NEW YORK, United States, September 28, 2026: Thirty-two NHL teams are about to discover whether everything they changed, protected, repaired, drafted, traded for and gambled on during the offseason can survive 84 games.
The 2026-27 regular season begins September 29 with the longest NHL schedule since 1993-94. Each club will play 84 games, producing 1,344 regular-season contests before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
The schedule itself is only the beginning.
Carolina must defend the Stanley Cup without allowing the achievement that defined last season to drain the urgency from this one. Florida has placed Brady Tkachuk beside Matthew Tkachuk after an injury-ravaged title defense collapsed before the playoffs. Toronto owns one of hockey’s most fascinating experiments after drafting Gavin McKenna first overall, signing Sergei Bobrovsky and rebuilding almost everything around Auston Matthews.
Edmonton has Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl but another goaltending puzzle. Winnipeg has a far more destabilizing problem with Connor Hellebuyck seeking a trade and suspended after failing to report to camp. Chicago has named Connor Bedard captain but will begin without him following shoulder surgery. Detroit enters without a captain while Dylan Larkin’s trade request hangs over the franchise.
This is why a simple preseason ranking cannot explain the season ahead.
The Sports Encounter already assessed the structural changes shaping the 2026-27 NHL season, including the expanded schedule, rising salary cap and changing Stanley Cup landscape. Our latest preseason coverage then examined what teams showed during their final rehearsals.
This preview goes somewhere else.
It identifies the central question facing every NHL team and asks what has to happen for each answer to become favorable.
For continuing coverage throughout the season, readers can follow The Sports Encounter’s NHL Hub.
NHL 2026-27 Season at a Glance
| Season Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Regular Season Begins | September 29, 2026 |
| Regular Season Ends | April 10, 2027 |
| Teams | 32 |
| Games Per Team | 84 |
| Total Games | 1,344 |
| Defending Champion | Carolina Hurricanes |
| 2026 Stanley Cup Runner-Up | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Salary-Cap Ceiling | $104 million |
| Opening Night | Five games |
The official NHL schedule opens with Florida visiting defending champion Carolina, Montreal at Toronto, the Rangers at Boston, Vancouver at Edmonton and Chicago at Vegas.
What Are the Biggest NHL Questions Before Opening Night?
Several issues cut across divisions and could change the Stanley Cup race before winter.
- Can Carolina become the first repeat champion since Tampa Bay in 2021?
- Can Florida return to championship level with Brady and Matthew Tkachuk together?
- How quickly can Gavin McKenna influence Toronto?
- Can Edmonton finally stabilize its goaltending?
- Will Winnipeg trade Connor Hellebuyck?
- Can Connor Bedard return healthy enough to accelerate Chicago’s rebuild?
- Can Montreal convert an Eastern Conference Final appearance into a genuine Cup run?
- Can Buffalo build on finally ending its historic playoff drought?
- Will the next generation, including McKenna, Porter Martone and Ivar Stenberg, immediately change the league?
The NHL’s official 2026-27 season-preview series identifies many of those same pressure points across all 32 clubs.
Atlantic Division Preview
Florida Panthers: Can Brady Tkachuk Put Florida Back in the Stanley Cup Final?
2025-26: 40-38-4, missed the playoffs.
Florida’s fall from back-to-back Stanley Cup champion to playoff outsider was driven heavily by injuries. The Panthers spent much of last season trying to keep enough established players healthy at the same time to resemble the team that dominated the previous two postseasons.
The response was enormous.
Florida acquired Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, placing him alongside his brother Matthew and giving Paul Maurice another physically aggressive, high-volume forward capable of affecting a game even when he does not score.
The immediate attraction is obvious. Brady attacks the net, draws attention, shoots constantly and adds another confrontational presence to a group already comfortable playing playoff hockey.
The more important issue is availability.
Brad Marchand will miss the beginning of the season following offseason surgery. Florida must therefore avoid another year in which the ideal lineup exists mostly on paper.
TSE saw encouraging early signs when Brady Tkachuk immediately produced in a Panthers uniform.
TSE outlook: If Florida stays substantially healthier than last season, this remains a Stanley Cup-caliber roster. Brady Tkachuk changes the ceiling, but health determines whether Florida can reach it.
Buffalo Sabres: Can Buffalo Prove Ending the Playoff Drought Was the Beginning?
2025-26: 50-23-9, first in the Atlantic Division, lost in the second round.
Buffalo finally escaped the longest playoff drought in NHL history and immediately created a more difficult standard for itself.
The Sabres are no longer being asked whether they can make the playoffs.
