As summer winds down, Quebec hockey followers can finally start looking ahead to the return of the NHL. The 2026–2027 season arrives with a heavier workload, a Montreal club coming off an unforgettable spring, and an opening stretch that should quickly draw attention across the province.
Montreal’s Exhibition Slate Arrives in a Condensed Format
The Canadiens have already mapped out their preseason, and this year’s version is unusually compressed. Five exhibition games will be played across just three dates, giving the team a short but useful tune-up before the games count for real.
The action starts on September 19 with split-squad matchups against the Toronto Maple Leafs in both Montreal and Toronto. Two days later, Montreal heads to Trois-Rivières to meet the Ottawa Senators at Colisée Vidéotron for a Kraft Hockeyville event, which gives local supporters a rare chance to see NHL players in their own backyard.
The final preseason date comes on September 26, when the Canadiens wrap up with another set of split-squad games against Ottawa. Home tickets have been available since August 5, so fans have had plenty of time to plan ahead.
Why This Season Will Feel More Demanding
The league itself has also shifted its rhythm. Every team will now play 84 regular-season games instead of the previous total, pushing the league-wide schedule to 1,344 games and stretching the season through April 16.
| Schedule Detail | 2026–2027 NHL Season |
|---|---|
| Regular-season games per team | 84 |
| Total league games | 1,344 |
| Regular-season end date | April 16 |
| Canadiens preseason games | 5 games on 3 dates |
September Sets the Tone for the Months Ahead
With a shortened preseason window, an expanded regular-season calendar, and a fan base eager to see where Montreal stands after last spring, September carries more weight than a typical off-season month. The early games will not count in the standings, but they will still reveal a lot about pace, depth, and readiness.
For Quebec hockey fans, that makes this month the real start of the season’s storyline. Once the puck drops in exhibition play, the long wait for NHL action finally feels over.
