On Thursday morning, the NHL released the regular season schedules for all 32 teams. The NHL has also expanded the regular season to 84 games, giving each two extra opportunities to grab points in their quest to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here are five Ducks games that will be required watching in 2026-27.

Home Opener vs. Panthers - Oct. 4

The first home game of the season will be against former Ducks captain Radko Gudas and the Florida Panthers. Gudas spent three seasons with the Ducks, captaining them for the last two.

The Panthers also added Brady Tkachuk, who links up with his brother, Matthew. Accompanied by players like Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, this Panthers team makes for an irritating matchup.

This game will also mark the first time that A.J. Greer faces his old team. Greer spent the last two seasons with the Panthers, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2025. He joined the Ducks after his signing rights were swapped for Gudas’ signing rights and then signed a four-year, $17 million contract.

Return of the Mac - Jan. 14

In one of many offseason moves that Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek made this summer, he traded Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for the 15th overall and 29th overall selections in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Those picks were then used to select forwards Nikita Klepov and Marcus Nordmark.

It was a tough 2025-26 season for McTavish, whose contract negotiations dragged into training camp. His second half of the season was marred with inconsistency and he was even healthy scratched for a pair of playoff games. He will have an opportunity to bounce back with the Blues, though whether it’s as a center or a winger is unclear for the time being.

This game also marks the returns of Ross Johnston and Greg Cronin to Honda Center. Johnston spent three seasons with the Ducks after he was claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders in 2023. Typically relegated to enforcer and fourth line duties, he had a career year offensively in 2025-26, putting up 14 points. Cronin, who joined the Blues this summer as an assistant coach, was the Ducks’ head coach from 2023-2025, his first NHL head coaching gig. The Ducks went 62-87-15 during his tenure.

I’ve Got a Phill-ing - Oct. 24

The Philadelphia Flyers’ five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson was the talk of the summer. The Ducks ultimately matched it six days after it was tendered, but this move showed that Flyers general manager Danny Brière wasn’t afraid to go big-game hunting.

These two organizations have crossed paths repeatedly over the past couple of years thanks to the Cutter Gauthier-Jamie Drysdale and Trevor Zegras-Ryan Poehling trades. The Carlsson offer sheet now adds another element. It will be interesting to see the fan reaction in Philadelphia when the Ducks come to town.

Running It Back - Oct. 2, Oct. 7

This might be considered cheating, as it’s two games in one. After beating the Edmonton Oilers in six games and then falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in six games, seeing how the Ducks stack up to both teams after an offseason of moves should be a good watch.

The Oilers once again retooled their goaltending tandem, bringing in 2026 Stanley Cup champion Frederik Andersen and acquiring Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres. They also traded defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks and signed Ryan Shea in free agency to replace him. With Connor McDavid’s two-year extension kicking in this season, the Oilers’ timeline to win a Cup with him may be reaching its end.

John Tortorella’s Golden Knights tenure is over. Ryan Craig has taken over as the new head coach and will be looking to guide the Golden Knights to a second consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance. They cleared cap room to re-sign defenseman Rasmus Andersson by trading Pavel Dorofeyev, Keegan Kolesar and Kaedan Korczak as they look to be one of the Pacific Division’s top teams once again.

MaCklin Celebrini - Nov. 25

Much of the focus this summer has been on players like Carlsson, Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli, all who are (or were) RFAs this summer. The San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini won’t be an RFA until next summer, but he is eligible to sign an extension now that it’s past July 1. Thanks to the massive offer sheet that Carlsson signed, a wrench has been thrown into the market.

Celebrini was one of the NHL’s best players this past season and will surely command a hefty salary. There have been rumors that he is also in line to become the Sharks’ next captain. A long-term extension combined with a captaincy announcement will be pure cinema. The bad news is that the Ducks have to play Celebrini and the Sharks 3-4 times a season and will surely be a team that they’re competing with for a playoff berth in the next several years.

If you want to view the Ducks’ full 84-game schedule, you can click here.

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Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Matching Leo Carlsson's Offer Sheet

The NHL has released the schedule for the Columbus Blue Jackets 2026-27 season. 

Let's take a look at the specifics. 

This year's NHL schedule will feature 84 games. Per the league, "This change allows the league to establish a more balanced scheduling matrix where every team plays its division rivals exactly four times."

