when will 2026-27 nhl schedule be released
The 2026-27 NHL regular-season schedule is likely to be released in late June 2026, based on the current wave of team preseason announcements and schedule references already appearing this week.
What the timing suggests
Several NHL teams have already published their 2026-27 preseason slates in the June 23-25 window, which usually happens shortly before the full league schedule drops.
Likely release window
A reasonable expectation is:
- Any day now in late June 2026.
- Most likely within the next several days , if the league follows its usual offseason rollout pattern.
- If it slips, the release would still most likely stay in late June or very early July.
Why people are watching now
The offseason calendar is already moving fast, and the schedule release normally comes soon after the first major summer announcements around draft and free agency season. In other words, the fact that preseason schedules are out is a strong sign the full schedule release is close.
Practical takeaway
If you want the shortest answer: expect the 2026-27 NHL schedule to be released in late June 2026, probably within days rather than weeks.
A side note: some team pages are already labeling their announcements as “2026-27 preseason schedule,” which is a good clue that the league’s broader schedule package is in the final stretch.