The NHL begins its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, September 29, with an expanded 84-game schedule. The Carolina Hurricanes, defending champions, host the Florida Panthers in the opener. Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, signed a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals, possibly his final season. Young stars like Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and rookie Gavin McKenna of the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to shine. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers continues his quest for a first Stanley Cup. The season also features international games in Finland and Germany.
We’ll perform a deep-dive analysis of all sources and publicly available external materials, then prepare a structured timeline of events, an in-depth report explaining the background and context, and multiple perspectives.