# NHL Season Preview: Schedule, Teams & Predictions

> Bet the NHL season at Prime Sportsbook. Get schedule highlights, teams to watch, Stanley Cup odds, futures and 2026-27 season predictions.

Published 2026-09-24 · By [Tom Wilkinson](https://www.primesportsbook.com/author/tom/)

The NHL regular season begins Tuesday, September 29, with five games opening an 84-game schedule that runs through April 10, 2027. This NHL season preview starts with Carolina defending the Stanley Cup and Colorado coming off a 121-point Presidents’ Trophy season. Florida enters as the shortest [**Stanley Cup price**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/hockey/nhl/) despite missing the playoffs last spring. Several teams also changed coaches or added major pieces during the offseason. The longer schedule adds two more divisional games, increasing the importance of head-to-head results. Established contenders are joined by improving teams such as Anaheim and San Jose. That should keep several playoff races unsettled deep into the season.

## **NHL Regular Season Schedule & Opening Night Details**

The NHL regular season schedule expands to 84 games per team in 2026-27, the first 84-game season since 1993-94. The regular season begins September 29 and ends April 10, with two additional divisional games added under the new collective bargaining agreement. That change gives division races even more weight in a playoff format built around the top three teams in each division plus two wild cards from each conference.

### **When Does the NHL Regular Season Begin?**

NHL opening night is Tuesday, September 29, with five games on the schedule. Florida visits defending champion Carolina at 5 pm Eastern, Montreal plays at Toronto at 7 pm Eastern, the Rangers visit Boston at 8 pm Eastern, Vancouver travels to Edmonton at 10 pm Eastern and Chicago closes the night at Vegas at 10:30 pm Eastern.

Florida-Carolina is the headline matchup. The Panthers open at +632 to win the Stanley Cup, while Carolina is +765 after winning the championship last season.

### **Important Dates and Early Matchups to Follow**

The schedule includes several marquee events beyond opening night. Winnipeg hosts Montreal in the Heritage Classic on October 25. Carolina and Seattle play twice in Helsinki on November 12 and 14, while Chicago and Ottawa meet twice in Düsseldorf on December 18 and 20.

Colorado visits Utah for the Winter Classic on December 31. The NHL All-Star Game is February 7 at UBS Arena, and Dallas hosts Vegas in the Stadium Series on February 20.

## **Teams Entering the NHL Season With High Expectations**

The NHL teams to watch include defending champion Carolina, Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado and several clubs expected to improve after disappointing seasons. These NHL season predictions also have to account for teams that made major offseason changes or showed clear growth last year.

### **Championship Contenders Looking to Set the Pace**

Carolina belongs near the top in [**NHL betting odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/hockey/nhl/) after finishing 53-22-7 with 113 points and then winning the Stanley Cup. The Hurricanes are +765 to repeat and have a 107.5-point regular-season total.

Colorado may have the strongest regular-season foundation. The Avalanche went 55-16-11, scored 302 goals, allowed 203 and finished with a +99 goal differential. Their +683 Stanley Cup price reflects how strong that profile remains.

Florida is the biggest rebound contender. The Panthers finished with only 84 points and missed the playoffs, yet they enter at +632 to win the Cup. Adding Brady Tkachuk gives an already talented roster another high-end forward.

### **Teams That Could Surprise During the Season**

San Jose is a strong candidate to take another step after finishing with 86 points. Macklin Celebrini produced 115 points last season, and the Sharks added Mason Marchment to give the forward group more depth.

Anaheim also deserves attention. The Ducks reached 92 points, made the playoffs and upset Edmonton in the first round before losing to Vegas. They are -137 to make the postseason again, suggesting the market expects last year’s progress to carry over.

### **Clubs Looking to Bounce Back**

Toronto and the Rangers both fit this category. The Maple Leafs finished with 78 points, changed coaches and added Sergei Bobrovsky and Darren Raddysh. The Rangers ended with 77 points and added Pavel Dorofeyev to an offense that was shut out nine times last season.

Florida also belongs in the bounce-back conversation, but unlike Toronto and New York, the Panthers are already priced like an elite contender.