They are being asked whether last season represented sustainable progress.
Two major pieces are gone. Bowen Byram moved to Chicago, while Alex Tuch became part of Washington’s aggressive offseason reconstruction.
That shifts responsibility toward younger players. Olen Zellweger becomes more important on defense, while Jiri Kulich has an opportunity to move into a larger offensive role.
The late preseason injuries to goalies Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Alex Lyon add an immediate uncertainty, although neither should be turned into a long-term crisis without further medical information.
TSE outlook: Buffalo’s 50-win season raised expectations permanently. The Sabres should remain in the playoff picture, but replacing Byram and Tuch while maintaining last year’s defensive and goaltending standards will determine whether they remain an Atlantic heavyweight.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Can Tampa Bay Finally Win Another Playoff Round?
2025-26: 50-26-6, second in the Atlantic, eliminated in the first round.
The regular season has stopped being the meaningful test for Tampa Bay.
The Lightning have reached the playoffs year after year, but they have not advanced beyond the opening round since their 2022 Stanley Cup Final appearance.
That creates an unusual situation for a team still carrying elite talent.
Nikita Kucherov remains one of the league’s most dangerous creators. Andrei Vasilevskiy can still tilt a playoff series when healthy. Victor Hedman remains central to the blue line.
Tampa also added John Carlson, bringing another experienced puck-moving defenseman into a veteran group.
The question is not whether the Lightning possess enough names.
It is whether their older championship core can still generate four playoff rounds of speed, health and defensive recovery against younger opponents.
TSE outlook: Tampa should be expected to reach the postseason. Anything less than winning at least one round will feel increasingly like evidence that an era is running out of time.
Montreal Canadiens: Are the Canadiens Ready to Become Stanley Cup Contenders?
2025-26: 48-24-10, reached the Eastern Conference Final.
Montreal moved beyond rebuild language last season.
Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky now form one of the NHL’s most dangerous young top lines. The Canadiens have elite puck movement on defense and enough speed to stretch teams that cannot control the neutral zone.
The central question is depth.
Montreal cannot ask its first line to solve every difficult game. The second-line center position remains especially important, while goaltending will receive more scrutiny as Jakub Dobes tries to establish himself as a reliable No. 1 option.
There is also a psychological change.
Young teams are often allowed to surprise people once. After reaching the East Final, Montreal will receive far more respect from opponents and far less patience from its own supporters.
TSE outlook: Montreal belongs in the East’s contender conversation. The question is whether secondary scoring and goaltending are ready to catch up with the top of the roster.
Boston Bruins: Can Boston Generate Enough Offense Again?
2025-26: 45-27-10, lost in the first round.
Boston exceeded many offensive expectations last season, finishing among the NHL’s better scoring teams despite concerns about depth entering the campaign.
Repeating that production is less automatic.
David Pastrnak remains the central offensive engine, while Charlie McAvoy anchors the defense. The Bruins are also betting on younger players and the arrival of James Hagens to make the lineup more dynamic.
The danger lies in assuming last season’s career years will repeat naturally.
Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie and several other forwards produced at levels Boston needed. If those totals regress simultaneously, Pastrnak could again face too much offensive responsibility.
TSE outlook: Boston remains organized enough to stay competitive in a brutal Atlantic Division. The difference between a comfortable playoff berth and a wild-card fight may come down to whether the middle of the lineup can keep scoring.
Ottawa Senators: Who Replaces Brady Tkachuk’s Goals and Leadership?
2025-26: 44-27-11, lost in the first round.
The Senators lost much more than a left wing when they traded Brady Tkachuk.
They lost their captain, emotional identity and one of the most relentless shot generators in hockey.
Ottawa will now spread that responsibility across Tim Stützle, Drake Batherson, Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto. William Eklund, acquired from San Jose, gives the Senators another creative top-six option and could reconnect effectively with former Sharks teammate Fabian Zetterlund.
The larger variable may still be Linus Ullmark.
Ottawa’s goaltending fluctuated dramatically last season. Ullmark was much stronger after the Olympic break and carried that form into the playoffs.
If that version becomes the norm, the Senators can absorb some offensive decline.
TSE outlook: Ottawa can return to the postseason, but the Tkachuk trade changes both the lineup and the dressing room. This season will reveal whether the Senators had enough internal leadership to survive losing the player who previously embodied the franchise.
Detroit Red Wings: Will Dylan Larkin Finish the Season in Detroit?
2025-26: 41-31-10, missed the playoffs.
No Atlantic team enters the season with a more uncomfortable leadership question.
Dylan Larkin has requested a trade.
