The NHL’s new-look schedule is out with 84 games per team and a September start.
The league already announced on Wednesday, July 15, that the 2026-27 season would start on Sept. 29 with five games. It also announced the home openers for every team.
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The NHL announced the full schedule on Thursday. Because of the extra two games, every team will play four games against division opponents.
The schedule includes the Carolina Hurricanes raising their Stanley Cup banner on Sept. 29 before they face the 2024 and 2025 champion Florida Panthers. There will be games in Finland and Germany, three outdoor games and the All-Star Game will return after a two-year hiatus.
Here’s a look at the highlights of the 2026-27. season:
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he will join brother Matthews.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Brady Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers, where he will join brother Matthews.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the New York Rangers.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Darnell Nurse was traded to the San Jose Sharks.
(David Gonzales, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Simon Nemec was traded to the Calgary Flames.
(Ed Mulholland, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Utah Mammoth.
(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Boston Bruins.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Mason McTavish was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Mavrik Bourque was traded to the Nashville Predators.
(Steve Roberts, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Bowen Byram was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
(Timothy T. Ludwig, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Alex Tuch joined the Washington Capitals in a sign-and-trade.
(Winslow Townson, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Jordan Kyrou was traded to the Washington Capitals.
(Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Goalie Jacob Markstrom was traded to the Florida Panthers.
(David Kirouac, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Blake Coleman was traded to the Minnesota Wild.
(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Keegan Kolesar was traded to the Detroit Red Wings.
(James Guillory-Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward William Eklund was traded to the Ottawa Senators.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Darren Raddysh joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in a sign-and-trade deal.
(Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Nick Paul was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Keito Newman, IMAGN IMAGES)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Marcus Pettersson was traded to the New York Rangers.
(Stan Szeto, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo was traded to the New York Rangers.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Dennis Schneidler, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Goaltender Frederik Andersen signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Viktor Arvidsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings.
(Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Mason Marchment signed with the San Jose Sharks.
(Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman John Carlson was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Jack Roslovic signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(Perry Nelson, Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Forward Jaden Schwartz signed with the Colorado Avalanche.
(Stephen Brashear, Imagn Images)
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NHL players who changed teams in the offseason
Defenseman Ian Cole signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.
(Stephen R. Sylvanie, Imagn Images)
When is NHL opening day?
The 2026-27 NHL season starts on Sept. 29 with the following five games:. There will be an ESPN tripleheader in the United States and a Sportsnet doubleheader in Canada.
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All times p.m. Eastern
When does TNT start showing games?
The TNT schedule begins on Sept. 30 with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Philadelphia Flyers and the Los Angeles Kings at the Colorado Avalanche. Both are rematches of first-round series won by the Flyers and the Avalanche.
When is every NHL team’s home opener?
The Washington Capitals’ Oct. 7 home opener will be against the rival Penguins. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are in their 22nd season and their contracts expire after this season.
When will all 32 NHL teams be in action?
All 32 teams will be in action on Oct. 13 and April 10.
The former Ottawa Senators captain will return on Oct. 21. He was traded to the Panthers, where he’s joining brother Matthew.
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When is the NHL Global Series?
The Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken will play in Helsinki, Finland on Nov. 12 and 14.
The Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will play in Dusseldorf, Germany on Dec. 18 and 20.
When does Frederik Andersen return to Carolina?
Stanley Cup goalie Frederik Andersen, who signed with the Oilers, will return to Carolina on Nov. 21.
When is the Stanley Cup Final rematch?
The Golden Knights host the champion Hurricanes on Dec. 20. Carolina will host Vegas on Jan. 17.
When is the Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic will be on New Year’s Eve at University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Utah Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche, starting at 6 p.m. ET.
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When are the other NHL outdoor games?
The Winnipeg Jets and Canadiens will play in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.
The Dallas Stars and Golden Knights play in the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 20.
When is the NHL All-Star Game?
The NHL All-Star weekend will be Feb. 5-6, at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The skills competition is on the 5th and the All-Star Game will be on the 6th. There are new formats this season.
When does Sergei Bobrovsky return to Florida?
The two-time Stanley Cup winner, who signed with Toronto in the offseason, will return on March 6.
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When the 2026-27 NHL season end?
It will end on April 10 with all 32 teams in action.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026-27 NHL schedule highlights: Stanley Cup rematch, reunions, more
