NHL training camps will carry even greater urgency this September because the 2026–27 season begins earlier than usual. Opening night is scheduled for September 29, with Carolina hosting Florida, Montreal visiting Toronto, and the New York Rangers facing Boston. Teams will also play an 84-game regular-season schedule for the first time, making depth, conditioning, and roster flexibility major priorities from the first day of camp. NHL.com: 2026–27 schedule
The defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes enter camp trying to avoid the complacency and fatigue that can follow a championship run. Carolina controlled possession throughout last season, leading the NHL in five-on-five shot-attempt percentage and offensive-zone time percentage. The Hurricanes will raise their second Stanley Cup banner before opening against the Florida Panthers—a fitting early test against the team that won the previous two championships. NHL.com: Carolina’s championship season
No training camp will receive more attention than Toronto’s. The Maple Leafs selected highly regarded forward Gavin McKenna with the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and signed two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year contract. McKenna’s skill could earn him an immediate opportunity alongside Toronto’s established offensive stars, while the 38-year-old Bobrovsky must prove that last season’s .877 save percentage was an exception rather than the beginning of a decline. NHL.com: McKenna selected No. 1 NHL.com: Bobrovsky joins Toronto
Chicago will also be one of the most closely followed teams after Patrick Kane signed a two-year contract to return to the Blackhawks. Kane’s reunion with the organization brings excitement, but his greatest value may come from helping Connor Bedard and Chicago’s young players learn how to prepare, practice, and compete like established NHL stars. Bedard has already made it clear that reaching the playoffs is Chicago’s goal, and training camp will reveal whether the Blackhawks are ready to make that jump. NHL.com: Kane returns to Chicago
Florida enters camp facing a fascinating transition. The Panthers lost Bobrovsky after seven seasons but added Brady Tkachuk and goaltender Jacob Markstrom as part of an aggressive roster makeover. Camp will be about more than introducing talented players—it will be about rebuilding chemistry, defining leadership roles, and discovering whether Florida can remain a championship contender following the end of its two-year reign. NHL.com: Panthers roster changes
Young players will provide many of the league’s best camp stories. First-round picks and top prospects will arrive trying to prove that they can handle NHL speed, physicality, defensive responsibility, and a demanding schedule. Players such as Anaheim prospects Roger McQueen and Tristan Luneau could compete for immediate roster positions, but talent alone will not be enough—coaches will closely evaluate decisions without the puck, practice habits, consistency, and special-teams value. NHL.com: Anaheim’s top prospects
Training camp ultimately reminds us that every roster spot must be earned. Established players will be challenged by new acquisitions, prospects, and veterans arriving on short-term contracts, while coaches experiment with line combinations, defensive pairs, power-play units, and penalty-killing roles. The biggest names will attract the headlines, but the players who communicate, compete, defend, and make their teammates better may be the ones who change their team’s season. Follow The Hockey Focus throughout training camp for more roster analysis, player-development insight, and coverage of the stories shaping the 2026–27 NHL season.
