Mick Kern of NHL Network Radio previews the 2026-2026 Season

Mick Kern
September 28, 2026

Not all that long ago, the Carolina Hurricanes were hoisting the Stanley Cup for the second time in their history, taking down the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. Since that June 14th evening, a lot has changed in the National Hockey League, which sits on the precipice of the 2026-27 regular season.

For starters, there are two extra games to play this season. The league saw fit to bump up the games that matter from 82 to 84, in the process cutting back the pre-season, which nobody really seemed all that upset about.

The NHL is doing well financially these days; as a result, the pot of money that can be distributed to players has reached new heights. So you’re seeing a lot of swollen contracts for young players who haven’t really made their mark in the league yet. But if modern analytics has taught us anything, it’s best to take a chance on a player and pay him for what you think he’s going to do, as opposed to the old way of paying the big bucks for a player who most likely will never reach those heights again.

That doesn’t mean every megabuck contract will age well. That does mean current stars labouring under contracts that now pay them well below the league average for players of their skill set will be looking to cash in next contract. Remember, it’s billionaires paying millionaires, so don’t worry too much.

Unless it’s your team that might suddenly lose one of its key components. A divorce could be simmering for financial reasons, frustration over not winning, or the old “I think we need to see other people.”

Do the names Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck leap to mind? Both star players want out of their current relationships…Larkin with the Detroit Red Wings, and Hellebuyck with the Winnipeg Jets. Larkin was, until recently, captain of the Red Wings, but the Michigan native has had enough of a decade of watching others participate in the postseason fun. He can see the end of his playing career on the horizon, and wants to change things up. Can’t blame him. Except he has a valid contract and isn’t going to have to get a second job on weekends stocking shelves. Where Larkin, a consistent 30-goal forward, ends up is anybody’s guess. He initially had a list of three or four teams he would be willing to be traded to. All Stanley Cup contenders, of course. Word recently is that he’s expanded that list, but only American-based franchises tickle his fancy.

Hellebuyck, who, going by regular-season numbers only (and the recent Olympic Gold Medal), will be a Hockey Hall-of-Famer by the end of his career. He’s been a good soldier for the Jets, but this summer it became public that he wanted a change of scenery. A goaltender of his stature rarely comes available, but Winnipeg understandably will want a sizeable return.

Speaking of the Jets, they hold an outdoor game on Sunday, October 25^th, against the rebuilt and ready-for-prime-time Montreal Canadiens. The Heritage Classic is the first of three under-the-sky NHL games this campaign. The popular Winter Classic is set for the final day of 2026, with Salt Lake City being the locale. The Utah Mammoth will clash with the visiting Colorado Avalanche. And the Stadium Series commences on February 20^th, as the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights meet up on the frozen tundra of AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The NHL has been blessed with a bumper crop of young, exciting rookies ever since SiriusXM NHL Network Radio first went to air back in late November of 2005. This season is no different. Whether it’s Porter Martone in Philadelphia, Gavin McKenna in Toronto, or Ivor Stenberg with the San Jose Sharks, the youth movement continues to ripple throughout the league.

There’s also plenty of questions and speculation swirling around some of the established names in the league. Until they sign a contract to remain with their respective teams, or opt for unrestricted free agency in the very near future, expect to hear endless talk about the futures of superstar players Quinn Hughes (Minnesota), Auston Matthews (Toronto), and Connor McDavid (Edmonton). Amongst others.

And while we’re on the Oilers, they have a new coach (Mike Babcock) and apparently a new work ethic. Will that be enough to propel them back to at least the Stanley Cup Final? The likes of the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights will have something to say about that.

What about the upcoming San Jose Sharks? They finished a mere four points back of a Western Conference playoff spot last season. Can they take the next step? What about the Anaheim Ducks, who penned a couple of promising players to huge contracts, and waved goodbye to a lot of impact veterans? Are the playoffs in the picture this time around? Can the Winnipeg Jets bounce back? The Blues were close… and so were the Predators.

