Blackhawks to open season in September for first time in franchise history
Blackhawks 2026-27 Schedule Highlights
The Chicago Blackhawks are set to begin their 2026-27 season in September, a first for the franchise, with an away game against the Vegas Golden Knights on September 29. This marks the ninth consecutive season the Blackhawks will start on the road. The National Hockey League (NHL) has expanded its schedule to 84 games for the first time since the 1993-94 season, leading to an earlier start for teams.
The Blackhawks’ home opener for the season has not occurred since 2017. Over their last eight road trips to begin a season, the team returned to Chicago with a winning record only once. The league reportedly prefers to leverage the Blackhawks’ large audience for national broadcast games, which may contribute to their consistent road starts.
A significant change for home games will be the shift of most start times to 7 p.m. CT, rather than 7:30 p.m. This adjustment was previously attempted during the 2013-14 season but was reverted due to complaints from season ticket holders residing in the suburbs regarding traffic. However, a recent internal survey indicated that current fans favor earlier start times. The schedule also includes nine afternoon home games.
Player Returns and Key Matchups
Connor Bedard is anticipated to make his return following shoulder surgery. His recovery timeline was set at four months from a July 8 surgery date. A potential target for his return could be the November 12 home game against the Buffalo Sabres, assuming his rehabilitation progresses as planned. This matchup could also feature Patrick Kane, who is currently an unrestricted free agent and is reportedly considering options between the Blackhawks and the Sabres. Kane has been training at the Blackhawks Ice Center during the offseason.
The Blackhawks will also play in the Sabres’ home opener on October 3. The earlier season start and the absence of an Olympic break will result in a less condensed schedule. This could lead to a larger workload for goaltender Spencer Knight, who started 55 games last season. The team will have four breaks of at least five days, including periods around their two-game series against Ottawa in Düsseldorf, Germany, on December 18 and 20. The Blackhawks are scheduled for 12 back-to-back games, one more than the previous season.
The team will have only three road trips exceeding three games. The longest of these is a nine-day journey through Dallas, Montreal, New York (against the Rangers), New Jersey, and Philadelphia, commencing on January 2. Following four road games in their initial five matchups, the Blackhawks will have a rare 19-night home stand. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are scheduled to visit the United Center on December 6, a game that will also see the return of former Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy, along with Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach, who were re-signed by the Oilers.
League-Wide Schedule Adjustments
The Boston Bruins will also see an earlier start to their season, opening at home against the Rangers on September 29. The Bruins’ schedule highlight includes the retirement of Patrice Bergeron’s No. 37 on December 1, before a game against the Avalanche. This ceremony will follow his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame approximately a month prior. The Bruins will host 17 of their 42 home games on weekends, including nine matinee games. They will also have nine of their 11 November games at home, featuring their annual Black Friday game against the Maple Leafs on November 27.
The LA Kings will also begin their season in September, playing their first regular-season game in North America during that month. Their season will commence with a road game against the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings’ schedule includes four games against every team in the Pacific Division, with two at home and two on the road, accounting for 28 of their 84 games. They will play each team in the Central Division three times. The Kings will visit Chicago, Colorado, Minnesota, and Nashville twice, while hosting Dallas, St. Louis, Utah, and Winnipeg twice each. The remaining 32 games will be against teams from the Eastern Conference, with one home and one away game against each of the 16 teams.
The Kings will play three divisional games in their first five matchups, including a home game against the Edmonton Oilers. The divisional schedule is more balanced this year, with at least three divisional games in every month except October and February. The Kings will face Anaheim in a home-and-home series around Thanksgiving, with an afternoon game at Honda Center on November 27, followed by a rematch at Crypto.com Arena the next night. The Kings will host the Ducks again on March 1 and play them in Anaheim on April 6. The Kings will have one eight-day break beginning on January 31, with the NHL All-Star Game hosted by the New York Islanders on February 6.
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Source: nytimes.com
