2026–27 NHL season
| 2026–27 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 2026 – June 2027 |
| Games | 84 |
| Teams | 32 |
| TV partner(s) | Sportsnet (Canada) ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, TNT/TBS/truTV, NHL Network (United States) |
| Streaming partner(s) | Sportsnet+ (Canada) ESPN app/Hulu/Disney+, HBO Max (United States) DAZN (international NHL.TV excluded Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) |
| Draft | |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Stanley Cup | |
The 2026–27 NHL season is the upcoming 110th season of operation (109th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The season will feature an 84-game regular season schedule for the first time since 1993–94. The regular season is expected to begin in October 2026. The Stanley Cup playoffs are then planned to begin in April 2027, ending with the Stanley Cup Final in June.
League business
Collective bargaining agreement
On June 27, 2025, the league and the NHL Players' Association agreed on a new four-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that will take effect from the 2026–27 to 2029–30 seasons. Among the changes under the agreement, the 2026–27 regular season expands from 82 to 84 games.[1]
Entry draft
The 2026 NHL entry draft is scheduled for June 26–27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.[2]
Coaching changes
| Off–season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 2024–25 coach | 2025–26 coach | Notes |
| Los Angeles Kings | Jim Hiller D. J. Smith* |
TBA | Hiller was fired on March 1, 2026, after the Kings started the season 24–21–14, including a 2–5–1 record in his final eight games. In parts of three seasons with Los Angeles, Hiller posted a 93–58–24 record, reaching the playoffs in both of his completed seasons, but losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round both times. Smith, most recently an assistant coach for Los Angeles, and formerly head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2019 to 2023, was named interim head coach the same day.[3] |
(*) Indicates interim
Arena changes
- This is planned to be the last season that the Calgary Flames will play their home games at Scotiabank Saddledome before the team moves to Scotia Place.[4]
Regular season
The NHL is expected to release the regular season schedule in Summer 2026.
International games
The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators are scheduled to play two games against each other on December 18 and 20, 2026 at PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany.[5]
Outdoor games
The league has scheduled three outdoor games this season:
- The 2026 Heritage Classic is scheduled for October 25, at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, with the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Montreal Canadiens.[6]
- The 2027 NHL Winter Classic is planned to be played at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, with the Utah Mammoth hosting the Colorado Avalanche; the game's exact date will be announced at a later time.[7]
- The 2027 NHL Stadium Series is scheduled for February 20, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the Dallas Stars hosting the Vegas Golden Knights.[8]
All-Star Game
The 2027 All-Star Game is scheduled for February 7, at UBS Arena at Elmont, the home of the New York Islanders. The All-Star Game would be played for the first time since 2024. The league instead held the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, then the players participated in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The league originally planned to hold a 2026 All-Star Game at UBS Arena as a "send-off" to the Olympics, but then decided against it.[9]
Media rights
National
Canada
This will be the first season of a new 12-year Canadian national broadcast rights deal with Sportsnet.[10] As part of the new deal, the number of national games will increase, including 10 more Ottawa Senators games and 10 more Winnipeg Jets games.[11]
- Linear television
- As of March 2026, Sportsnet has not yet renewed its sub-licensing agreement with CBC Television to continue airing Saturday Hockey Night in Canada games.[11]
- As of March 2026, Sportsnet has not yet renewed its sub-licensing agreement with TVA Sports for French-language broadcasts.[11]
- Streaming
- Sportsnet+ will continue to stream games depending on tier, with national games available on the Standard level, out-of-market games on the Premium tier, and via authenticated streaming on participating teams.[11][12]
- As of March 2026, Sportsnet has not yet renewed its sub-licensing agreement with Amazon Prime Video to stream Monday Night Hockey.[11]
United States
This will be the sixth season of the league's seven-year U.S. national broadcast rights deals with the ESPN family of networks and TNT Sports.[13] TNT however may be affected if its parent company Warner Bros. Discovery is acquired by Paramount Skydance.[14]
- Linear television
- ESPN's schedule begins with opening night before airing games on select days throughout the regular season as its schedule permits. ABC then airs Hockey Saturday on select weekends between January and April. Games may also air on ESPN2. ESPN and ABC has the All-Star skills competition and the All-Star Game, respectively. The ESPN networks also have the rights to the Stadium Series.[15]
- TNT's schedule includes Wednesday nights throughout the regular season, select Sunday games, the Thanksgiving Showdown, and the Winter Classic. Some of TNT's games may be simulcast on TruTV. TBS may be used as an overflow channel. Not all of TNT Sports' regular season games will be exclusive broadcasts and are thus subject to blackout in local markets, As per the rotation, TNT holds the rights to the Stanley Cup Finals this season.[16]
- NHL Network will continue to televise games when the other national broadcasters are not airing games and will again primarily simulcast local coverage.
- Streaming
- The ESPN app will continue to stream games depending on tier. ESPN+ (the ESPN app's Select plan) and Hulu will exclusive streams games on select days throughout the regular season. ESPN+ will also stream all of ABC's games and the NHL Power Play on ESPN+ out-of-market package. The ESPN app's higher Unlimited plan also includes all ESPN-produced games. Disney+ may also stream select ESPN-produced games.[15]
- HBO Max streams all TNT Sports-produced games.[16]
Radio
This will be the fourth season of the league's six-year deal with SiriusXM and SiriusXM Canada to simulcast all 32 teams' local regular season and postseason broadcasts.[17]
Local
Folding of FanDuel Sports Network
FanDuel Sports Network is expected to fold after the 2025–26 season.[18][19] NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the league is not interested in setting up a centralized hub like MLB Local Media.[20]
- The Detroit Red Wings and MLB's Detroit Tigers will move to Detroit SportsNet, a new network in partnership with MLB Local Media; unlike the Tigers, the Red Wings will utilize an in-house production, but with MLB Local Media handling distribution.[21][22]
- The Los Angeles Kings and MLB's Los Angeles Angels will continue to air on the soon-to-be-formerly-named FanDuel Sports Network West after the Angels decided to acquire the network; the Kings renewed its rights through at least the 2026–27 season.[23][24]
International
- The international streaming service NHL.TV will be available in around 200 countries on DAZN.[25][26]
References
- ^ "NHL, NHLPA agree on 4-year extension to CBA". NHL.com. June 27, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (January 12, 2026). "2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo". NHL.com.
- ^ "Hiller fired as Kings coach, replaced by Smith". NHL.com. March 1, 2026. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ "Scotia Place name unveiled as work begins on new $800M arena for Calgary Flames". Global News. The Canadian Press. July 22, 2024.
- ^ "NHL returning to Germany next season as part of campaign to grow game in country". NHL.com. March 13, 2026.
- ^ "Jets to host Canadiens in 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic". NHL.com. December 6, 2025.
- ^ "Mammoth to host 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic at University of Utah". NHL.com. January 7, 2026.
- ^ "Stars, Jerry World land 2027 Stadium Series game". ESPN.com. November 3, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ "Isles set to host 2027 All-Star Weekend; Olympic sendoff axed". ESPN.com. October 21, 2025.
- ^ "NHL, Rogers announce 12-year national rights media deal". NHL.com. April 2, 2025. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Expect fewer blackouts with new Rogers NHL rights deal". Sportsnet. April 3, 2025.
- ^ Johnston, Patrick (June 15, 2022). "Canadian NHL fans won't be able to access NHL Live in 2022-23". The Province. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
- ^ "NHL moving to Turner Sports is $1 billion risk-reward for hockey". CNBC. April 27, 2021. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "What Paramount's impending purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery means for sports fans". Awful Announcing. February 26, 2026.
- ^ a b "NHL back on ESPN with 7-year multiplatform deal". ESPN. March 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Wyshynski, Greg (April 27, 2021). "Turner Sports inks 7-year deal with NHL, will air 3 Stanley Cup finals". ESPN. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ "NHL and SiriusXM Reach Multiyear Extension of Broadcasting Agreement". Sirius XM Holdings Inc. January 17, 2023. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
- ^ Ourand, John (February 3, 2026). "Requiem for an R.S.N. Dream". Puck. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ Zdinjak, Nina (February 6, 2026). "Major sports TV network shuts down, leaves fans scrambling". TheStreet.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ^ Lerner, Drew (March 8, 2026). "Gary Bettman endorses mixed approach for NHL local rights, no plans to centralize like MLB, NBA". Awful Announcing. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
- ^ Friend, Tom (February 9, 2026). "Tigers, Red Wings broadcasts heading to MLB Media in rare crossover partnership". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ^ Mazzeo, Mike (March 2, 2026). "Ilitch launches Detroit SportsNet for Tigers, Red Wings local broadcasts". Sports Business Journal.
- ^ Friend, Tom; Mazzeo, Mike (March 9, 2026). "Angels buy Main Street out of FanDuel Sports Network West, will launch own station". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2026.
- ^ Lewis, Jon (March 9, 2026). "Angels announce they will own and continue "FanDuel Sports Network" RSN". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ^ "NHL Strikes Deal With DAZN to Distribute NHL.TV to Nearly 200 Countries". Sports Video Group. Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ Cahillane, Mollie (July 30, 2025). "NHL signs DAZN streaming deal for int'l growth". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on July 30, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.