2026-27 NHL season to start on Sept. 29 with Carolina-Florida, Toronto-Montreal

The 2026-27 NHL season is set to begin on September 29, with the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers in a primetime tripleheader on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET. The opening night will also feature the Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers and the Vegas Golden Knights vs. Chicago Blackhawks on ESPN, while Sportsnet's Canadian doubleheader will include the Toronto Maple Leafs hosting the Montreal Canadiens, potentially marking the NHL debut of No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna. All 32 home openers have been announced, with the full schedule set to be revealed on Thursday.