2026-27 NHL Openers Revealed
NHL Unveils 2026-27 Home Openers; Blues, Stars, Sharks Set Dates.
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The Blues’ offseason reshaping includes trading Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and adding Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish, as Alexander Steen begins his permanent tenure as general manager ahead of their Oct. 8 home opener against the Sharks.
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The San Jose Sharks’ 2026-27 schedule features a home opener on Oct. 1 against the Florida Panthers and an Oct. 8 trip to St. Louis, with a revamped roster that includes Jacob Trouba (four-year deal), Darnell Nurse, Michael Kesselring, and Mason Marchment; Ivar Stenberg is expected to be on the roster.
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The Dallas Stars’ home opener is set for Oct. 2 against the Blues, with a Sept. 19 preseason meeting against the Blues and an outdoor game planned for Feb. 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
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The New York Islanders’ home opener is scheduled for Oct. 3 against the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena, with the full 2026-27 schedule to be released on July 16 and single-game tickets going on sale July 24.
The NHL has begun rolling out 2026-27 home opener dates for several teams, with the full schedule set for release on July 16, according to The Hockey News. Games are slated to kick off as early as October 1, with single-game tickets for some teams going on sale as soon as July 24.
The league is also expanding the 2026-27 regular season to 84 games, adding two more divisional matchups per team, CTV News reported. That is two more games than the current 82-game format.
Blues and Sharks Clash in Early October Opener
The St. Louis Blues will open their home slate on October 8 against the San Jose Sharks at Enterprise Center. It marks a new chapter for the Blues, who enter the season under permanent General Manager Alexander Steen, according to The Hockey News.
The Blues had a busy offseason. They traded forward Jordan Kyrou to the Washington Capitals and added Connor McMichael and Mason McTavish in return. The moves signal a clear roster rebuild as Steen puts his stamp on the team heading into the new season.
Sharks Load Up on Defense, Eye Playoff Return
San Jose will host its home opener on October 1 against the Florida Panthers — who appear to be playing the first game of their own season that night, Sharks Hockey Digest reported. The Sharks then travel to St. Louis on October 8.
San Jose made several big moves to get back to the playoffs. They signed defenseman Jacob Trouba to a four-year deal and added Darnell Nurse, Michael Kesselring, and Mason Marchment. Forward Ivar Stenberg is also expected to make the roster. The Sharks went 2-0 against Florida last season, a hopeful sign heading into 2026-27, according to Sharks Hockey Digest.
Stars Plan Outdoor Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington
The Dallas Stars open at home on October 2 against the Blues at American Airlines Center. Their preseason begins even earlier, with a September 19 game also against St. Louis, The Hockey News reported.
Dallas also has a marquee event on the calendar. The Stars are set to play an outdoor game on February 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Outdoor games are a signature event on the NHL calendar and typically draw large crowds.
Islanders, Senators Round Out Early Opener Announcements
The New York Islanders will host the New Jersey Devils on October 3 at UBS Arena to open their home schedule. Single-game tickets go on sale July 24, giving fans just over a week after the full schedule drops on July 16, according to The Hockey News.
The Ottawa Senators will also open at home on October 8 against the Philadelphia Flyers, CTV News reported. The Columbus Blue Jackets announced their home opener as part of the same league-wide rollout, though specific details were not yet confirmed.
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