The NHL is gearing up for some big changes to its schedule, with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy playing a major role in the planning.
Next season will look pretty similar to this one – kicking off around October 7 and wrapping up with the Stanley Cup Final in mid-June. We’ll get the final details when the official schedule drops in July.
But here’s where it gets interesting: The 2026 Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will force the NHL to hit pause for about three weeks. That’s longer than the recent break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which only lasted eight days in February.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has already warned teams to expect more back-to-back games next year. The schedule’s going to be packed.
Looking further ahead, there’s serious talk about making some major changes to the NHL calendar. The league is considering:
– Cutting down the preseason
– Adding two more regular season games (up to 84)
– Starting the season in late September
These changes would help spread out the games more evenly and make room for international tournaments like the Olympics and World Cup every other year.
One controversial idea being floated around is dropping the rule that teams must play at least one game in every NHL arena each season. But that’s not likely to happen.
“Teams really count on visits from superstars like Connor McDavid and popular teams like the Rangers, Canadiens, and Maple Leafs,” explains Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic. “It’s a big deal for their bottom line.”
There’s also some chatter about possibly getting rid of the All-Star Game, though that won’t happen anytime soon. The league’s already locked in next year’s event at UBS Arena, and many team owners want to keep the tradition going.
These discussions will likely heat up as the current labor agreement nears its end before the 2026-27 season. That’s when the NHL and players’ union will have their best shot at reshaping the schedule.