## **Biggest NHL Storylines Before the Season Starts**

Several NHL predictions will hinge on whether last season’s best players can repeat elite production, how quickly major offseason additions fit, and which division races become the most competitive. The award markets provide a useful starting point without needing every storyline to revolve around Stanley Cup prices.

### **Star Players and Breakout Candidates**

Connor McDavid is the Hart favorite at +215 after leading the NHL with 138 points last season. Nathan MacKinnon is next at +336 after scoring 53 goals and 127 points, while Celebrini is +451 following his breakout year.

Kirill Kaprizov, Auston Matthews, Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov also remain prominent in the scoring markets. Among rookies, Porter Martone +256 and Gavin McKenna +282 lead the Calder market, with Ivar Stenberg +562 next.

### **Offseason Changes That Could Shape the Season**

Florida’s addition of Brady Tkachuk is one of the biggest moves because it gives the Panthers another high-impact forward. Toronto reshaped two important areas by trading for Raddysh and signing Bobrovsky.

Tampa Bay added John Carlson after moving Raddysh, Washington acquired Jordan Kyrou and the Rangers brought in Dorofeyev. Utah added Anders Lee and Vincent Trocheck, while San Jose signed Marchment.

Coaching changes could matter just as much. Edmonton hired Mike Babcock, Toronto turned to Jim Hiller, Los Angeles hired Peter Laviolette, Vancouver named Manny Malhotra and Vegas promoted Ryan Craig after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season.

### **Division Battles That Could Impact the Playoff Picture**

The Atlantic could be the most volatile division. Buffalo won it with 109 points last season, but Florida is the current division favorite at +150, with Tampa Bay +250.

Carolina is the Metropolitan favorite at +115. Colorado leads the Central market at +125, with Minnesota +275 and Dallas +330 close enough to make that race worth watching. Edmonton +158 and Vegas +196 give the Pacific another tight top tier.

## **NHL Playoff Outlook, Futures Odds & Betting Preview**

The NHL futures odds establish a clear contender group, but the most useful prices are not always attached to the shortest Stanley Cup choices. The NHL playoff predictions below separate top-tier championship teams from clubs that may offer more attractive upside relative to their current number. Bettors can follow updated [**Stanley Cup odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/hockey/nhl/) and broader hockey betting markets as the season develops.

### **Early Favorites to Compete for the Stanley Cup**

Florida +632, Colorado +683 and Carolina +765 make up the shortest Stanley Cup tier. Edmonton at +890 and Vegas at +952 are the only other teams below +1000.

Carolina offers recent playoff proof after winning the Cup. Colorado brings the best regular-season résumé after its 121-point campaign. Florida carries more uncertainty because of last season’s missed playoffs, but the roster additions explain why the market expects a major rebound.

Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Washington and Dallas form the next group, but their prices are far enough from the top five to create a different risk-reward profile.

### **Teams With Potential Betting Value**

Montreal is one of the more interesting longer prices at +2402 after finishing with 106 points and reaching the Eastern Conference Final. The Canadiens are also -176 to make the playoffs, so the market sees them as more than a one-year surprise.

New Jersey sits at +2806 to win the Cup and -127 to make the postseason. That creates a different kind of value case, one built on a manageable playoff price rather than an expectation that the Devils belong with the favorites.

Utah at +3020 is another option after reaching the playoffs with 92 points. Veteran additions Lee and Trocheck give the Mammoth more depth without changing the basic identity of a young team that already proved capable of reaching the postseason.

### **Factors That Can Change Futures Markets**

The move from 82 to 84 games adds two more divisional contests, which can create larger swings inside crowded races. Injuries, goaltending performance and lineup changes can also move futures prices quickly.

The Atlantic is a good example. Buffalo won the division last season, Florida missed the playoffs, and Toronto finished well outside the field. Yet all three enter 2026-27 with very different expectations. That makes early results especially important when bettors are evaluating whether preseason assumptions still hold.

