September Signals the NHL’s Long-Awaited Return

As summer winds down in Quebec, hockey season starts to feel real again. The upcoming 2026–2027 NHL campaign brings a heavier calendar, fresh momentum for the Canadiens, and an opening stretch that will draw attention across the province.

September is where the anticipation turns into a schedule, and there are a few dates fans will want to keep close.

The Canadiens’ Preseason Arrives Fast

Montreal has already released its preseason slate, and it is packed into just three dates even though five games are on the calendar.

The action begins on September 19 with split-squad matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs, with one game in Montreal and the other in Toronto. Two days later, on September 21, the Canadiens head to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron as part of a Kraft Hockeyville celebration.

One More Tune-Up Before the Games Count

The final preseason date comes on September 26, when Montreal and Ottawa meet again in another set of split-squad games. That gives the roster one last chance to settle into game speed before the real season begins.

Home tickets went on sale August 5, so fans have had plenty of time to lock in their plans and make the most of the preseason atmosphere.

A Bigger NHL Calendar Changes the Pace

The league’s regular season is also expanding. Each team will now play 84 games instead of 82, raising the league total to 1,344 contests and pushing the regular season finish to April 16.

That extra workload may seem small on paper, but over the course of a long year it changes travel, recovery, and the rhythm of the schedule. For fans, it means more hockey and a slightly longer wait for the playoffs.