The National Hockey League announced today that the 2026-27 regular season will begin on September 29. The first game features the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. Eastern Time at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. This matchup includes a banner raising ceremony to honor the Hurricanes as the 2026 Stanley Cup champions from the previous season.
The announcement marks the official start of the new campaign after the offseason period. The league also released the full list of each team's home opener for the 2026-27 season. In addition, it shared the logo design for the 2027 All-Star weekend. The complete 84 game schedule for all 32 teams will be made public tomorrow at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.
This season marks a change in format. Each team will play 84 regular season games instead of the previous 82. The increase comes from two additional divisional games per team. Overall, the league will feature 1,344 regular season contests. The structure aims to add more games within divisions while maintaining the standard playoff format leading to the Stanley Cup.
The Hurricanes enter the new season as defending champions and will raise their banner in the home opener against a familiar Eastern Conference opponent. The Panthers, who competed in recent Stanley Cup Finals, represent a strong divisional rival for the Hurricanes. This contest sets an early tone for the season in the Eastern Conference.
Broadcast coverage for the 2026-27 season will include national partners such as ESPN, TNT, Sportsnet, and Sports on Prime in Canada. Local regional sports networks will carry most team games. Preseason activity begins earlier in September, including the NHL Rookie Faceoff tournament hosted by the San Jose Sharks from September 12 to 15. That event features prospects from several Western Conference teams.
Teams across the league continue preparations during the current offseason. Free agency concluded earlier in July, and training camps are expected to open in mid September. Players and staff will focus on building rosters and systems ahead of the September 29 start. The expanded schedule provides additional opportunities for divisional competition and points in the standings.