The NHL has announced its 2026-27 regular-season schedule, expanding from 82 to 84 games for the first time since the early 1990s. This change, part of a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, aims to address concerns about an imbalanced number of divisional games.

Opening night is set for September 29, with the Carolina Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner before facing the Florida Panthers. The league will feature nearly two dozen Monday afternoon games, intended to boost engagement with European fans. Key dates include an October 13 and April 10 league-wide game day, outdoor games like the Heritage Classic and Winter Classic, and the NHL Global Series in Helsinki and Düsseldorf.

The revamped NHL All-Star Weekend will take place at UBS Arena, featuring a skills competition with younger players and a 3-on-3 tournament with international teams. The schedule also highlights notable player returns, such as Brady Tkachuk's first game in Ottawa since his trade, and potential dramatic home debuts for players like Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin.