NHL Returns to 84-Game Season and Sets July Schedule Release

Overview

• The NHL confirmed on July 8, 2026 that it will return to an 84-game regular season for 2026-27, adding two extra divisional games per team and bringing the total to 1,344 regular-season games.
• The league will publish the full 2026-27 schedule on July 16 at 1 p.m., with opening-night matchups revealed the day before and those games set to air on ESPN and Sportsnet.
• Commissioner Gary Bettman and league officials tied the change to stronger fan interest after the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, which averaged about 5.2 million viewers.
• The two additional divisional games per team are likely to intensify rivalries and could change the calculus of division races and playoff standings, though the exact competitive impact depends on the full matchup matrix to be released on July 16.
• Fans should expect a busier regional slate and more high-stakes home-and-home series between nearby clubs, which could boost local attendance and reshape travel and load patterns for teams.