Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Hockey fans have a date to circle: the next NHL season is expected to begin sooner than many might have thought.
The 2026-27 regular season is reportedly set to start on Tuesday, September 29.
That is welcome news for fans eager to get their national sport back, and it will certainly please those who had grown tired of preseason schedules that seemed to drag on forever.
The schedule is not yet set in stone at this stage, but we do now have an initial official date.
Another detail stands out from the announcement.
The season will feature 84 games, as expected, which could change the equation for certain clubs.
The full schedule is expected soon.
It should be released sometime in July.
The countdown is now officially underway.
Canadiens face key roster decisions before September 29 puck drop
The Canadiens are heading into next season with high expectations.
The club is coming off a playoff run that carried it deep into the postseason, and the goal will be to repeat that success-or even improve on it-next season.
It is shaping up to be a pivotal summer in Montreal.
Knowing the start date helps with planning.
Fans can already begin looking ahead to the return of hockey this fall.
The release of the full schedule will be the next step.
You can see the information here:
It remains to be seen what the Canadiens will look like when the puck drops.
A lot can change with the roster between now and September 29.
But one thing is certain: the countdown to a new hockey season is officially underway.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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NHL announces early 2026-27 start date as Canadiens prepare for 84-game season
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