The National Hockey League has released its 2026‑27 regular‑season schedule, a massive 1,344‑game program that guarantees each of the 32 franchises will play 84 contests. The campaign opens on September 29, when the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes host the Florida Panthers while raising their championship banner, setting an early tone for a season that will stretch across continents.
Broadcast Landscape
Comcast’s media arm, The Walt Disney Company, will deliver the bulk of the action through its ESPN and ABC platforms, while TNT Sports will split its coverage between TNT and the streaming service HBO Max. In Canada, Sportsnet will provide a dedicated feed, and together the three partners will broadcast the Stanley Cup Final exclusively on TNT in the United States and on Sportsnet in Canada.
A Global Calendar
The schedule also features a series of first‑time international stops. Two games will be played in Helsinki in November as part of the Global Series Finland, where the Hurricanes meet the Seattle Kraken, and a December matchup in Düsseldorf will pit the Chicago Blackhawks against the Ottawa Senators under the German banner.
Outdoor enthusiasts can mark their calendars for three heritage‑style events. The Heritage Classic will open in Winnipeg on October 25, with the Jets welcoming the Montreal Canadiens, while the Winter Classic will take place on New Year’s Eve at Rice‑Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, featuring the Utah Mammoth versus the Colorado Avalanche. A second outdoor showcase, the Stadium Series, will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on February 20, where the Dallas Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights.
All‑Star Highlights
The All‑Star Game makes its return to the UBS Arena in New York, with the Skills Competition slated for February 5 and the main exhibition on February 6. The event will be broadcast on the same networks that carry the regular season, underscoring the league’s commitment to a unified viewing experience.
Key dates pepper the calendar, including a Thanksgiving Showdown on November 28 that pits the New York Rangers against the Boston Bruins, and a high‑profile Stanley Cup rematch that begins with a game in Vegas on December 21 before shifting to Carolina on January 17. Two days — October 13 and April 10 — will see every one of the 32 clubs in action simultaneously, offering fans a rare marathon of hockey.
Adding to the excitement, the league expects the first NHL appearance of top prospect Gavin McKenna, the No. 1 pick, to debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens, a storyline that could shape early narratives.