The NHL is officially back.
The 2026/27 regular season opened on September 29 with five games across North America, beginning what promises to be one of the most intriguing hockey seasons in years.
This season also brings a significant change. Each of the NHL’s 32 teams will play 84 regular season games, up from 82, creating a record schedule of 1,344 games. It is the first 84 game NHL season in more than three decades.
Opening night immediately delivered several of the league’s biggest storylines, from the defending Stanley Cup champions in Carolina to the new look Florida Panthers and another season of enormous expectations surrounding Connor McDavid.
Carolina Hurricanes begin their Stanley Cup defense
The Carolina Hurricanes entered the new season in a position every NHL franchise wants to occupy: defending champions.
Carolina opened its season at home against the Florida Panthers after raising its Stanley Cup championship banner at Lenovo Center.
The matchup carried extra significance because Florida had won the Stanley Cup in both 2024 and 2025 before Carolina claimed the championship last season.
Carolina’s attempt to win consecutive championships will be one of the biggest stories of the season.
The Hurricanes begin the campaign without forward Seth Jarvis following shoulder surgery, placing additional responsibility on stars including Sebastian Aho.
But their opening opponent brought one of the biggest stories of the NHL offseason.
Brady and Matthew Tkachuk are finally NHL teammates
Florida made a blockbuster move during the offseason by acquiring Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators.
The trade united Brady with his older brother Matthew Tkachuk, creating one of the most fascinating partnerships in the league.
Brady spent eight seasons with Ottawa and served as captain for five of them. He has also recorded at least 30 goals in three different NHL seasons.
The brothers already know what it is like to play together at the highest level.
Brady and Matthew helped the United States win gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, and Florida will now attempt to translate that chemistry into another Stanley Cup challenge.
The Panthers already possessed one of the NHL’s strongest rosters. Adding another Tkachuk gives Florida an additional combination of physicality, scoring and intensity.
Connor McDavid enters another defining season
Few NHL players will receive more attention this season than Connor McDavid.
The Edmonton Oilers captain has accumulated almost every major individual achievement available to an NHL player, but the Stanley Cup remains absent from his résumé.
McDavid helped Edmonton reach the Stanley Cup Final in both 2024 and 2025, only for the Oilers to lose to Florida on both occasions.
The 29 year old enters this season with two years remaining on his contract and with Edmonton beginning a new chapter under coach Mike Babcock.
Edmonton opened its season against the Vancouver Canucks.
For McDavid, another long season means another opportunity to pursue the championship that has so far eluded one of hockey’s most decorated active players.
Alex Ovechkin begins what could be his final NHL season
Another superstar enters the season under very different circumstances.
Alex Ovechkin is now 41 and begins his 22nd NHL season with the Washington Capitals.
The NHL’s all time leading goal scorer entered the campaign with 929 career goals and signed a one year contract to remain in Washington.
That has inevitably created questions about whether this could be his final NHL season.
Ovechkin has not confirmed that he plans to retire when the season ends, meaning his future will remain one of the league’s major storylines.
His potential final home opener is scheduled for October 7 against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The possibility of seeing the closing chapter of one of hockey’s greatest careers gives Washington games additional significance throughout the season.
Gavin McKenna steps into the Toronto spotlight
At the opposite end of the career spectrum is Gavin McKenna.
Toronto selected McKenna with the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, making the highly rated prospect a central part of the Maple Leafs’ future.
His arrival comes at a particularly important moment for Toronto.
The Maple Leafs missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, increasing pressure on the organization to begin a new era successfully.
McKenna was expected to make his NHL debut in one of hockey’s most recognizable rivalries as Toronto hosted the Montreal Canadiens on opening night.
Playing in Toronto brings enormous attention even for established NHL stars. For a number one draft pick entering the league, that attention will be even greater.
McKenna’s development will therefore be closely watched far beyond Toronto.
NHL expands to an 84 game season
The stars are not the only reason this season is different.
The NHL has expanded the regular season from 82 to 84 games per team.
Each franchise will play 42 games at home and 42 on the road. The additional games are designed to increase divisional matchups, with every team now playing 28 games against opponents within its own division.
The change produces 1,344 regular season games across 194 days, the largest schedule in NHL history.
It is only the third 84 game campaign in league history. The previous two occurred in the 1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons.
The regular season runs until April 10, when all 32 NHL teams are scheduled to play on the same day.
NHL goes international again
The NHL’s global expansion will also continue during the 2026/27 season.
Finland will host two games between the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken in Helsinki on November 12 and 14.
Germany will then host the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks in Düsseldorf on December 18 and 20.
Outdoor hockey will also remain an important part of the schedule.
The Heritage Classic between Winnipeg and Montreal is scheduled for October 25, while the Winter Classic will feature Utah against Colorado on December 31.
Another major outdoor event will take place at AT&T Stadium in Texas on February 20 when the Dallas Stars host the Vegas Golden Knights.
The race for the Stanley Cup begins again
From established superstars such as McDavid, Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby to younger names including McKenna, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini, the NHL begins its new season with several generations of elite talent competing simultaneously.
Carolina is attempting to defend its championship. Florida has strengthened a roster that already won consecutive Stanley Cups. Edmonton continues searching for the breakthrough that would finally give McDavid his first championship.
Meanwhile, an expanded 84 game schedule means the journey to the 2027 Stanley Cup playoffs will be longer than it has been for more than 30 years.
The NHL is back, and one of the busiest seasons in league history has officially begun.
