Most compelling video games on 2026-27 NHL schedule

The NHL launched its full schedule for the 2026-27 season on Thursday, with the motion beginning just a little sooner than standard. 

The season begins Sept. 29, with every group enjoying 84 video games this yr because the league expands its schedule. 

Among the marquee matchups are loads of playoff rematches, some dazzling outside video games — Utah brings the Winter Classic to the mountains in opposition to Colorado on New Year’s Eve, whereas the Golden Knights and Stars get a Cowboys-sized highlight within the Stadium Series — and loads of must-watch participant reunions. 

With all that in thoughts, right here’s a take a look at a few of the most anticipated matchups to return — beginning with a pair of opening-night showdowns that basically pack a punch.

Hurricanes elevate the banner, then up the ante — Panthers @ Hurricanes, Sept. 29

After hoisting the Stanley Cup in June, the Hurricanes will open the 2026-27 season with one last celebration as they elevate their banner to the rafters. And then the true enjoyable begins as they formally launch their marketing campaign to run it again. It’s becoming that it ought to start with a sport in opposition to the Panthers — few groups have been as sharp a thorn in Carolina’s facet in recent times than Florida, in any case. With Florida’s roster wholesome once more and now boasting a brand new beginning goalie and a second Tkachuk, they’ll be desperate to make a season-opening assertion and measure themselves in opposition to the champs whereas the Hurricanes get their first glimpse of what it’ll take to get again to the highest in opposition to a group that is aware of simply how tall a job that’s. 

McKenna will get first style of outdated rivalry — Canadiens @ Maple Leafs, Sept. 29

Welcome to the NHL, Gavin McKenna. And whereas we’re at it, the NHL is losing no time introducing its latest star to one in every of its oldest rivalries when Toronto hosts Montreal on opening evening. The final time a No. 1 total choose made his NHL debut in a Maple Leafs sweater, Auston Matthews wrote his title into the historical past books with a four-goal sport in opposition to the Ottawa Senators. Just like 10 years in the past, McKenna’s arrival additionally ushers in a brand new period for the group in blue and white. Expectations will likely be heaped excessive on the brand new man — how’s that for an understatement? — and hopes will likely be, too, because the new-look Maple Leafs take the ice after a giant summer time of change. 

Top picks McKenna and Stenberg sq. off — Sharks @ Maple Leafs, Oct. 19

As the highest two skills off the board on the 2026 draft, forwards McKenna and Ivar Stenberg will endlessly be linked. That their first NHL assembly takes place so early of their rookie campaigns ought to make for a pure launch level for evaluating not simply the 2 as particular person playmakers, however two golf equipment seeking to make their marks on the 2026-27 marketing campaign with youth up entrance. 

Cue the boos: Brady goes again to Ottawa — Panthers @ Senators, Oct. 21 

Loads can change with one transaction, and there could also be no higher instance of that than the league-altering commerce between Florida and Ottawa that noticed Senators captain Brady Tkachuk reunite along with his massive brother on the Panthers and ship a large blow to the Senators’ contender standing within the course of. That the deal was prompted by Tkachuk’s commerce request out of Canada’s capital ensures a not-so-warm welcome again to Ottawa. Bring on the drama. 

Bad blood between Ducks and Flyers hits the ice — Oct. 24

The Leo Carlsson offer-sheet saga despatched shockwaves by means of the NHL and resulted within the Ducks making the younger ahead the sport’s highest-paid participant when it comes to cap hit (and making issues mighty sophisticated for future offers within the course of). But on the subject of the front-office battles we’ve seen between the Ducks and Flyers in recent times, this wasn’t a one-off. The golf equipment have been concerned in a few of the extra dramatic contract standoffs, leading to just a few high-profile trades (Cutter Gauthier to the Ducks after not signing in Philly; Trevor Zegras to the Flyers after Anaheim dragged its toes). All that drama will certainly end in some heated battles on the ice, beginning with their first assembly in late October. Should be enjoyable. 

Ten months later, Hughes lands again in Vancouver — Wild @ Canucks, Oct. 25

Although the sentiments aren’t as recent as they’re in Ottawa following the commerce of Brady Tkachuk, it’ll nonetheless be attention-grabbing to see how Canucks followers really feel about seeing former captain Quinn Hughes in Wild threads hitting the ice at Rogers Arena. Since being traded to Minnesota final December, Hughes has suited up in opposition to the Canucks as soon as — he registered an help in a win that resulted within the Wild formally clinching a playoff spot on April 2. This will likely be his first time again in Vancouver, nevertheless, and it’ll be intriguing to see what’s in retailer for his return.  

Cup Final rematch will get festive — Hurricanes @ Golden Knights, Dec. 21

The two sides of what was a wild Stanley Cup Final will meet for the primary time in 2026-27 simply earlier than the NHL’s Christmas break. While no regular-season contest can come near the depth of a Cup Final assembly, it’ll be enjoyable to see how the Cup champs and the star-studded runners-up match up just a few months into the marketing campaign after some attention-grabbing low season changes on either side. 

Bobrovsky visits Florida in rival colors — Maple Leafs @ Panthers, March 6

Those banners hanging within the rafters at Amerant Bank Arena? They merely aren’t there with out Sergei Bobrovsky’s heroics en path to back-to-back championships. Expect the group and followers to welcome him again accordingly, giving the goalie his due regardless of the threads he’s sporting. That his potential return takes place so late within the season, and tees up three conferences between the golf equipment inside a three-week span, actually ups the intrigue — Bobrovsky virtually made a profession of foiling the Maple Leafs, and now may simply have an opportunity to do the identical in opposition to Florida down the stretch.  

Carlson will get hero’s welcome in Washington — Lightning @ Capitals, March 15

Before being dealt to Anaheim on the 2026 deadline, Carlson was one of many few remaining veterans nonetheless in Washington from its 2018 championship. After almost twenty years with the Capitals, it was jarring to see the defenceman sporting Ducks threads within the post-season. It’ll be equally bizarre seeing him in Washington donning the blue and white of the Tampa Bay Lightning (although, maybe not fairly as wild as seeing him in Carolina’s colors, had he signed with the Hurricanes after the Cup champs acquired his rights earlier than July 1). Seeing how Alex Ovechkin embraces his outdated pal pre-game when Washington visits Tampa Bay Oct. 3 will likely be must-watch, too, however witnessing Washington’s heat welcome 5 months later needs to be fairly particular. 

Ovechkin’s last sport vs. Crosby? — Penguins @ Capitals, April 4

Alex Ovechkin silenced hypothesis a few summer time retirement when he signed a one-year pact on July 2 to return to the Capitals. Now, chatter resumes about whether or not the 2026-27 marketing campaign will likely be his final. His twenty second season will, in fact, convey loads of must-watch video games — fanbases throughout the league will certainly be circling the dates the Capitals come to city, anticipating one final take a look at the sport’s best goal-scorer. And there’s no matchup extra anticipated than what may very well be the final ever assembly between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. That April matchup additionally marks Washington’s last residence sport of the common season … and the ultimate regular-season residence sport of Ovechkin’s profession?