Goaltending is another major variable. A team with strong skaters can change quickly if its starter struggles or gets hurt. Before placing season-long wagers, readers can review the different market types in Prime Sportsbook’s [guide to betting on hockey](https://www.primesportsbook.com/betting-guides/how-to-bet-on-hockey/).

## **Players and Teams to Monitor Throughout the NHL Season**

The NHL teams to watch during the season are not necessarily the same clubs carrying the shortest Cup odds. Buffalo, Minnesota and Anaheim each enter 2026-27 with different expectations, while several star players could directly shape division races and postseason positioning. That gives this section a different focus from the preseason contender list and broader NHL season predictions.

### **Players Who Could Impact the Standings**

McDavid remains the most obvious player to monitor after a 138-point season. MacKinnon is another, especially with Colorado already positioned as one of the league’s strongest teams. Cale Makar also matters because his ability to drive offense from defense gives the Avalanche another elite matchup advantage.

Goaltending could swing several races. Logan Thompson +519, Igor Shesterkin +620 and Connor Hellebuyck +682 have the three shortest Vezina prices, while Andrei Vasilevskiy remains an important part of Tampa Bay’s contender case.

### **Teams That Could Exceed Expectations**

Buffalo may be the most interesting team in this group. The Sabres won the Atlantic with 109 points, yet they are only -112 to make the playoffs and +901 to win the division. That gap between last season’s result and this season’s market expectation makes them worth monitoring from the opening weeks.

Minnesota is another team that could outperform its place in [**Stanley Cup odds**](https://www.primesportsbook.com/sports/hockey/nhl/). The Wild finished with 104 points and carry a 101.5-point total, but they sit behind five teams in the Cup market.

Anaheim can also build on last season rather than simply repeat it. The Ducks already reached the second round, and another step forward would move them from an emerging playoff team toward a more serious Pacific threat.

## **NHL Regular Season Predictions & Season Outlook**

The final NHL predictions begin with a group of established contenders and a second tier fighting for the remaining playoff spots. The extra divisional games could create more separation than in past seasons, but several races still look deep enough to remain competitive into March and April.

### **Projected Playoff Teams**

In the Eastern Conference, the projected playoff group is Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Montreal, Toronto, Washington and New Jersey.

In the Western Conference, the picks are Colorado, Edmonton, Vegas, Minnesota, Dallas, Anaheim, Utah and San Jose.

Toronto and San Jose are the two more aggressive selections. Toronto must rebound from a 78-point season, while San Jose must turn steady improvement into a playoff berth. Both have enough offseason changes and individual talent to make those jumps plausible.

### **Early Stanley Cup Prediction**

The early NHL Stanley Cup predictions start with **Carolina to repeat**. The Hurricanes already proved they can survive four playoff rounds, finished with 113 points last season and remain one of the strongest regular-season teams in the league.

Colorado is the leading alternative after its 121-point season. Florida has the highest-upside rebound case, while Edmonton and Vegas remain dangerous in the West. Carolina still offers the best combination of recent postseason success, regular-season stability and a futures price that remains below +800.

## FAQ

### What changes happen between NHL seasons?

Teams can change coaches, executives, players and systems during the offseason. The 2026-27 season also brings a structural change, with the regular season expanding from 82 to 84 games and the preseason being reduced from six games to four.

### How do NHL divisions affect the regular season standings?

The top three teams in each division qualify for the playoffs, with two additional wild-card teams from each conference. Division results matter even more this season because each team will play two additional divisional games.

### Why are early-season NHL games important for teams?

Early games count the same in the standings as games played later in the season. A strong opening month can give a team room to absorb injuries or slumps, while a poor start can create pressure in a crowded division.

### How do NHL teams handle back-to-back games during the season?

Teams may adjust line combinations, goalie usage and player workload when playing on consecutive days. The exact approach depends on the roster, travel schedule and health of the players involved.

### What makes a team a strong NHL playoff contender?

Depth, goaltending, high-end scoring, special teams and the ability to withstand injuries all matter. Strong regular-season teams also benefit from better playoff positioning and the possibility of home-ice advantage.

Source: https://www.primesportsbook.com/gaming-insider/nhl-season-preview-schedule-teams-predictions/