The exact breakdown of how a team's 84-game regular season is structured includes:

• Divisional Games (28 games): 4 games against each of the other 7 teams in your own division (2 home, 2 away).
• Conference Games (24 games): 3 games against each of the 8 teams in the other division within your same conference (alternating home/away balance yearly).
• Inter-Conference Games (32 games): 2 games against all 16 teams from the opposing conference (1 home, 1 away), ensuring every team visits every arena at least once per year.

Important Dates for the CBJ

• October 1, 2026 - Home Opener/Season Opener against the Buffalo Sabres
• CBJ play 7 of first 9 games at home.
• 12 Saturday home games.
• 2 Sunday Home Games.
• 13 back-to-backs. 5-game homestand in February and March, which is a season high.
• Multiple 4 game road trips will be the longest road trips. 

PLAYTIME'S ABOUT TO BEGIN, THE 2026-27 SCHEDULE IS HERE!

No more make-believe! The season comes alive on October 1st 💥
Download the full schedule now at https://t.co/vIc4cAAqaG

CBJ x @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/wStETDQ3lm

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 16, 2026

Signature NHL Events

• 2026 Heritage Classic: Oct. 25, 2026 (Winnipeg Jets host Montreal Canadiens).  
• 2027 Winter Classic: Dec. 31, 2026 (Utah Mammoth host Colorado Avalanche).  
• 2027 Stadium Series: Feb. 20, 2027 (Dallas Stars host Vegas Golden Knights). 

International Games

•   Helsinki, Finland: Seattle Kraken vs. Carolina Hurricanes (Nov. 12 & 14, 2026).  
•   Düsseldorf, Germany: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Ottawa Senators (Dec. 18 & 20, 2026). 

The CBJ still have lots of business to take care of from now until October 1st. Don Waddell has players to sign and a farm team to stock.

Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more!

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Joe Sakic now stands alone.

For years, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman were viewed as two of the greatest examples of superstar players who successfully transitioned into NHL front offices. They were Hall of Fame captains, Stanley Cup champions, Olympic gold medalists, and architects of championship-caliber teams.

Now, that comparison is over.

After the Detroit Red Wings dismissed Yzerman as general manager and executive vice president on Wednesday, Sakic is the last member of that exclusive club still standing. His legacy as both a player and executive has only grown stronger with time.

Long before he built a Stanley Cup champion from the front office, Sakic helped deliver Denver its first major professional sports championship as the face of the Avalanche.

He was the driving force behind Colorado's sweep of the Florida Panthers in the 1996 Stanley Cup Final, producing 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in 22 playoff games on his way to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP.

As remarkable as his accomplishments were, Sakic became just as respected for the way he carried himself.

Perhaps no moment captures that better than after the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup in 2001. Moments after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman handed him the Stanley Cup, Sakic skipped the traditional solo celebration and immediately passed it to Ray Bourque, allowing the Hall of Fame defenseman to finally lift hockey's ultimate prize after waiting 22 NHL seasons.

That same season marked the pinnacle of Sakic's playing career.

He recorded a career-high 118 points with 54 goals and 64 assists while adding 12 game-winning goals, earning both the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.

The following winter, Sakic added another defining chapter to his résumé.

He captained Canada to its first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey in 50 years at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, defeating the United States in the gold-medal game. His performance throughout the tournament earned him MVP honors.

Years later, Sakic proved his greatness wasn't limited to the ice.

As general manager, he assembled the roster that brought the Stanley Cup back to Colorado in 2022. Afterward, he handed day-to-day general manager duties to Chris MacFarland while remaining president of hockey operations before reassuming the GM role following MacFarland's departure to the Nashville Predators.

Yzerman's second act, however, unfolded much differently.

His seven-year tenure leading the Red Wings never produced a single playoff appearance. Detroit remained stuck in rebuilding mode, and this offseason even captain Dylan Larkin—a hometown star long viewed as the face of the franchise—requested a trade after years of growing frustration. The organization now finds itself searching for answers once again.

None of that diminishes what Yzerman accomplished as a player.

He remains one of the greatest captains in NHL history, leading the Red Wings from 1986 to 2006 while helping Detroit win three Stanley Cups and reach four Stanley Cup Finals during an eight-year stretch between 1995 and 2002.

As an executive, though, his résumé tells two very different stories.

