NHL Training Camps Set to Open as Teams Prepare for 2026-27 Season

The countdown to the 2026-27 NHL season is entering its final stages, with training camps scheduled to open across the league during the second week of September. Veterans will report shortly after rookie camps conclude, giving coaching staffs roughly two weeks to evaluate roster battles before preseason games begin.

This season marks the start of the NHL’s expanded 84-game regular-season schedule, the first time every club will play 84 games since the early 1990s. With two additional divisional games added to each team’s schedule, the importance of training camp has only increased as teams prepare for a longer and more demanding campaign.

Training Camps Begin in September

Most NHL clubs will welcome veterans to training camp between Sept. 10-13, following rookie development tournaments and prospect showcases held during the previous week.

Training camp gives coaches their first opportunity to evaluate offseason acquisitions, first-round draft picks, and players competing for roster spots. Teams will also use the sessions to install new systems, identify line combinations, and determine special teams units before exhibition play begins.

Several clubs will enter camp with major questions surrounding starting goaltenders, top-six forward roles, and defensive pairings, making September one of the most competitive periods of the hockey calendar.

First NHL Preseason Games

The NHL preseason gets underway in the middle of September, with nearly every team playing four exhibition contests before opening night.

Key preseason dates include:

• Sept. 19 – NHL preseason officially begins
• Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens (split-squad games)
• Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues
• Winnipeg Jets vs. Edmonton Oilers
• Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild
• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Los Angeles Kings
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Seattle Kraken
• Sept. 20-27 – Remaining preseason schedule continues across the league

Regular Season Opens September 29

The 2026-27 regular season begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29, featuring an opening-night slate headlined by the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

Among the first regular-season games are:

• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Florida Panthers (Stanley Cup banner raising)
• Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
• New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
• Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers

Opening week also features numerous home openers throughout North America as every franchise begins the chase for the Stanley Cup.

Storylines Heading Into Camp

Several contenders will report to camp with legitimate championship expectations. Carolina enters the season looking to defend its Stanley Cup after defeating the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Final.

Florida, Edmonton, Dallas, Colorado, and Toronto all retained much of their core, while several clubs added impact players during free agency.

Training camp will also showcase some of the league’s top young talent as recent first-round draft picks compete for NHL roster spots. Veteran players returning from injuries will attempt to reclaim regular roles, while coaches continue adjusting to the league’s new 84-game format.

Stanley Cup Betting Outlook

Sportsbooks have already posted futures markets for the 2026-27 Stanley Cup, with several perennial contenders leading the odds board.

As training camp approaches, bettors will closely monitor injuries, lineup combinations, and preseason performances. Futures markets often move throughout September as teams finalize their opening-night rosters, making training camp one of the most influential periods for Stanley Cup betting ahead of the regular season.