Detroit moved longtime general manager Steve Yzerman into an advisory role and begins the season with Shawn Horcoff serving as interim GM. The Red Wings will also start without a captain.
Patrick Kane has returned to Chicago, forcing Detroit to redistribute offense. Viktor Arvidsson was added and can help, but his presence does not solve the larger strategic uncertainty.
Larkin remains Detroit’s best center and one of its most important players. Every losing streak, every public comment and every trade rumor will therefore become part of the season.
TSE outlook: Detroit possesses enough talent to compete for a wild card, but organizational uncertainty can become exhausting over 84 games. The Red Wings need clarity around Larkin before the situation begins defining everything else.
Toronto Maple Leafs: How Quickly Can Gavin McKenna Change Toronto?
2025-26: 32-36-14, last in the Atlantic, missed the playoffs.
Toronto’s reaction to missing the postseason for the first time since 2016 was closer to reconstruction than adjustment.
John Chayka became general manager. Mats Sundin returned in an executive role. Jim Hiller became coach.
Then Toronto won the draft lottery and selected Gavin McKenna No. 1 overall.
The roster changed almost as dramatically. Sergei Bobrovsky arrived in goal. Darren Raddysh strengthened the defense. Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime expanded the forward options.
McKenna is the part everyone will watch.
The 18-year-old does not need to rescue Toronto by himself. Auston Matthews and William Nylander remain established stars. That may actually help McKenna more than any prospect ranking can show because opponents cannot design an entire defensive plan around him.
Matthews also has his own rebound question after being limited to 60 games and 27 goals last season.
TSE outlook: Toronto could improve rapidly, but the number of simultaneous changes makes chemistry the biggest unknown. McKenna should be allowed to become part of the solution rather than being treated as the solution itself.
Metropolitan Division Preview
Carolina Hurricanes: Can the Stanley Cup Champions Avoid the Hangover?
2025-26: 53-22-7, Stanley Cup champions.
Carolina finally completed the journey that had repeatedly ended in playoff frustration.
The Hurricanes defeated Vegas in six games, closing the Final with a 3-0 road victory that TSE documented as the completion of a 20-year wait.
The difficult part begins now.
Rod Brind’Amour must convince a championship roster to attack ordinary November games with the same urgency it showed in June.
The personnel largely supports another run. Carolina remains deep, structured and hard to play against. Brandon Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov will carry greater responsibility after Frederik Andersen left for Edmonton.
Seth Jarvis will miss at least the opening portion of the season following shoulder surgery, creating an early test of Carolina’s forward depth.
TSE outlook: Carolina deserves to begin as one of the Stanley Cup favorites. The roster is good enough to repeat. The emotional and physical challenge of defending a title is the bigger opponent.
Washington Capitals: Did Washington Build Enough Around Ovechkin for One More Run?
2025-26: 43-30-9, missed the playoffs.
Washington had one of the NHL’s busiest summers.
Alex Tuch arrived from Buffalo. Jordan Kyrou came from St. Louis. Boone Jenner signed in free agency. Vincent Desharnais was added to the defense.
The message is obvious.
The Capitals are not treating Alex Ovechkin’s final years as ceremonial seasons.
Ovechkin has been managing a lower-body issue but is expected to be ready for Washington’s regular-season opener barring a setback.
The larger challenge is integrating so many important newcomers quickly enough to avoid spending the first two months learning each other’s habits.
TSE outlook: Washington became deeper and more dangerous. If the new pieces fit quickly, the Capitals should return to the playoffs and could become one of the East’s most uncomfortable matchups.
Philadelphia Flyers: Can Porter Martone Turn a Playoff Return Into Something Bigger?
2025-26: 43-27-12, reached the second round.
Philadelphia’s playoff return was built on an extraordinary late-season run.
The Flyers now have to show that the final quarter of last season was the beginning of something rather than a hot stretch that rescued an uneven campaign.
Porter Martone gives them one of the league’s most interesting young forwards.
He already has NHL and playoff experience and enters this season as one of the leading Calder Trophy candidates. His size, puck protection and finishing ability could immediately strengthen Philadelphia’s top six.
The major weakness remains the power play, which finished last in the NHL last season.
TSE outlook: Philadelphia’s floor has risen. If Martone develops quickly and the power play reaches even average NHL efficiency, the Flyers could become more than a team simply trying to reproduce last season’s playoff berth.
Pittsburgh Penguins: How Long Can Crosby and Malkin Keep the Window Open?
2025-26: 41-25-16, lost in the first round.
Pittsburgh returned to the playoffs after three seasons away, proving that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can still drag the franchise into meaningful spring hockey.
Age is becoming impossible to separate from the conversation.
Malkin is 40. Crosby and Kris Letang are 39. Erik Karlsson is 36.
The Penguins are simultaneously trying to compete around legends and develop the roster that eventually replaces them.
That balance becomes harder every season because younger teams can recover more quickly from injuries and heavy schedules.
TSE outlook: Pittsburgh can make the playoffs again because Crosby remains exceptional. The Stanley Cup question is harder. The Penguins need meaningful production from younger players or the veteran core will be asked to carry more than an 84-game season should require.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Can Columbus Finally Change Its Losing Culture?
2025-26: 40-30-12, missed the playoffs.
Columbus had a playoff position within reach late last season and then collapsed, losing nine of its final 11 games.
Coach Rick Bowness publicly challenged the team’s relationship with losing after the season.
That makes culture the defining issue.
Zach Werenski remains the player everything on the blue line runs through. Valeri Nichushkin adds another dangerous forward capable of helping both five-on-five scoring and special teams.
The Blue Jackets do not need another season of being interesting until March.
They need to finish.
TSE outlook: Columbus has enough talent to challenge for a wild card. Whether it reaches one may depend less on skill than on how the group responds when the season becomes uncomfortable.
New Jersey Devils: Is the Goaltending Good Enough for a Playoff Return?
2025-26: 42-37-3, missed the playoffs.
Jack Hughes remains the player capable of changing New Jersey’s ceiling.
The Devils’ biggest concern sits much farther back.
Jacob Markstrom was traded to Florida, leaving Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich as the principal goaltending options.
Allen brings experience but is 36. Daws still has to prove he can handle a larger NHL workload.
New Jersey added Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista to improve scoring depth, but those additions become less meaningful if the Devils repeatedly need four goals to win.
TSE outlook: New Jersey’s skating and offensive talent are good enough for the postseason. Goaltending is the swing factor between a bounce-back season and another year wondering why a talented roster keeps falling short.
New York Islanders: Can the Islanders Finally Fix Their Power Play?
2025-26: 43-34-5, missed the playoffs.
The Islanders spent part of last season sitting inside a Metropolitan playoff position before slipping away.
The power play was one of the clearest reasons.
New York finished 30th with the man advantage after ranking 31st the previous season.
That level of special-teams inefficiency turns too many close games into losses.
The Islanders have changed coaching responsibility around the unit and remain capable of leaning on Ilya Sorokin in goal. Matthew Schaefer’s development gives them another long-term building block.
Alexander Romanov and Ryan Pulock returning from shoulder issues also helps stabilize the defense.
TSE outlook: The Islanders do not need an elite power play to reach the playoffs. They simply cannot remain near the bottom of the league for a third consecutive season.
New York Rangers: Can Seven New Players Reset the Rangers Quickly Enough?
2025-26: 34-39-9, last in the Metropolitan Division.
The Rangers chose disruption.
Pavel Dorofeyev, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen and Joe Veleno could all enter the forward group. Sean Durzi, Marcus Pettersson and Alberts Smits were added to the defense.
Dorofeyev is the most obvious offensive addition after leading Vegas in goals in each of the past two seasons.
Mike Sullivan now has a much different team from the one that finished last in the division.
The danger is transition time. Seven meaningful new players create new lines, new defensive pairs, new special-teams responsibilities and new communication patterns.
TSE outlook: The Rangers should be better. Whether “better” means a playoff return depends on how quickly a dramatically altered roster stops feeling new.
Central Division Preview
Colorado Avalanche: Is the Stanley Cup Window Still Wide Open?
2025-26: 55-16-11, reached the Western Conference Final.
Colorado had the best regular-season record in the Central and still ended without the Cup.
That is the standard around Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar now.
The Avalanche have retooled around their stars rather than rebuilding, adding players including Jaden Schwartz, Fyodor Svechkov and Joakim Kemell’s former Nashville teammate Zachary L’Heureux to refresh the supporting cast.
Goaltending was excellent last season, with Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood helping Colorado allow fewer goals than any other team.
The challenge is repeatability.
Cale Makar also entered camp managing a lower-body issue, although there has been no indication that the situation should redefine Colorado’s season.
TSE outlook: As long as MacKinnon and Makar remain healthy, Colorado belongs among the Stanley Cup favorites. The supporting cast has changed, but the championship core has not.
Dallas Stars: Can Dallas Finally Convert Talent Into a Stanley Cup Final?
2025-26: 50-20-12, eliminated in the first round.