During his time in Tampa Bay, Yzerman built one of the NHL's premier organizations through exceptional drafting, shrewd trades, and under-the-radar signings. He selected Andrei Vasilevskiy, Anthony Cirelli, Cal Foote, Nikita Kucherov, Ondřej Palát, and Brayden Point, signed undrafted contributors Tyler Johnson and Yanni Gourde, and acquired Erik Černák, Ryan McDonagh, and Mikhail Sergachev to form the backbone of a future dynasty.

The Lightning reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, and that same year Yzerman became the first general manager in franchise history to win the NHL's General Manager of the Year Award. Under his leadership, Tampa Bay also established franchise records with 50 wins, 108 points, 262 goals, and 32 home victories.

The success continued.

The Lightning captured the Atlantic Division title in 2017-18 and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before falling to the Washington Capitals.

Then, in September 2018, Yzerman chose not to renew his contract as general manager, transitioning into a senior advisor role while assistant general manager Julien BriseBois took over.

Ironically, Yzerman wasn't the executive who ultimately watched Tampa Bay raise the Stanley Cup.

The roster he built reached three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals, winning back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021 under BriseBois.

Meanwhile, Yzerman returned to Detroit hoping to engineer a similar turnaround for the franchise where he became a legend.

Instead, the rebuild failed.

That's the unfortunate reality of professional sports.

Recency bias has a way of reshaping legacies. Younger fans won't remember Yzerman primarily as one of hockey's greatest captains or the architect who laid the groundwork for Tampa Bay's championship core. Many will remember a seven-year rebuild in Detroit that never got off the ground.

And history shows he isn't alone.

Some of the greatest players in NHL history have struggled when moving into executive roles.

Joe Nieuwendyk enjoyed a Hall of Fame-caliber playing career that included two 50-goal seasons with the Calgary Flames and a Stanley Cup championship with the Dallas Stars in 1999. But as Dallas' general manager, his four-year tenure produced three last-place finishes in the Pacific Division.

Wayne Gretzky's post-playing career followed a similar path. Widely regarded as the greatest player the sport has ever seen, Gretzky never guided the Arizona Coyotes to a playoff appearance during his time as minority owner and head coach.

That's what makes Sakic so rare.

He didn't just become a successful executive after an iconic playing career—he became one of the very best. He built a Stanley Cup champion, sustained a perennial contender, and continues to shape one of the NHL's model organizations.

Avalanche fans have never needed another reason to appreciate Joe Sakic.

But with Steve Yzerman's tenure in Detroit now over, Sakic's place in hockey history feels even more unique.

He isn't just one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.

He's one of the few who proved he could build a champion long after he stopped playing.

The Winnipeg Jets added another name to their blue line depth chart this week, signing defenseman Jack St. Ivany. The move raises an interesting question for the 26-year-old right shot heading into training camp as to if he can take the offensive flashes he showed last season and turn them into a real foothold in the NHL?

St. Ivany split last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and their AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and the results were promising at both levels. In 20 games with Pittsburgh, he recorded seven assists, showing he could move the puck and contribute offensively even against top competition. 

When he was sent down to the AHL, his production picked up even more, with St. Ivany posting six points in just eight games, a near point-per-game pace that suggests there may be more offense to unlock if given a longer runway.

The right side of the Jets' defense already looks fairly settled, with Dylan DeMelo and Neal Pionk both locked into established roles. That leaves St. Ivany looking at a competition for a third pairing spot, likely against Elias Salomonsson, one of the organization's more highly regarded defensive prospects.

He could also find himself competing for a seventh defenseman role, going up against fellow offseason addition Henry Thrun for a depth spot on the roster. For St. Ivany, the path forward comes down to consistency as his NHL sample size is still fairly small, but his numbers continue to rise each season as he further adjusts to the pro game. 

If he can find that consistency, he gives the Jets a legitimate option for puck moving depth on the right side. If not, he still provides organizational insurance in a group that could use it heading into a crucial season for the franchise.

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Former Florida Panthers assistant GM and current New Jersey Devils GM Sunny Mehta continues to nab Panthers staff members, as Leo Luongo has signed with the Devils.

Luongo, the brother of Roberto Luongo, has been with the Panthers for the past 10 seasons, serving as a goaltending development coach and director of player development with the Panthers, while also serving as the director of goaltending and the head of goalie development and scouting with the Charlotte Checkers, the Panthers’ AHL affiliate. 

Now, Luongo is joining Mehta with the Devils as the director of goaltending. Luongo will manage the development and scouting of goaltenders throughout the organization while reporting to executive vice president of hockey operations Martin Brodeur.