In the East, you’ll find the defending Stanley Cup Champions, and almost everyone expects the Carolina Hurricanes to repeat as Metropolitan Division champs. What happens in the playoffs is always a different matter for every team. Only 8 teams in each Conference get to play past mid-April. And the league just gets tighter and tighter.

Will the Florida Panthers prove that last season was an anomaly? With a healthy lineup and the addition of talented pest forward Brady Tkachuk, most are picking the Cats for first in the tough, tough (tough) Atlantic Division.

Hang on, say the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens (who added veteran forward Chris Kreider), and the always impressive Tampa Bay Lightning…well, until they get to the playoffs. The Bolts have been booted out in the first round the past four springs.

The Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators were the two Eastern wildcard entries last season, but with the expected resurgence of the Panthers, is there room for both teams this time around? The Washington Capitals are everybody’s favourites to make the playoff cut after missing this past April. Does that mean the two Keystone State teams are out? And what about the perennially stuck-in-the-middle Islanders and Blue Jackets?

Wait! We’re told that a healthy Jack Hughes means the New Jersey Devils are back in the postseason hunt. Oh, and we forgot the almost completely rebuilt Toronto Maple Leafs. New GM. New Head Coach. New starting goaltender. A healthy Auston Matthews.

Yup, plan the parade.

In all 32 cities. Well, maybe not Vancouver and Calgary just yet. All part of the plan. And will the Detroit Red Wings ever make the playoffs again?

The 2026-27 National Hockey League regular season is ready to go!

Tuesday, September 29^th – 5:00 pm Eastern – Channel 91
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes

The 84-game 2026-27 National Hockey League regular season schedule gets underway this evening, with five games to choose from. How about the defending Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes, at home against the resurgent Florida Panthers? The very first game of the brand-new season features the last three Stanley Cup Champions meeting up on a fresh sheet of ice. Many believe this could be a preview of the 2027 Eastern Conference Final. There’s a long way to go before we get to mid-May.

Wednesday, September 30^th – 7:30 pm Eastern – Channel 91
New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs

Both these Eastern Conference teams missed the playoff cut this past season, and naturally both believe they can change their fortunes this time around. The Maple Leafs may have undergone the most radical off-season lineup changes in the entire league, in addition to adding a new GM and head coach. The Islanders changed head coaches late last season and are looking to take one of the three playoff spots offered up by the Metropolitan Division. Both teams may indeed improve on their 2025-26 point totals, and still miss the postseason. The Islanders return to Toronto in two-and-a-half weeks (October 17^th).

Thursday, October 1^st – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Edmonton Oilers at Vancouver Canucks

The brand-new month kicks off with the reconstituted Oilers in Vancouver to face…the reconstituted Canucks. Fact is, unless you’ve won the Stanley Cup (and even then!), every team undergoes changes during the off-season. Edmonton bowed out in the first round of the playoffs and deemed that some major organizational changes were warranted. Hence the controversial signing of head coach Mike Babcock, amongst other changes. Vancouver finished dead last in the NHL last season and is looking to slowly advance back to relevance with a lineup of eager, talented young players.

Friday, October 2^nd – 10:00 pm Eastern – SiriusXM 91
Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights

While they indeed made the playoffs last season (and took down the Edmonton Oilers in six games in the opening round), there is concern that the young Ducks may take a step back this time around. Why? The mass exodus of impact veterans, for one. Salary cap challenges precipitated the farewell to veteran forward Chris Kreider (now with Montreal), for example. Still, the Orange County team has a lot of impressive, well-paid young talent. They visit the defending Western Conference Champions, who came up just short this past June against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final. You know the Golden Knights will be good again this season, and may yet again claim top spot in the Pacific Division. Their season will ultimately be judged upon if they can take the next step. In this case, that means winning the Stanley Cup. That’s not going to be easy in a Western Conference populated by the likes of the Avalanche, Stars, Wild, and Mammoth…for starters.