Dallas has spent years living in the space between excellent and complete.
The Stars reached the Western Conference Final in 2023, 2024 and 2025, then suffered a first-round exit last season.
Jason Robertson enters after a 96-point campaign. Jake Oettinger remains one of the league’s most important goalies. Tyler Seguin’s return from ACL surgery restores a veteran offensive option that Dallas did not have for most of last season.
The roster is deep enough.
The question is whether another season of regular-season success can finally lead to the Final.
TSE outlook: Dallas should be considered a Cup contender rather than merely a playoff team. Anything resembling another early exit will create much harder questions about whether this core’s best opportunity has already passed.
Minnesota Wild: Can Quinn Hughes Push Minnesota Into the Stanley Cup Tier?
2025-26: 46-24-12, reached the second round.
Minnesota’s trade for Quinn Hughes changed the franchise immediately.
Hughes produced 53 points in 48 games after arriving from Vancouver and formed one of the NHL’s most dynamic defensive foundations alongside Brock Faber.
Kirill Kaprizov remains the offensive centerpiece. Matt Boldy gives Minnesota another elite scoring threat. Jesper Wallstedt has developed into one of the league’s most interesting young goalies.
The off-ice question is Hughes’ contract.
He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer and has been eligible to sign an extension since July 1.
That does not make Minnesota’s season unstable, but it does add urgency.
TSE outlook: Minnesota has enough elite talent to challenge Colorado and Dallas in the Central. A long-term Hughes agreement would remove the largest background distraction from what could become the franchise’s best Stanley Cup opportunity in years.
Utah Mammoth: Can Utah Handle Expectations After Its First Playoff Appearance?
2025-26: 43-33-6, lost in the first round.
The novelty phase is over in Utah.
The franchise has a permanent name, upgraded facilities and a playoff appearance behind it.
Expectations have arrived.
Clayton Keller led Utah with 88 points last season. Dylan Guenther scored 40 goals. Logan Cooley remains only 22.
The Mammoth also added experienced leadership through Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee.
Those moves are important because young teams frequently discover that reaching the playoffs and learning how to control playoff games are separate skills.
TSE outlook: Utah should expect to qualify again. The real measure of progress will be whether the Mammoth can move beyond simply being satisfied to get there.
St. Louis Blues: Will McTavish and McMichael Fix the Blues’ Offense?
2025-26: 37-33-12, missed the playoffs.
St. Louis attacked its scoring problem through trades.
Mason McTavish arrived from Anaheim. Connor McMichael came from Washington.
Both are young enough to become more than short-term fixes.
McTavish gives the Blues another center capable of driving offense near the net. McMichael adds speed and transition skill.
The questions remain in goal and on special teams, where inconsistency repeatedly prevented St. Louis from turning competitive games into standings points.
TSE outlook: The Blues are better equipped offensively than they were last season. They still need enough goaltending stability to make those extra goals matter.
Nashville Predators: Can Nashville Avoid Another Season-Killing Slow Start?
2025-26: 38-34-10, missed the playoffs.
Nashville has spent two consecutive seasons trying to recover from poor beginnings.
Last year, the Predators were 8-13-4 entering December. They played winning hockey afterward but still missed the postseason.
That pattern cannot continue.
Juuse Saros also needs a rebound after posting the highest goals-against average and lowest save percentage of his NHL career.
Mavrik Bourque could become the No. 1 center after arriving from Dallas, while several other new forwards make Nashville’s opening combinations less predictable than usual.
TSE outlook: Nashville may have enough talent to fight for a wild card, but it cannot spend another autumn creating a standings hole and expecting January hockey to repair it.
Winnipeg Jets: What Happens if Connor Hellebuyck Never Plays for Winnipeg Again?
2025-26: 35-35-12, missed the playoffs.
This is the most destabilizing unresolved situation in the NHL.
Connor Hellebuyck publicly confirmed in August that he had requested a trade months earlier. He then failed to report to training camp and was suspended.
TSE examined the significance of that request when Hellebuyck’s future first became a franchise-level crisis.
The Jets now have two separate problems.
They have to determine Hellebuyck’s future, and they have to win games while doing it.
Kyle Connor remains an elite scorer. Mark Scheifele still gives Winnipeg a dangerous top center. Rookie Viggo Bjorck could become one of the season’s more interesting young additions.
None solves the goaltending issue.
TSE outlook: Winnipeg’s season may be defined by a trade that has not happened yet. Until the Hellebuyck situation is resolved, every projection carries an enormous asterisk.
Chicago Blackhawks: How Much Can Chicago Progress Before Connor Bedard Returns?
