The NHL Is Going Vintage This Season
The 2026-27 season drops the puck Tuesday, September 29, and it's the league's first 84-game slate since 1995-96. The NHL is literally replaying the '90s, and we're not mad about it.
The NHL didn't need a marketing department to go retro this year. It just had to look at the schedule. The 2026-27 season drops the puck Tuesday, September 29, and it's the league's first 84-game slate since 1995-96. The NHL is literally replaying the '90s, and we're not mad about it.
The 84-Game Throwback
The last time every team played 84 games, the Whalers were still a thing and goalie pads were roughly the size of phone booths. Now it's back: more games, more divisional matchups, more rivalry nights. More hate, more drama, more reasons to circle dates on the calendar. The schedule is doing the vintage thing all on its own.
Opening Night: Banners, Brothers, Bad Blood
The defending champion Hurricanes raise their second Stanley Cup banner at home against the Florida Panthers (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) — and it's Brady Tkachuk's Panthers debut after his summer trade from Ottawa, lining up against brother Matthew. Nothing says hockey like family members trying to hurt each other on national television.
Then the Original Six doubleheader: Rangers at Bruins (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), Canadiens at Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet), where No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna could make his NHL debut for Toronto. The late games: Canucks at Oilers, and Blackhawks at Golden Knights — with Patrick Kane walking back into Chicago as a visitor, three Cups to his name, in a building that still loves him. Awkward for everyone. Perfect television.
Circle October 13 Too
Frozen Frenzy: all 32 teams in action on one night. Plan your couch time accordingly.
The League's Going Vintage. So Are We.
The NHL is going vintage this season — so are we. Shop the brand-new vintage hockey collection at Brooklyn Vintage Sports.
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