September Signals the NHL’s Big Return

Summer is winding down, and for hockey fans in Quebec, that means one thing: the NHL is almost back. The 2026-2027 season will feel a little different from recent years, with a heavier schedule, a Canadiens team coming off a huge spring, and an opening night that should grab attention across the province.

September already offers plenty to watch before the regular season begins. From preseason games to major league-wide dates, this month sets the tone for everything that follows.

Montreal’s shortened preseason schedule is worth marking now

The Montreal Canadiens have revealed a brief preseason slate, and it is packed into just three dates. This year’s exhibition schedule includes five games spread across three days, so there will be very little time to ease into the new season.

Here is the breakdown:

September 19: split-squad games against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal and Toronto at the same time.
September 21: a visit to Trois-Rivières to face the Ottawa Senators at Videotron Coliseum as part of a Kraft Hockeyville event.
September 26: another split-squad meeting with Ottawa to close out the preseason.

Tickets for home games have been available since August 5, which gives local fans a head start if they want to catch one of these early look-ins before the real games begin.

A busier NHL calendar will stretch into every corner of the season

The league is also rolling out a longer regular season. Every team will play 84 games, which is two more than before, pushing the league total to 1,344 games. The regular season ends on April 16, so the schedule will feel tighter and more crowded than in previous years.

A few special events will break up the grind along the way:

Heritage Classic in Winnipeg on October 25.
Winter Classic in Utah on December 31.
Stadium Series in Dallas on February 20.
Games in Finland in mid-November.
Games in Germany in mid-December.
The return of the All-Star Game at UBS Arena on February 5 and 6, the first since 2024.

For fans who like a season filled with headline moments, this one should deliver them from start to finish.

Opening night puts Canadiens-Leafs on the biggest stage

The true season opener lands on September 29, and the spotlight immediately falls on one of hockey’s most familiar rivalries. Montreal meets Toronto at 7:00 p.m. on Sportsnet, and the matchup could also introduce first overall pick Gavin McKenna to the NHL if Toronto chooses to place him in the lineup right away.

That is as strong an opening-night setup as the league could ask for. A century-old rivalry, a major prospect, and a prime-time Canadian audience make it an easy game to circle on the calendar.

The rest of the league’s opening night also comes loaded with storylines. Carolina hosts Florida with a Stanley Cup banner ceremony on the schedule, the Rangers take on the Bruins, and Edmonton welcomes Vancouver in a night that leans heavily into Canadian interest.

New contracts show that Montreal is building around its core

Two major contract extensions helped define the Canadiens’ offseason. Ivan Demidov, who led all rookies last season with 62 points and then added nine more in the playoffs, agreed to an eight-year extension worth $73.2 million, or $9.15 million per season.

Goaltender Jakub Dobes also landed a new deal. After posting a 29-10-4 record with a 2.78 goals-against average and appearing in all 19 playoff games, he signed for three years and $16.05 million, which works out to $5.35 million annually.

Those signings fit neatly with the contracts already in place for Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, and Kaiden Guhle. The message from management is clear: this group is expected to stay together and keep growing through at least 2029-2030.

Last spring changed the expectations, but not the work ahead

Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final last season for the first time since 2021. The run included a seven-game win over Tampa Bay and another seven-game series victory against Buffalo before the Canadiens fell to Carolina in five games.

General manager Kent Hughes has made his direction clear since then. The organization is not rushing into drastic changes, and it is choosing patience with a young roster that still has room to develop.

That makes the 2026-2027 season especially interesting. Montreal has already proven it belongs in the conversation, but the next step is showing that last spring was the start of something lasting rather than a one-off surge.

How to keep up with every major moment this season

Between preseason action, a loaded opening night, and a full slate of special events throughout the year, the 2026-2027 campaign should be one of the most compelling seasons for hockey fans in Quebec. For readers who follow the Canadiens closely and enjoy adding extra excitement to the games, our hockey betting guide explains the basics, including odds and the main types of wagers.

Rexbet Canada also offers broad NHL coverage for fans who want to keep an eye on every twist and turn as the season unfolds.

Responsible play keeps the focus on the game

Hockey is a huge part of life for many Quebec fans, but anyone who follows the season through betting should set a clear budget and stick to it. Limits are easier to respect when they are defined before the first puck drop.

If extra support is needed in Quebec, the Jeu: aide et référence line is available free of charge for anyone looking for help.

September Signals the NHL’s Big Return