2025-26: 29-39-14, last in the Central Division.
Chicago finally gave Connor Bedard the captaincy, making the 21-year-old the center of the franchise in every formal sense.
TSE covered why giving Bedard the C represented a major step in Chicago’s rebuild.
The problem is that he will not begin the season on the ice.
Bedard underwent surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to remain out until around November.
Patrick Kane has returned to Chicago, giving the organization a bridge between its championship past and developing future. Bowen Byram strengthens a defense that needed another high-end puck mover.
Anton Frondell could receive a much larger role while Bedard recovers.
TSE outlook: Chicago is still developing rather than contending. The most important outcome is arriving at Bedard’s return with young players progressing and without having allowed the first month to destroy confidence.
Pacific Division Preview
Vegas Golden Knights: Can Vegas Return to the Final Under a New Coach?
2025-26: 39-26-17, lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
Vegas came within two wins of another championship.
Now it begins with Ryan Craig as head coach and without its leading goal scorer from the past two seasons.
Pavel Dorofeyev was traded to the Rangers after producing 72 goals across two years.
Vegas still possesses elite attacking pieces. Jack Eichel remains the center of the offense. Mitch Marner led the playoffs with 29 points last spring. Mark Stone and William Karlsson enter healthier than they were for much of last season.
Goaltending adds another question after Adin Hill struggled and lost the playoff net.
TSE outlook: Vegas remains a Stanley Cup contender. Replacing Dorofeyev’s finishing matters, but health and goaltending will determine whether the Golden Knights can make another two-month playoff run.
Edmonton Oilers: Can the Oilers Finally Solve Their Goaltending Problem?
2025-26: 41-30-11, lost in the first round.
Edmonton has Connor McDavid.
Edmonton has Leon Draisaitl.
That means almost every season begins with the same question: does the roster behind them provide enough stability to turn two generational offensive talents into another Stanley Cup opportunity?
This season, the focus returns to goaltending.
Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi will begin with substantial responsibility while Frederik Andersen recovers from an offseason injury.
Andersen won the Stanley Cup with Carolina and could eventually become an important part of the solution, but Edmonton cannot wait months for clarity.
Mike Babcock also begins his first season behind the bench.
TSE outlook: McDavid and Draisaitl make Edmonton dangerous regardless of the surrounding uncertainty. The Oilers’ ceiling will again depend on whether the crease can survive the nights when its stars do not dominate possession.
Anaheim Ducks: Is Anaheim Ready to Move From Breakthrough Team to Contender?
2025-26: 43-33-6, reached the second round.
Anaheim finally returned to the playoffs and won a series.
That moved the Ducks into an entirely different phase of their rebuild.
Cutter Gauthier scored 41 goals and 69 points last season, leading Anaheim in both categories. Leo Carlsson continues developing into a franchise center. Pavel Mintyukov is part of a blue line that should continue improving.
Gauthier’s contract situation has been one of the offseason’s most important issues because Anaheim has already committed significant money elsewhere.
Young teams can often take a large first step into the playoffs. The second step is harder because opponents no longer treat them as a surprise.
TSE outlook: Anaheim should expect to make the postseason again. Whether it can challenge Vegas and Edmonton near the top of the Pacific depends on how its young stars handle greater tactical attention.
San Jose Sharks: Is Macklin Celebrini Ready to Lead a Playoff Team?
2025-26: 39-35-8, missed the playoffs.
Macklin Celebrini produced 115 points last season.
That number tells both sides of San Jose’s story.
It demonstrates how extraordinary Celebrini already is, but it also shows how heavily the Sharks depended on him. His 115 points were more than the next two San Jose scorers combined.
The organization spent the offseason trying to make the environment around him stronger.
Veteran defensemen Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse add experience and edge. Ivar Stenberg, selected No. 2 in the 2026 Draft, could immediately join San Jose’s young offensive core.
Celebrini has also become the youngest captain in Sharks history.
Goaltending needs major improvement after San Jose ranked near the bottom of the league in save percentage and goals-against average.
TSE outlook: San Jose may be one of the NHL’s most dangerous upward-moving teams. A playoff berth is realistic if the Sharks can give Celebrini competent goaltending and meaningful secondary scoring.
Los Angeles Kings: How Do the Kings Replace Anze Kopitar?
2025-26: 35-27-20, lost in the first round.
For more than a decade, Anze Kopitar was the answer whenever Los Angeles needed a center to take the most important faceoff, defend the most dangerous opponent or control the most difficult minutes.
He has retired.
