The NHL’s upcoming season introduces a new challenge for teams as they prepare to defend their titles after Carolina’s recent Stanley Cup victory. The Hurricanes secured their second championship in a hard-fought six-game series against Vegas, finishing the postseason with a dominant 16-3 record. A slight adjustment to the schedule has also been announced, with teams now set to play 84 games instead of the previous 82. The shift in format and the pressure of chasing recent success will shape the league’s next competitive landscape.

The 2026-2027 NHL season is almost here, and now there are new champions to chase. Carolina won its second Stanley Cup in June, with a win over the Vegas Golden Knights in six games after a postseason in which the Hurricanes went 16-3. This time around, each team will play 84 games rather than 82, […]