef Björn Frantzén’s restaurant Brasserie Astoria.

Thursday afforded them a full day off for exploration, and Brodin said Wednesday he had been doling out advice to inquiring teammates. Friday, the Wild will be back on the ice, back to work, preparing for an important weekend.

“I think there’s excitement throughout the whole team but certainly for the Swedish guys, it’s got to be extremely special to be here and playing in front of family and friends in their country,” Evason said. “Hopefully, that generates excitement for our entire group.”

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