Summer is winding down, and for hockey fans in Quebec, that means one thing: the NHL is almost back. The 2026-27 season brings a busier schedule, a Canadiens team coming off a memorable spring, and an opening night built to draw attention across the province.
September already offers plenty to track before the regular season begins, from preseason dates to major league milestones. For fans who want the important points in one place, here is the slate worth circling now.
Montreal’s trimmed preseason schedule is set
The Canadiens have released a short preseason calendar this year, with only three dates spread across five split-squad games. The action begins on September 19, when Montreal and Toronto play simultaneously in both cities against the Maple Leafs.
On September 21, the Canadiens head to Trois-Rivières to meet the Senators at Colisée Vidéotron as part of a Kraft Hockeyville event. The preseason wraps up on September 26 with another split-squad matchup against Ottawa.
Fans hoping to attend a local exhibition game have had ticket access since August 5, so planning ahead has been possible for a while.
| Date | Matchup | Location | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 19 | Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs | Montreal and Toronto | Split-squad games played at the same time |
| September 21 | Canadiens vs. Senators | Trois-Rivières | Kraft Hockeyville event at Colisée Vidéotron |
| September 26 | Canadiens vs. Senators | Split-squad format | Final preseason game on the docket |
The league calendar is longer and packed with show events
The NHL has changed its format for this season, with each club playing 84 regular-season games instead of the previous number. That pushes the league total to 1,344 games and stretches the schedule into a denser, more demanding grind.
The regular season ends on April 16, so teams will have less margin for error and more nights on the ice. Several special events also deserve early attention because they shape the league’s biggest moments.
- The Heritage Classic takes place in Winnipeg on October 25.
- The Winter Classic is scheduled for Utah on December 31.
- The Stadium Series arrives in Dallas on February 20.
- NHL games will also be played in Finland in mid-November.
- Germany will host league action in mid-December.
- The All-Star Game returns to UBS Arena on February 5 and 6, the first time since 2024.
Opening night puts Montreal and Toronto at center stage
The real start of the season comes on September 29, and the headline matchup is hard to miss. The Canadiens face the Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. on Sportsnet, placing one of hockey’s oldest rivalries right in the spotlight.
There is also a chance that Toronto’s first pick from the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna, could make his NHL debut in that game. That possibility alone adds another layer of anticipation to an already loaded opener.
The rest of the league’s opening-night lineup is just as notable:
- Carolina hosts Florida earlier in the evening and will raise its Stanley Cup banner.
- The Rangers meet the Bruins in another marquee matchup.
- Edmonton welcomes Vancouver in a game with a distinctly Canadian feel.
New contracts point to a stable core in Montreal
Two major extensions shaped the Canadiens’ summer. Ivan Demidov, who led all NHL rookies last year with 62 points and then added 9 more in the playoffs, signed an eight-year deal worth $73.2 million, or $9.15 million per season.
Goaltender Jakub Dobes also secured his future in Montreal with a three-year contract valued at $16.05 million, which works out to $5.35 million annually. He finished last season with a 29-10-4 record, a 2.78 goals-against average, and appeared in all 19 of the team’s playoff games.
Those moves join the existing commitments to Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, and Kaiden Guhle. Taken together, they show a front office that is betting on continuity through at least 2029-30.
A team trying to prove last spring was only the beginning
Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2021 last season after seven-game wins over Tampa Bay and Buffalo. The run ended in five games against Carolina, but it gave the club a stronger sense of legitimacy.
General manager Kent Hughes has made his approach clear: avoid rushing into drastic changes, stay patient with a young group, and trust the long-term upside of the roster. That mindset shapes the way the Canadiens enter 2026-27.
The key question now is simple. Can this team turn a breakthrough spring into something even bigger, or was last season the high point?
How fans can stay on top of the season
For Quebec hockey followers, this season offers no shortage of dates worth following. Between the preseason, opening night, and the league’s special events, the calendar is built for constant attention.
Anyone looking to track games more closely or add some extra interest to Canadiens matchups can explore Rexbet Canada’s hockey coverage, which includes season-wide information and wagering guidance. A solid hockey betting guide can also help readers understand odds and common bet types before placing a wager.
Betting with discipline
Hockey can be exciting to follow, especially when money is involved, but a clear budget matters. Setting limits before the season starts is the best way to keep the experience under control.
In Quebec, Jeu : aide et référence remains available at no cost for anyone who wants support or more information.