In addition to Luongo, the Devils have added Ted Granto and A.J. MacLean as assistant coaches to work under coach Sheldon Keefe, while Dan Stewart will work as the Devils’ goaltending coach. 

The Panthers have now witnessed Mehta, Luongo, and Braden Birch exit the organization to join the Devils this off-season. The Panthers have also watched Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist join the Devils via a trade. 

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Philadelphia Flyers GM Daniel Briere has certainly made the NHL offseason interesting when he tendered a huge offer sheet to the Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson. Still, since Pat Verbeek matched it, Briere now must explore other options. Before getting back to shopping outside his own organization, however, the GM reached an agreement with RFA Trevor Zegras, thereby avoiding arbitration. At first glance, some may think that it’s better for the team than the deal Montreal Canadiens star rookie Ivan Demidov inked on July 1.

After all, Demidov’s eight-year contract has a higher cap hit at $9.150 M while Zegras’ four-year pact has a $9.125M cap hit, but that’s far from the reality. At just 20 years old, Demidov has put up 62 points in his only NHL season, while Zegras, after six NHL seasons and at 25, has never recorded more than 67 points. How far from his ceiling is he? That’s hard to say at this stage, but one thing is clear: he has far less runway than Demidov does.

The Answer To A Couple Of The Canadiens’ Big Issues Could Be Internal
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Canadiens Have Three Players On Wheeler’s Top 100 Drafted Prospect List

What’s worse, though, is that the Flyers, after spending three assets to acquire Zegras in the 2025 offseason, may only get to enjoy five years of the player. His first season in Philadelphia was a good one, but with his new deal, he’ll be free as a bird at the end of the four-season term to hit the market at 29 and go after a big payday. The fact that he only signed a deal to take him to UFA status also shows that either he’s not sold on what the Flyers are building or the team isn’t quite sure of what they have on their hands and whether he’s worth committing to long term.

If Zegras keeps improving and reaches a new level, Briere might really have to break the bank to retain his services, and that’s if Zegras wants to stay there. He will be within his rights to hit the market and assess just how much he could get from another team. In three short years, when he’s about to enter the final year of the contract, his situation is sure to attract a lot of attention and create a big distraction.

Of course, Demidov will also be a UFA at the end of his eight-year deal in 2035, but the Canadiens will have enjoyed 11 years of their fifth overall pick at the 2024 draft. The absolute maximum a team can get from a drafted asset, and they will have done so at a cost-controlled price as well.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild continued adding to their prospect pipeline this week, signing goaltender Filip Ruzicka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

At 6-foot-8, Ruzicka immediately becomes one of the tallest goaltending prospects in the NHL and gives the Wild another intriguing project to develop over the coming years.

Minnesota selected Ruzicka in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft after an impressive season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

Rather than waiting to secure his rights, the Wild wasted little time signing the Czech netminder, signaling their confidence in his potential.

The first thing that stands out about Ruzicka is his size.

Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing more than 220 pounds, he naturally covers a significant portion of the net before even making a save. Goaltenders with that kind of frame are rare, and when they combine size with athleticism, they can become extremely difficult to beat.

Of course, size alone doesn't make an NHL goaltender.

Modern goalies must move efficiently, recover quickly, and stay technically sound. Those are all areas Ruzicka will continue refining as he develops, but his physical tools give him a foundation that few prospects possess.

Ruzicka earned the Wild's attention with a solid 2025-26 season for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

He appeared in 41 games, posting a 26-14-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average while helping Brandon remain one of the stronger teams in the Western Hockey League.

The native of Trinec, Czechia, also started four games in the 2026 WHL playoffs for Brandon, recording a 2.47 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Like most goalie prospects, Ruzicka remains a work in progress, but the Wild clearly believe his upside is worth investing in.

Many NHL starters don't reach the league until their early-to-mid 20s, making development one of the longest processes at any position.

Fifth-round selections are never guaranteed NHL players, but they're often where organizations search for high-upside talent.

With Ruzicka, Minnesota is betting on exactly that.

His combination of size, athletic ability, and recent progression made him an appealing prospect during the draft, and now he'll begin the next stage of his development under the Wild's system.

Whether he ultimately becomes an NHL backup, a starter, or simply organizational depth remains to be seen.

