Story perspectives

NHL expands to 84 games, adds Heritage Classic, Helsinki.

7/15/2026

Summary

NHL Expands

The NHL expands to 84 games per team, creating a 1,344-game schedule, the league’s longest.
ESPN and Sportsnet will broadcast Sept. 29: Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers (8 p.m.), Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m.); Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m.) and Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m.).
The league will host Heritage Classic in Winnipeg Oct. 25, Global Series in Helsinki Nov. 12-14, and release schedule July 16 1 p.m. ET on NHL Network.

Summary

Rangers Acquire

The Rangers got goaltender Joonas Korpisalo from Boston on July 1 for AHL forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
Boston received defenseman Will Borgen, sending a 2027 second-round pick and a conditional 2028 third-round pick to New York.
Bruins tickets for the 2026-27 season go on sale Friday at 2 p.m. via bostonbruins.com/tickets.
The opening-night game will be televised on ESPN and simulcast on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

History

Historical Context

In 1992–93, after the 1992 NHL strike settlement, the league expanded the regular season from 80 to 84 games per team, creating a 1,008-game schedule and adding the Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning. The NHL’s 2024 plan revives that 84-game format and pairs it with ESPN and Sportsnet broadcasts, reflecting reliance on the early-1990s model for media revenue.

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NHL Expands

The NHL expands to 84 games per team, creating a 1,344-game schedule, the league’s longest.
ESPN and Sportsnet will broadcast Sept. 29: Boston Bruins vs New York Rangers (8 p.m.), Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m.); Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m.) and Edmonton Oilers vs Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m.).
The league will host Heritage Classic in Winnipeg Oct. 25, Global Series in Helsinki Nov. 12-14, and release schedule July 16 1 p.m. ET on NHL Network.

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