After announcing each team's home opener on Wednesday, the NHL released the entire 2026-27 season schedule on Thursday.
The upcoming campaign marks the NHL's return to an 84-game season, up from 82 for the better part of the last three decades (excluding pandemic and lockout-shortened seasons). The league last used an 84-game season in 1993-94.
As a result of the added contests, the NHL is starting the campaign earlier than usual, with Opening Night booked for Sept. 29. Here are some other notable dates to circle on your calendar:
- Sept. 30: First potential meeting between last two No. 1 overall picks Matthew Schaefer and Gavin McKenna 👶
- Oct. 13: All 32 teams in action 🏒
- Oct. 21: Brady Tkachuk returns to Ottawa 🔄
- Oct. 25: Jets vs. Canadiens in Heritage Classic at Winnipeg's Princess Auto Stadium 🏟️
- Nov. 12 and 14: Hurricanes vs. Kraken Global Series games in Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮
- Dec. 18 and 20: Senators vs. Blackhawks Global Series games in Dusseldorf, Germany 🇩🇪
- Dec. 21: Golden Knights host Hurricanes in 2026 Stanley Cup Final rematch 🍿
- Dec. 31: Mammoth vs. Avalanche in Winter Classic at Salt Lake City's Rice-Eccles Stadium 🏟️
- Feb. 5-6: NHL All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena on Long Island 🌟
- Feb. 15: Brent Burns can break NHL's all-time ironman streak 💪
- Feb: 20: Stars vs. Golden Knights Stadium Series game at Arlington's AT&T Stadium 🏟️
- March 6: Sergei Bobrovsky returns to Florida 🔄
- March 15: John Carlson returns to Washington 🔄
- March 18: Alex Tuch returns to Buffalo 🔄
- April 3: Evgeni Malkin's potential final home game 🥹
- April 4: Potential final meeting between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and possibly Ovechkin's final home game 🥹
- April 10: Final day of regular season, all 32 teams in action, and potentially Ovechkin's and Malkin's final games 🥹
Tap here to view the full schedule.
