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    organization

    National Hockey League (NHL)

    Also known as NHL, National Hockey League

    The National Hockey League (NHL) is the top professional ice hockey league in North America, with 32 teams.[1] Its 2026-27 season began on 29 September 2026 and is the first with 84 games per team, up from 82, under a labor agreement that runs to September 2030.[2][3]

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    Key facts

    The National Hockey League is North America’s top professional ice hockey league, with 32 teams.[1] The 2026-27 season, which began on 29 September 2026, is the first with 84 games per team.[2]

    Season structure

    The 2026-27 regular season has 1,344 games and runs from 29 September 2026 to 10 April 2027.[2] For 2026-27 the league also cut preseason games from six to four per team, and the season started at its earliest date since 2007.[4] Teams earn two points for a win and one for an overtime or shootout loss. A regulation loss earns nothing.[5]

    After the regular season, 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs: the top three in each division and two wild cards per conference. Every round is best-of-seven.[6] How the NHL season works explains the details.

    Recent champions

    The Carolina Hurricanes won the 2026 Stanley Cup.[7] The Vegas Golden Knights were the 2026 Western Conference champions.[8] Before Carolina’s title, the Florida Panthers had won back-to-back Stanley Cups.[9]

    Labor agreement

    In July 2025 the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association agreed a new collective bargaining agreement. It took effect on 16 September 2026 and runs to 15 September 2030.[3] The deal expanded the regular season, which is why teams now play 84 games, and shortened the maximum contract length.[3] Gary Bettman is NHL Commissioner. Marty Walsh is executive director of the players’ association.[10] Unlike Major League Baseball, whose agreement expires in December 2026, the NHL has no near-term labor deadline.[11]

    International and special events

    The 2026-27 schedule includes two games in Finland in November and two in Germany in December. It also has three outdoor games and the first All-Star Game since 2024.[12]

    Broadcasting

    The NHL’s national broadcast partners for 2026-27 are Disney (ESPN and ABC) and TNT Sports (TNT and HBO Max) in the US, and Sportsnet in Canada.[13] The how-to-watch guide has dated prices.

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    Questions readers ask

    How many teams are in the NHL?

    The NHL has 32 teams.[1]

    How many games does each NHL team play in 2026-27?

    Each team plays 84 games, up from 82, for a total of 1,344 games from 29 September 2026 to 10 April 2027.[2]

    Who won the 2026 Stanley Cup?

    The Carolina Hurricanes. They raised their championship banner before their 2026-27 opener.[7]

    How many teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

    Sixteen - the top three teams in each division plus two wild cards per conference.[6]

    Who broadcasts the NHL in 2026-27?

    ESPN/ABC (Disney) and TNT Sports in the United States, and Sportsnet in Canada. The Stanley Cup Final airs exclusively on TNT in the US and Sportsnet in Canada.[13]

    Sources

    · 13 claims from 6 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      The NHL has 32 teams. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    2. [2]

      The 2026-27 NHL regular season has 1,344 games, 84 per team (up from 82), starting on 29 September 2026 and ending on 10 April 2027. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    3. [3]

      A new NHL collective bargaining agreement took effect on 16 September 2026 and runs to 15 September 2030; it expanded the regular season and shortened maximum contract length. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    4. [4]

      For 2026-27 the NHL cut preseason games from six to four per team, and the season started at its earliest date since 2007. reportedas of 2026-09-18

    5. [5]

      In NHL standings a win is worth two points, an overtime or shootout loss one point, and a regulation loss none. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    6. [6]

      Sixteen teams qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs - the top three in each division plus two wild cards per conference - and all four rounds are best-of-seven. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    7. [7]

      The Carolina Hurricanes won the 2026 Stanley Cup and raised their championship banner before their 2026-27 opener. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    8. [8]

      The Vegas Golden Knights were the 2026 Western Conference champions. confirmedas of 2026-09-29

    9. [9]

      The Florida Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cups before Carolina's 2026 title. reportedas of 2026-09-29

    10. [10]

      Gary Bettman is NHL Commissioner and Marty Walsh is executive director of the NHL Players' Association. reportedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      MLB's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) expires at 11:59 p.m. on 1 December 2026, after the World Series. confirmedas of 2026-10-08

    12. [12]

      The 2026-27 NHL schedule includes two games in Finland in November, two in Germany in December, three outdoor games and the first All-Star Game since 2024. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    13. [13]

      The NHL's national broadcast partners for 2026-27 are The Walt Disney Company (ESPN/ABC) and TNT Sports (TNT/HBO Max) in the US and Sportsnet in Canada; the Stanley Cup Final airs exclusively on TNT in the US and Sportsnet in Canada. confirmedas of 2026-07-16

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Jan 11, 2027.

    Cite this page

    "National Hockey League (NHL)." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/wiki/national-hockey-league

    Spotted an error? Suggest a correction or emailcorrections@contentlora.com.

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