The 2026-2027 season kicks off in September

Dose
Crédit: SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 08: Commissioner of the NHL Gary Bettman speaks to media during a press conference prior to Game One of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 08, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

Right now, everyone’s eye is on the 2025-2026 NHL season. Even if camp hasn’t started yet, it seems that the return of September (which rhymes with the start of the radio season at BPM Sports and the fact that quite a few Habs guys are already in Brossard) means that the return to normalcy is palpable. In fact, we realize that there’s still a good month to go before the start of the regular season.

However, in 2026-2027, when the new collective agreement comes into effect, September will be even more significant in the NHL.

Why? Because it will rhyme with the start of the regular season. Pierre LeBrun (who loves this scenario) reported that in 2026-2027, the season will indeed start in September and the Stanley Cup will be awarded in mid-June.Reminder: the season will be 84 games long and there will be fewer preparatory games.

In my eyes, this is a great victory. Limiting pre-season games, starting earlier and finishing earlier are all good news. The NHL has obviously figured some things out. In June, the intense schedule (Stanley Cup Final, preparing for the draft and setting the table for free agents) will be a little less condensed for everyone.

As a guy who makes his living writing about hockey, I’m looking forward to it, anyway.spacer title=’Overtime’]- That was the case yesterday too. There

– We love this.

– Q&A session between NHL coaches and referees.

– How much money for Jacques Échelle?