For now, Ruzicka remains a long-term project. But with a 6-foot-8 frame and intriguing upside, he'll certainly be one of the more fascinating prospects for Wild fans to follow over the next several seasons.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild officially know where their 2026-27 season will begin.

The NHL announced the home openers for all 32 clubs on Wednesday, confirming that the Wild will open the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 1, against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

Two days later, Minnesota will return to Saint Paul for its home opener against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Grand Casino Arena. The remainder of the league's 84-game schedule is set to be released on Thursday.

For Minnesota, the opener presents an immediate Central Division test. Nashville has often been a difficult building for opponents, and division games carry even more weight this season following the NHL's move to an 84-game schedule, which adds two additional divisional matchups for every team.

The Wild will then waste little time returning home, welcoming an Original Six opponent in Boston for what should be one of the most anticipated home openers in recent years.

The matchup gives Minnesota fans an early opportunity to see Bill Guerin's revamped roster on home ice after an offseason that included several notable changes.

The Bruins also figure to be looking for a strong start after an eventful offseason of their own, making the Oct. 3 contest an intriguing early-season measuring stick for both clubs.

Wednesday's announcement only reveals each team's opening games, but anticipation won't have to wait much longer.

The NHL is expected to unveil the complete regular-season schedule on Thursday, providing Minnesota with its full 84-game roadmap for the 2026-27 campaign.

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Takeaways, important dates from Bruins' 2026-27 regular season schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 2025-26 NHL season and took a meaningful step toward becoming a contender in the Eastern Conference again.

Can they build on that success and make back-to-back postseason appearances?

The 2026-27 regular season schedule was released Wednesday afternoon. The league is using an 84-game schedule for the first time since 1994, which means each team will play 42 home games and 42 away games.

This change will result in the regular season beginning Sept. 29, which is going to feel early for a lot of people.

Let’s look at the biggest takeaways from the Bruins’ schedule, including notable dates and events that fans should circle on their calendar.

Home opener

The Bruins’ home opener is also their first game of the season. They will host the New York Rangers at TD Garden on Sept. 29. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET as part of ESPN’s Opening Night tripleheader.

Black Friday matinee

The Bruins will play the rival Toronto Maple Leafs in their Black Friday matinee. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 27.

No outdoor games

The Bruins will not take part in the Winter Classic or any other outdoor game next season.

They played in the 2026 Stadium Series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and lost 6-5 in a shootout at Raymond James Stadium. Boston’s six outdoor game appearances are tied for the second-most behind the Chicago Blackhawks (seven).

Patrice Bergeron night

The Bruins will honor Patrice Bergeron and retire his No. 37 to the TD Garden rafters before their Dec. 1 game against the Colorado Avalanche.

David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Rivalry games

Two of the Bruins’ biggest rivals — the Maple Leafs and Panthers — both took a step back last season and missed the playoffs. As a result, their games against the Bruins didn’t have the same level of intensity and fireworks compared to years prior.

But both the Leafs and Panthers should be much better next season. The Panthers, who were decimated by injuries last season, are again one of the Stanley Cup favorites, especially after trading for top-six forward Brady Tkachuk.

The Bruins-Canadiens rivalry should be awesome in 2026-27 after losing some of its fire lately. Both of these rivals are playoff-caliber teams again.

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Friday, Nov. 27 at Boston
• Saturday, Jan. 30 at Boston
• Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Toronto
• Monday, April 5 at Toronto

Montreal Canadiens

• Thursday, Nov. 12 at Boston
• Wednesday, Jan. 6 at Montreal
• Wednesday, March 10 at Montreal
• Tuesday, March 30 at Boston

Florida Panthers

• Sunday, Nov. 8 at Boston
• Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Florida
• Tuesday, Dec. 15 at Boston
• Friday, April 9 at Florida

Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

All-Star Game returns

The last NHL All-Star Game was in 2024. It was replaced by the 4 Nations Face-off in 2025 and skipped in 2026 when NHL players returned to the Winter Olympics.

But the All-Star Game is back for 2027 and it has a new format.

According to the league, the game “will feature five teams – Canada, Finland, Sweden, the United States and a ‘World’ team comprised of international players from countries outside of the other four teams – competing in a three-on-three, round-robin exhibition tournament. Each team will consist of 11 players: nine skaters and two goaltenders.”

UBS Arena, which is the home of the New York Islanders, will host the event. It is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Longest road trip

The Bruins’ longest stretch away from home is four games, and they have three of them.

