NHL schedule launch: Analyzing the largest video games and dates of the 2026-27 season

The NHL is greater than two months away from the late-September begin of its 2026-27 season, billed because the league’s largest schedule at 1,344 whole video games — or 84 per staff. And now, as of Thursday afternoon, all 32 golf equipment have unveiled their schedules.

Some took the chance to be inventive. Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy narrated an audiobook as a part of the Lightning’s launch. The Columbus Blue Jackets paid homage to “Toy Story,” and the Anaheim Ducks featured their opponents as cards from an opening pack. The Montreal Canadiens pranked teammates by exhibiting them the 1992-93 schedule. And the Ottawa Senators let media members air their grievances.

Now that each matchup has been introduced, it’s time to identify which dates might carry extra which means than what meets the attention: the revenge matchups, the potential milestones, the long-awaited debuts and a lot extra.

Sept. 29: Opening-night fireworks

As outlined Wednesday, the primary day of the NHL’s common season will characteristic 5 matchups. That consists of the presumptive NHL debut of Gavin McKenna, the current No. 1 choice by the Toronto Maple Leafs in final month’s NHL Draft. There might be no easing in for McKenna, as a result of the Leafs will meet the rival Canadiens.

Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes will unfurl their Stanley Cup championship banner of their home-opening recreation in opposition to the Florida Panthers. The Canes hope to emulate the Panthers as repeat Stanley Cup champions, one thing Florida achieved in 2025.

Oct. 13: All 32 groups in motion

There might be solely two events when all 32 NHL groups play video games on a single day. The first might be Tuesday, Oct. 13, and the second on Saturday, April 10, the ultimate day of the common season. Thinking of The Athletic colleague Shayna Goldman, who will need as many of those video games staggered as potential, similar to many people.

Oct. 21: Brady returns to Ottawa

The NHL wasted no time that includes this matchup. Former Senators captain Brady Tkachuk will skate in Canada’s capital for the primary time since he pressured a commerce in late June to hitch his brother, Matthew, with the Panthers. Tkachuk spent the primary 572 regular-season video games of his NHL profession in purple and black. But some Sens followers have already moved on from the star winger.

Oct. 25: Hockey heads open air

The first of three NHL outside video games will happen in Winnipeg at Princess Auto Stadium, house of the CFL’s Blue Bombers. On the ice, the Winnipeg Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens.

Oct. 28: Battle of Alberta begins

There might be 4 situations of the Battle of Alberta this season, pitting Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in opposition to the Calgary Flames. Fans will get to expertise the primary battle within the opening month of the yr. But after that, the ultimate three matchups might be in March and April. Also, in a shock twist, none of these video games might be on a Saturday evening. Even if the Flames aren’t as gifted as in years previous, the rivalry nonetheless stands among the many league’s most fiery.

Nov. 12 & 14: Champs head overseas

The Hurricanes will play a pair of their regular-season video games in Helsinki this season. Both might be in opposition to the Seattle Kraken at Veikkaus Arena, the place Jokerit performs as a part of Finland’s high league.

Dec. 18 & 20: Bedard, Senators meet in Germany

The NHL is making a concerted effort to cater to followers in Europe, which explains why sure Monday video games have been scheduled within the afternoon in Eastern time. That effort extends to a pair of video games in Dusseldorf, Germany, between the Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa simply earlier than Christmas. Chicago star Connor Bedard ought to hopefully be recovered from shoulder surgical procedure by then, which means he’ll go up in opposition to German native Tim Stützle and the Tkachuk-less Senators.

Dec. 21: Cup Final rematch

Days earlier than the brand new yr, we lastly get a championship rematch. It will happen in Las Vegas, with the Golden Knights internet hosting the Hurricanes of their first encounter for the reason that Canes’ six-game triumph in June.

