NHL to begin expanded 84-game season — The Japan Times
The NHL will begin its 2026/27 season next week, with the schedule including games in Finland and Germany. The regular season has been expanded to 84 games — two more than before — to balance the number of divisional matchups, The Japan Times reports.
The first day of play will take place on Tuesday and will consist of five games. The reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, will host the Florida Panthers.
Ovechkin continues his career
Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin, 41, has signed a one-year contract with the club. The NHL's all-time leading goal scorer has 929 goals and believes Washington's revamped roster can compete for the Stanley Cup. At the same time, the hockey player has not yet decided whether the upcoming season will be the last of his career.
Three-time Stanley Cup winner Sidney Crosby is also continuing his career at a late stage. Among the young players who may take on leading roles, the source names San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Chicago Blackhawks captain Connor Bedard.
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Young stars and the battle for the Cup
Celebrini, 20, set a San Jose record last season with 115 points. That is more than the combined total of the team's next two highest-scoring players. He also helped Canada win Olympic silver at the 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
Bedard will miss the start of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery. In the previous championship, he recorded 75 points in 69 games — 30 goals and 45 assists. Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna, whom the club selected first overall in the 2026 draft, is expected to become one of the leaders of the team's new stage.
Connor McDavid will continue his search for his first Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers, who appointed Mike Babcock as head coach in June. Edmonton reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025. In addition to games in Finland and Germany, the season schedule includes outdoor games in Winnipeg, Salt Lake City and Arlington.
