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When will NHL release new 84-game 2026-27 schedule?
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- When will NHL release new 84-game 2026-27 schedule?
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When will NHL release new 84-game 2026-27 schedule? appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The NHL and the NHLPA have agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement. As part of the new CBA, the NHL will be moving to an 84-game schedule . It will be the first time since the 1993-94 season.
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Now, the league has announced when it will be releasing the schedule , per a release.
"On Wednesday, July 15, the League will unveil opening night matchups, which will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the U.S. and on Sportsnet in Canada. The announcement will be made during the day, prior to the 2026 ESPY Awards (8 p.m. ET, ABC), that will feature several NHL nominees, including the 2026 Olympic Gold Medal-winning USA's Men's Ice Hockey team for Best Team. Wednesday's announcement will also detail the League's 2026-27 signature events," the announcement read.
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In recent years, opening night has often featured the defending Stanley Cup champion and has been a double or triple-header. In 2023-24, the Vegas Golden Knights hosted the Seattle Kraken and raised their banner, while Connor Bedard made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a triple header that also featured the Nashville Predators visiting the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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The 2024-25 campaign kicked off with the Florida Panthers raising their Stanley Cup banner, hosting the Boston Bruins. The Utah Hockey Club then made their debut, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks before the Kraken and St. Louis Blues faced off.
Last season, the Blackhawks and defending champion Panthers faced off before a tilt between the Penguins and Rangers. With the Carolina Hurricanes set to raise their Stanley Cup banner, they will likely get a game on opening night, while the Toronto Maple Leafs could get a game with the debut of Gavin McKenna. The rest of the schedule will be released the next day.
"The following day, on Thursday, July 16, the complete 2026-27 NHL regular-season schedule is set to be announced at 1 p.m. ET. Coming off the 2025-26 season that saw record-breaking viewership and attendance, the 2026-27 regular-season schedule will feature 1,344 games – 84 games per team – which includes two additional divisional games per team," the release concluded.
In recent seasons, the start of the season has been near the start of October, meaning NHL fans may have just 13 short weeks until puck drops on a new campaign.
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