The first is Oct. 13 through Oct. 20 and includes matchups against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars.

The second is Feb. 17 through Feb. 22 and features games versus the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken.

The third is the last four games of the season, and it’s all division opponents — Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Notable Western Conference opponents in Boston

Here’s a look at when a couple prominent teams and/or players from the Western Conference make their only trip to TD Garden of the season.

• Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers: Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET
• Jack Eichel and the Vegas Golden Knights: Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
• Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche: Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET
• Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET
• Quinn Hughes and the Minnesota Wild: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. ET

Regular season finale

The Bruins’ final regular season game is Saturday, April 10 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road.

The B’s have a brutal final 10 games of the season. They play the Buffalo Sabres (twice), Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers and the Lightning (twice).

Six of those final 10 games are on the road.

The Montreal Canadiens were one of the teams connected to Anthony Mantha when he was on the free agent market. However, the veteran winger ended up signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract with the New Jersey Devils. 

While Mantha is off the board, the Canadiens still have some other UFA forward options to consider if they want to add to their group. Let's take a look at two free agents they should consider signing because of it.

Patrick Kane 

Patrick Kane is the top UFA left and would have the potential to be a very good addition to the Canadiens' top six. The veteran forward is still effective at this stage in his career, posting 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games last season with the Detroit Red Wings. Former Canadiens star Chris Chelios recently said that Kane is choosing between the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. Even if this is the case, the Habs should consider making a real push for him while he remains on the market. 

Michael Bunting 

Michael Bunting may not offer the same kind of offense and experience as Kane, but he could still be a solid addition to Montreal's roster if signed. If the Canadiens brought him in, he would give them a forward who can chip in decent secondary scoring in a third-line role. He would also give them another pesky forward who isn't afraid of the physical side of the game. In 74 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, he posted 14 goals and 33 points. 

After a successful 2025-26 season, the Buffalo Sabres will be looking to take another step forward in 2026-27. If they hope to do that, they will not only need their top players to be at their A-game but also their young players to hit new levels.

Because of this, let's look at three Sabres who have the potential to have breakout years next season. 

Konsta Helenius 

Don't be surprised if Konsta Helenius has a big breakout year for the Sabres in 2026-27. The 2024 first-round pick left a solid first impression this past campaign with Buffalo. In his first nine career NHL games, he recorded one goal and four points. He also scored two goals in four games during the playoffs for Buffalo and had 63 points in 63 AHL games with the Rochester Americans. With all of this, there is a lot to like about the young forward's game.

Noah Ostlund 

Noah Ostlund took a nice step in the right direction with his development last season. He proved that he is ready for the NHL, as he recorded 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games for Buffalo. With that, the 2022 first-round pick undoubtedly has the potential to hit a new level next season for the Sabres. It would not be surprising if he hit the 20-goal and 45-point marks at least. 

Olen Zellweger

New Sabres defenseman Olen Zellweger is another breakout candidate to watch on the Sabres. The 22-year-old defenseman has shown promise early on in his career, and he could elevate his game after getting a fresh start with the Sabres. He should receive more consistent playing time with the Sabres than he did on the Anaheim Ducks. In 76 games last season for Anaheim, he posted seven goals and 22 points. 

Sharks release schedule for 2026-27 NHL season with opponents, game dates, times originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another exciting Sharks season is upon us.

The NHL released its 2026-27 regular-season schedule Thursday as the league expands its campaign from 82 to 84 games.

San Jose will open the season at home against the Florida Panthers on Oct. 1 at SAP Center. The Sharks swept the Panthers 2-0 in their 2025-26 regular-season series.

The Sharks will stay at home to host the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 3.

San Jose’s first road game is Oct. 5 against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center.

The Sharks have two six-game road trips — one within the first two weeks of the season — and two five-game road trips. Additionally, they’ll have a seven-game homestand in late January through mid-February.

San Jose will end its campaign with a three-game homestand: against the St Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild and the Anahaim Ducks for the regular-season finale.

The full schedule can be viewed below:

More details can be found here.

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When the Montreal Canadiens were manhandled by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, it was obvious they could have used more grit and physicality and needed more balance on the blueline. To truly contend, Martin St-Louis needs a defense corps he can trust and to spread ice time across. Overplaying the likes of Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson can work in the regular season, but deep in the playoffs, when everyone is playing through bumps and bruises, there needs to be more players the bench boss can rely on.

