The National Hockey League’s 2026–27 regular season is underway, introducing an expanded schedule and renewed competition among Canada’s seven NHL franchises. The season began on September 29, earlier than usual, with opening-night matchups involving several Canadian teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Montreal Canadiens in a meeting between two of the league’s longest-established franchises, while the Edmonton Oilers opened against the Vancouver Canucks. The schedule marks the NHL’s return to an 84-game regular season for the first time since the early 1990s.
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Under the revised format, each team will play 42 games at home and 42 on the road. The additional fixtures increase the number of meetings between divisional opponents, creating more opportunities for teams with established regional rivalries to compete during the regular season. For Canadian clubs, divisional results can have a considerable influence on their position in the standings. The longer schedule also places additional importance on roster depth, injury management and the ability to maintain consistent performance throughout the season.
The league’s opening rosters illustrate the continued significance of Canadian players in professional hockey. According to official NHL figures released on September 29, 306 Canadians were included among the 723 players on opening-day rosters, representing approximately 42.3% of the total. Canada remained the largest national group represented in the league. At the same time, the NHL continues to draw players from numerous countries, reflecting the international development of the sport and the growing importance of scouting and player development programs around the world.
