The 2026-27 NHL season: 84 games, a Sept. 29 start, and Carolina raising a banner against Florida

The first season under the new CBA adds two divisional games per team, cuts the preseason to eight days, and opens with the champion Hurricanes hosting the Panthers while six teams break in new head coaches.

Read the season preview By BetMetrics · Updated September 14, 2026

Illustrative indoor hockey arena — Illustrative arena image; not a photograph of a reported event.

What to watch.

Reporting for the season ahead

NHL · Preseason

Six new NHL head coaches for 2026-27, and why the two Canadian hires carry the most weight

Between April 5 and June 23, the Islanders, Canucks, Kings, Maple Leafs, Golden Knights and Oilers all changed head coaches. Here is what each hire replaced and what the front offices said they wanted.

Read the story By BetMetrics · September 14, 2026

NHL · Preseason

Six NHL teams to watch in 2026-27: the champion, the Panthers' rebuild, and four teams that changed their coach or their core

Carolina, Florida, Vegas, Edmonton, Toronto and Buffalo — BetMetrics' selection, with the specific moves and open questions behind each drawn from NHL.com's team previews.

Read the story By BetMetrics · September 14, 2026

Follow the league

The records behind the reporting.

Explore the connected schedule and standings. Predictions will appear when a verified model feed is available.

Schedule Standings Teams