--- title: "NHL Returns: Who Will Fight for the Stanley Cup and What to Expect from the New Season" description: "The new NHL season kicks off with an expanded 84-game schedule, the return of the All-Star Game, and a fierce battle for the Stanley Cup among the league's top contenders." date: 2026-10-01T09:38:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nhl-returns-who-will-fight-for-the-stanley-cup tags: [nhl, stanley-cup, hockey, macklin-celebrini, connor-mcdavid] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # NHL Returns: Who Will Fight for the Stanley Cup and What to Expect from the New Season ![National Hockey League match in the new season](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/01/nhl-vozvrashchaetsya-kto-srazitsya-za-kubok-stenli/nhl-vozvrashchaetsya-kto-srazitsya-za-kubok-stenli-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The NHL regular season has been expanded to 84 games. - Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes are among the main favorites of the season. - The All-Star Game and traditional outdoor games have officially returned. - Bright young stars Macklin Celebrini and Gavin McKenna are drawing heightened attention. With the start of the new National Hockey League season, fans and experts are closely following the changes that promise to make the tournament even more thrilling. Last year's champion, Carolina, is determined to defend its title, but other powerhouses such as Colorado, Edmonton, Florida, and Vegas are also among the top contenders for the trophy. The league is entering a new era: the regular season schedule has been expanded to 84 games, the All-Star Game makes a welcome return, and a bright new generation of talents led by Macklin Celebrini and Gavin McKenna steps onto the stage. ### Schedule Reform and New Outdoor Games The main structural change of this campaign is the shift to an 84-game regular season instead of the usual 82. Each club received two additional games through intra-divisional matchups, meaning four games against each divisional opponent—two at home and two away. The league has not used this scheduling format since the early 1990s. In addition, hockey fans can look forward to iconic outdoor events: on December 31, the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche will play in the Winter Classic, while on February 20, the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights will face off in the Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium. ### Main Favorites and Star Offseason Intrigues Bookmakers and analysts pinpoint the Florida Panthers as the primary favorite for the Stanley Cup, despite the team missing the playoffs last season due to a wave of injuries. A major offseason transfer was Brady Tkachuk's move to Florida, where he reunited with his older brother Matthew. Meanwhile, Carolina intends to hold its ground at the top, although they will have to start without the injured Seth Jarvis. At the same time, the Colorado Avalanche kept their core leaders Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, remaining a formidable force for any opponent. ### New Generation of Leaders and Youth Ambitions The league's young superstars will also take center stage. Twenty-year-old Macklin Celebrini, following a stellar season with San Jose, not only confirmed his elite status but also earned the team captaincy along with fellow draft partner Ivar Stenberg. First overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is preparing to make his debut for Toronto, drawing massive press attention. Connor McDavid in Edmonton, guided by new head coach Mike Babcock, continues his pursuit of the elusive Stanley Cup, promising viewers uncompromising battles and high scoring on the ice. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [НХЛ возвращается: кто сразится за Кубок Стэнли и чего ждать от нового сезона](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/winter/nhl-povertaetsya-hto-poboretsya-kubok-stenli-1790708897.html) - Основной источник информации по старту сезона НХЛ 2026 года. - [НХЛ-2026/27: команды, календарь, россияне, где смотреть](https://sport.rambler.ru/hockey/57146194-nhl-2026-27-komandy-kalendar-rossiyane-gde-smotret/) - Детали по составу участников, календарю и трансляциям. - [НХЛ 2026/27: старт сезона — календарь, российские звёзды и как смотреть матчи из России](https://sport.rambler.ru/hockey/57105646-nhl-2026-27-start-sezona-kalendar-rossiyskie-zvezdy-i-kak-smotret-matchi-iz-rossii/) - Детали по составу участников, календарю и трансляциям. - [НХЛ сезон-2026/27: где смотреть трансляции регулярного чемпионата](https://www.sport-express.ru/hockey/nhl/news/nhl-sezon-2026-27-gde-smotret-translyacii-regulyarnogo-chempionata-2458862/) - Дополнительный контекст по телетрансляциям и расписанию. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How many games will teams play in the new NHL regular season? **A:** In the new season, teams will play 84 regular season games instead of the usual 82. ### Q: Who is the bookmakers' main favorite to win the Stanley Cup? **A:** Bookmakers view the Florida Panthers as the primary favorite for the title.