Arber Xhekaj didn’t play a single game against the Hurricanes in the third round. St-Louis preferred to use Jayden Struble, which shouldn’t have surprised anyone since the coach gives him more ice time than Xhekaj. While he may trust Struble more, the fact is that the Canadiens really could have used Xhekaj’s physicality in that series.

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St-Louis has often said that he doesn’t want his players to take themselves out of the play by chasing the big hit, and while that’s something number 72 was often guilty of in previous years, he tidied up that side of his game this past season. That wasn’t enough to really earn him the pilot’s trust on the back end, though, and with Josh Anderson out of the lineup with an illness and Alexandre Texier injured, the blueliner made it clear he’d be willing to play on the wing if the team needed him to.

On March 29, St-Louis took him up on the offer and played him on the fourth line against the Hurricanes. The Canadiens won that game 3-1 with Xhekaj skating on the fourth line with Joe Veleno and Brendan Gallagher. The winger for the day spent 5:11 on the ice across six shifts and didn’t look out of place, landing five hits and blocking one shot.

The Sainte-Flanelle have a congested blueline, and they need some sandpaper up front. If Xhekaj gets into a fight and must sit for five minutes, it’s easier to handle if he’s a fourth-line winger than if he is on the blueline, especially if there’s another defenseman in the box.

At 25, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound defenseman would no doubt like to establish himself as a regular NHLer rather than a fringe player who needs to sit every now and then, alternating with fellow blueliner Struble. This would also open the door for Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher to enter the rotation.

So far this offseason, Kent Hughes has been unable to get some outside help to improve his roster, but if the Canadiens manage to reach a new deal with Xhekaj, moving him up front might address two of their big issues: getting tougher and having a more balanced blueline that the coach trusts and can spread the ice time more evenly. It worked for Dustin Byfuglien and the Chicago Blackhawks back in the day; why couldn’t it work for the Habs? Of course, Xhekaj won’t end up on the first line as Byfuglien did with Jonathan Toews and Patrik Kane, but a transition to the fourth line would still help the Canadiens.

It could also be interesting to see what a line featuring the Xhekaj brothers would look like in the NHL, but it would certainly bring a lot of physicality and grit. If training camp starts without the Canadiens getting any outside help, this is an idea worth exploring for the Habs.

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Oliver Bonk is a prospect whom the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping will emerge as a key part of their roster. There is no question that the 21-year-old defenseman has plenty of potential, and he had a nice start to his professional career in 2025-26. 

In 46 games down in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Bonk posted six goals, 13 assists, and 19 points. He also made his NHL debut in the Flyers' season finale against the Montreal Canadiens, where he scored a goal and recorded an assist. With that, it is clear that he left a strong first impression with the NHL club. 

Yet, now that Bonk has completed his first AHL season, it would not be surprising if he takes a major step forward with his development next season. The 21-year-old blueliner has great upside, and it would be huge for the Flyers if he can break out for them next season. 

Bonk showed a lot of potential during his OHL career with the London Knights. During the 2024-25 season with the OHL club, he posted 11 goals, 29 assists, and 40 points in 52 games. He also had 24 goals and 67 points in 60 games with London during the 2023-24 season. 

It will now be interesting to see how Bonk's season goes in 2026-27. There is a lot to like about his game. 

Earlier this off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost goalie Stuart Skinner to the Winnipeg Jets in free agency. With Skinner no longer in Pittsburgh, it has opened the door for Sergei Murashov to fight for a spot on their NHL roster. 

Murashov is the Penguins' top goalie prospect and has the potential to become a good goalie in the NHL. Because of this, the 22-year-old has now received some praise.

Murashov was given the No. 8 spot on Scott Wheeler's top NHL goalie prospect rankings for The Athletic. 

With how well Murashov has been developing his game, it is entirely understandable that he has been ranked among the top goalie prospects in the league. 

Murashov appeared in his first five career NHL games last season with Pittsburgh, where he posted a 1-1-2 record, a 2.56 goals-against average, and an .897 save percentage. He most notably, however, put together a 21-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Nov. 16. 

Down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2025-26, Murashov had a 24-9-4 record, a .919 save percentage, a 2.20 goals-against average, and four shutouts. With numbers like these, he undoubtedly showed great promise last season. 

It will now be interesting to see what Murashov can do next season on Pittsburgh's roster.