Quinton Byfield now moves closer to the center of the franchise. Erik Haula and Scott Laughton provide additional options down the middle, while Mats Zuccarello brings creativity to the wing.
Peter Laviolette takes over behind the bench with a mandate to improve both offense and special teams.
The tactical challenge is substantial because replacing Kopitar cannot be treated as replacing his point total.
TSE outlook: Los Angeles remains capable of reaching the playoffs. Its ability to win there depends on whether several players can collectively replace the defensive intelligence and possession control Kopitar provided almost automatically.
Seattle Kraken: Can Seattle’s Young Forwards Finally Produce Enough Offense?
2025-26: 34-37-11, missed the playoffs.
Seattle spent much of last season close enough to the playoff race to believe the structure works.
The Kraken then collapsed after the Olympic break.
Offense remains the primary issue after Seattle ranked 28th in scoring.
Bobby McMann showed immediate value after arriving from Toronto. Mackie Samoskevich now gets a larger opportunity after being acquired from Florida.
The more important development must come internally.
Shane Wright, Matty Beniers, Ryan Winterton and Kaapo Kakko need to produce more consistently.
Seattle’s travel burden will also be unusually heavy, exceeding 52,000 miles during the season.
TSE outlook: The Kraken can challenge for a wild card, but they cannot keep asking Jordan Eberle and a defensive system to compensate for limited high-end scoring.
Calgary Flames: Where Are the Goals Going to Come From?
2025-26: 34-39-9, missed the playoffs.
No NHL team scored fewer goals than Calgary last season.
Matt Coronato led the Flames with only 45 points. Morgan Frost and Mikael Backlund followed with 43 each.
That is not enough offensive production for a team trying to survive the Pacific.
Dustin Wolf gives Calgary a strong foundation in goal, while Jonathan Huberdeau returning healthy could raise the offensive ceiling.
The Flames also hope younger players can assume more responsibility rather than waiting for one veteran to suddenly produce an 80-point season.
TSE outlook: Calgary’s path back to the playoffs requires a collective offensive improvement. Wolf can keep games close. He cannot score the extra goal required to win them.
Vancouver Canucks: Can Manny Malhotra Rebuild the Culture Before the Roster?
2025-26: 25-49-8, last in the Pacific Division.
Vancouver allowed 314 goals last season, the most in the NHL, and produced the league’s worst penalty kill.
Those numbers explain why new coach Manny Malhotra has discussed the difference between losing games and playing losing hockey.
Veterans Luke Schenn, Jamie Oleksiak and Brendan Gallagher were added to help establish standards around a roster undergoing major change.
The Canucks also need Jonathan Lekkerimäki to take another step offensively.
Filip Chytil will miss time early after sustaining a shoulder injury and being listed week to week.
TSE outlook: Vancouver should be measured by habits before standings position. If the defensive structure improves and young players become more dependable, the season can be productive even without a playoff berth.
Which NHL Rookies Could Change the 2026-27 Season?
The rookie class gives this season another layer beyond the Stanley Cup race.
Toronto’s Gavin McKenna enters as the most watched prospect after going No. 1 in June. Philadelphia’s Porter Martone already has enough NHL experience to begin from a more advanced position. San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg could play with Celebrini and immediately benefit from elite offensive talent around him.
Chicago’s Anton Frondell will receive an unusual early opportunity while Bedard recovers. Winnipeg’s Viggo Bjorck could earn meaningful minutes during a season in which the Jets need new energy.
The NHL’s official rookie watch places McKenna, Martone and Stenberg among the most important first-year players entering the season.
Who Are the Leading Stanley Cup Contenders?
The championship tier begins with Carolina because the Hurricanes own the Cup and retained most of the structure that won it.
Colorado remains capable of beating anyone when MacKinnon and Makar are healthy. Florida’s ceiling rises considerably if the Panthers stay healthy and integrate Brady Tkachuk. Vegas returns most of the core that reached last season’s Final.
Dallas still possesses enough depth to make another run. Minnesota has added an elite defenseman in Hughes to a roster already containing Kaprizov and Boldy. Montreal’s emergence now deserves to be treated seriously rather than as an interesting young-team story.
Edmonton remains impossible to dismiss while McDavid and Draisaitl are together.
There is no overwhelming favorite.
That may be the defining characteristic of this season.
Which Teams Could Break Through?
Buffalo has already crossed the first barrier by returning to the playoffs. The next step is becoming a regular contender.
Utah has enough young offense and added enough veteran experience to improve on its first postseason appearance.
Anaheim’s young core may be ahead of schedule.
