Overview
- The league announced Wednesday that the 2026–27 regular season will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and published each team’s home‑opener date while confirming a five‑game opening‑night slate.
- Under the new memorandum with the NHLPA the regular season expands from 82 to 84 games and the preseason is cut to four games, with the two added contests being extra divisional matchups.
- Opening night will feature five telecast games including Carolina vs. Florida — when the Hurricanes will raise their Stanley Cup banner — Toronto vs. Montreal, Boston vs. Rangers, Edmonton vs. Vancouver and Vegas vs. Chicago.
- The league also set dates and venues for marquee events: the Heritage Classic in Winnipeg (Oct. 25), Global Series games in Helsinki and Düsseldorf (Nov./Dec.), the Winter Classic in Utah on Dec. 31 and the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium on Feb. 20; All‑Star timing was reported inconsistently across outlets.
- The NHL said the full day‑by‑day regular‑season schedule will follow on Thursday, July 16, a release that will clarify timing, travel sequencing and broadcast windows and that could ease compressed stretches for players and teams.