2026 NHL Season Preview | New York Rangers News

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It's July 16th. Welcome to New York Rangers News Today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. The National Hockey League just dropped the schedule for the 2026-2027 season and it's a bit different this year. Every team is playing 84 games, which is up from the usual 82, thanks to the league adding new teams. The puck officially drops on Tuesday, September 29th. The defending champs, the Carolina Hurricanes, are kicking things off against the Florida Panthers.
Now, the Panthers had a rough go last season, missing the playoffs after winning it all the year before. Injuries played a big part, especially losing their captain and their goalie having a tough year. But Florida is looking to bounce back. They brought in some new talent like Brady Takachuk, and have a solid goalie tandem with Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. They're looking like a team ready to make some noise again, and I'm feeling good about them on opening night. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are facing off against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While Toronto made some splashy moves, Montreal is sticking with the young talent that got them to the Eastern Conference final last season. They've got a solid core, and I think they're being a bit underestimated. And don't forget the New York Rangers.
They had a tough year, but they've made some interesting moves this offseason, adding guys like Pavel Dorofeev and Oliver Bjorkstrand. With a strong defense and a world-class goalie, and Igor Shestakhin, they could surprise a Boston Bruins team that hasn't changed much.