NHL Proclaims 2026-27 Schedule With 84 Games Per Staff, First Since 1993-94

The NHL launched its 2026-27 regular-season schedule on Friday, increasing every staff’s slate to 84 video games for the primary time in 32 years. The final time NHL groups performed 84 video games in a season was 1993-94.

The season opens September 29, 2026, the earliest regular-season begin in league historical past and the primary time the NHL common season has begun earlier than October. It runs via April 10, 2027, with playoff play starting the next week. Across all 32 groups, the schedule totals 1,344 video games.

The enlargement from 82 to 84 video games was negotiated via the collective bargaining settlement. The league mentioned the extra dates are meant to create extra space between the Stanley Cup Final and the draft and free company interval, which begins July 1. As not too long ago as 2024, solely three days separated the Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final from the beginning of the draft.

Opening Night on September 29 includes a tripleheader on ESPN. The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes will increase their championship banner in opposition to the Florida Panthers to kick off the night. The Rangers face the Bruins and the Blackhawks host the Golden Knights within the different opening-night video games. Canadian broadcasts on Sportsnet open with Toronto versus Montreal, the place No. 1 general decide Gavin McKenna is predicted to make his NHL debut, and Vancouver in opposition to Edmonton.

The 2026-27 season additionally contains three out of doors video games: the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic in Winnipeg, a Winter Classic that includes the Utah Mammoth in opposition to Colorado, and a Stadium Series sport between Dallas and Vegas. The league may even play its first Global Series video games in Finland in November and Germany in December. The NHL All-Star Game returns to UBS Arena in New York on February 5-6, 2027, the primary since 2024.