Dec. 27: Babcock returns

Mike Babcock resigned as head coach of the Blue Jackets earlier than ever teaching a recreation in 2023, the results of an argument over him asking gamers to share pictures from their private units. Over three years later, Babcock is returning to the NHL behind the Oilers’ bench. While Babcock by no means coached in Columbus, many will in all probability have this date circled. The Oilers will then host the Blue Jackets on Jan. 15 at Rogers Arena within the return recreation.

As for when Babcock will face off in opposition to the final staff he coached for, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oilers will play them twice this season: in Edmonton on Oct. 24 and in Toronto on Nov. 14.

Dec. 31: Winter Classic

The second of three outside video games might be on New Year’s Eve on the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth, in simply their third yr of existence, will host a fellow Central Division energy, the Colorado Avalanche.

Jan. 20: Alfredsson takes on Ottawa

Tkachuk wasn’t the one Sens captain whom the Senators misplaced this offseason. Longtime captain-turned-assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson left for Toronto to take over as affiliate coach behind Jim Hiller’s bench. Alfredsson will return to Ottawa twice subsequent season, on Jan. 20 and Feb. 13, two of 4 matchups between the provincial rivals.

Jan. 30: Bedard vs. Celebrini

San Jose Sharks ahead Macklin Celebrini will meet his pal and fellow celebrity Bedard and the Blackhawks for the primary time on Jan. 30. Seeing them each compete in opposition to one another in video games final season, whereas each competed for spots on the Canadian Olympic staff, was electrical. So it’s a little bit disappointing to see that they’ll solely face off in opposition to one another in 2027 and never sooner.

Feb. 15: A brand new all-time iron man?

Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns is 58 video games away from breaking the report for consecutive video games performed, at present held by former winger Phil Kessel. If Burns stays wholesome to start the season and past, he’d break the report on Feb. 15 in opposition to the Blue Jackets. Burns will play two of his former groups inside these first 58 video games, with matchups in opposition to San Jose (Nov. 28) and Carolina (Dec. 18 and Feb. 9).

Feb. 20: Dallas and Vegas go outdoors

The Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights have battled within the playoffs earlier than. And now they may take it outdoors for the NHL’s Stadium Series. It’ll be the Stars’ second outside recreation after beforehand assembly the Nashville Predators in a 4-2 victory on the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Jan. 1, 2020. This time round, they may host the Golden Knights in Jerry World, higher often called AT&T Stadium, house of the Dallas Cowboys. Vegas is looking for the franchise’s first win in an out of doors recreation, having misplaced its first two encounters in opposition to Colorado (in February 2021) and Seattle (in January 2024).

April 4: Sid vs. Ovi, one final time?

It’s nonetheless as much as Alex Ovechkin to determine when he’ll retire from the NHL after signing a one-year contract to return to the Washington Capitals. But if that is the Russian’s remaining season, his remaining regular-season battle in opposition to previous foe Sidney Crosby will happen right here, lower than every week from the top of the common season. That recreation additionally occurs to be the final house regular-season recreation for Washington. So, if that is the top for Ovechkin, that would show to be an emotional evening for a lot of within the United States’ capital.

April 10: Hanging up the Saddledome

Should the Flames miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season, which seems doubtless for a rebuilding franchise, then April 10 might be curtains for his or her longtime house, the Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary will host the rival Vancouver Canucks on the ultimate day of the NHL’s common season. Afterward, the 43-year-old constructing will make approach for Scotia Place, which is able to function the Flames’ new house subsequent season. We, for one, will miss the Saddledome’s harrowing catwalk.

April 10: Two legends say goodbye?

Ovechkin and the Capitals will finish their common season in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers on this present day, the second of two all-32 days for NHL groups. And Ovechkin gained’t be the one soon-to-be Hall of Fame participant from Russia on hockey followers’ minds this present day.

Pittsburgh Penguins ahead Evgeni Malkin could possibly be capping off his twenty first, and doubtlessly remaining, NHL season on the highway in opposition to the New Jersey Devils. The 39-year-old re-signed on a one-year contract extension with the Penguins in May, and his future might be up within the air similar to with Ovechkin.