San Jose is becoming particularly interesting because Celebrini’s individual development is now being supported by a deeper roster rather than another rebuilding season built almost entirely around patience.
Toronto belongs in this category for different reasons. The Maple Leafs possess stars, a championship goalie and the No. 1 pick, but they have changed enough that nobody yet knows what the final product looks like.
Which NHL Storylines Could Change the Season After It Starts?
Several major stories remain unresolved entering opening night.
Hellebuyck’s trade request could alter two teams if Winnipeg eventually moves him.
Dylan Larkin’s future could reshape Detroit’s entire timeline.
Quinn Hughes’ contract situation matters to Minnesota beyond this season.
A healthy Bedard could make Chicago substantially different by November from the version beginning the year.
Florida will eventually add Marchand back into a lineup already integrating Brady Tkachuk.
Edmonton will have to decide how to distribute starts when Andersen returns.
These are not peripheral stories.
They could change playoff probabilities, trade markets and even Stanley Cup expectations after the season is already underway.
What Makes the 84-Game NHL Season Different?
Two additional games sound minor.
Across a six-month season, they can become the difference between a division title and second place, between home ice and a road series, or between a wild card and an early summer.
The expanded schedule also creates additional workload for veterans and goaltenders.
Teams with deeper third lines, reliable backup goalies and multiple defensive pairs capable of handling difficult minutes should benefit more than teams built around a handful of stars carrying extreme usage.
This is another reason depth matters so much in the forecasts above.
What Should Fans Watch on NHL Opening Night?
September 29 immediately gives the season several meaningful tests.
- Florida at Carolina: the previous three Stanley Cup champions collide as Carolina raises its banner.
- Montreal at Toronto: an Original Six rivalry and the possible regular-season debut of Gavin McKenna.
- Rangers at Boston: two teams trying to define what their next competitive phase looks like.
- Vancouver at Edmonton: McDavid opens against a Canucks team beginning a major cultural reset.
- Chicago at Vegas: the Western Conference champions face a Blackhawks team beginning without Bedard.
The regular season will answer none of its largest questions in one night.
It will finally begin supplying evidence.
The Sports Encounter’s NHL 2026-27 Final Outlook
The preseason is useful because it reveals readiness.
The regular season reveals whether an organization actually solved its problems.
Carolina solved enough of them to win the Stanley Cup in June.
Everyone else spent the summer trying to catch up.
Florida added another Tkachuk. Toronto drafted McKenna and rebuilt around its stars. Washington loaded up for another push around Ovechkin. Minnesota placed Hughes beside Faber. San Jose strengthened the environment around Celebrini. Vegas changed coaches after coming within two wins of the Cup.
Other teams enter with harder questions.
Winnipeg does not know whether its franchise goalie will ever play for it again. Detroit begins with its captain wanting out. Vancouver is trying to repair its culture before worrying about contention. Chicago must begin the season without the player around whom its future is built.
The first 84-game NHL season in more than three decades is therefore not beginning with one dominant narrative.
It is beginning with 32 of them.
That is why this season feels unusually open.
Follow the latest games, injuries, trades, standings and Stanley Cup analysis through The Sports Encounter’s NHL coverage.
NHL 2026-27 Season FAQs
When Does the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season Start?
The NHL regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
How Many Games Will Each NHL Team Play in 2026-27?
Each team will play 84 regular-season games, two more than the traditional 82-game schedule.
Who Won the 2026 Stanley Cup?
The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in six games to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.
Who Are the Main Stanley Cup Favorites for 2026-27?
Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Vegas, Dallas and Minnesota begin among the strongest contenders, while teams including Montreal and Edmonton have enough elite talent to enter the championship conversation.
Who Was the No. 1 Pick in the 2026 NHL Draft?
The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Gavin McKenna first overall.
Will Connor Bedard Play on NHL Opening Night?
No. Bedard is recovering from left-shoulder surgery and is expected to miss the beginning of the season, with a return targeted around November.
Why Is Connor Hellebuyck Not Playing for Winnipeg?
Hellebuyck requested a trade and was suspended after failing to report to Jets training camp. His future with Winnipeg remains unresolved entering the season.
Which Team Did Brady Tkachuk Join?
Florida acquired Brady Tkachuk from Ottawa, pairing him with his brother Matthew Tkachuk.
Which NHL Rookies Should Fans Watch in 2026-27?
Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone, Ivar Stenberg, Anton Frondell and Viggo Bjorck are among the rookies with opportunities to make immediate NHL impacts.
When Does the 2026-27 NHL Regular Season End?
The regular season is scheduled to conclude April 10, 2027.