Babcock, Tkachuk, Larkin headline drama-filled 2026-27 NHL season

The 2026-27 NHL season is set to open with as much off-ice drama as on-ice action. A polarizing coaching hire in Edmonton, trade demands from star captains, contract standoffs and massive new deals for young players are shaping a year that already feels like must-watch television before the first puck drops on the 84-game schedule.

Babcock’s return puts Oilers under the microscope

Season-launch hype took an abrupt turn during an ESPN media call when Hall of Famer Mark Messier said he was “absolutely shocked” the Edmonton Oilers chose to hire Mike Babcock. The coach returns to the NHL after years out of the league and will instantly become one of the season’s central storylines as Edmonton opens against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Oilers are already under immense pressure after back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses were followed by a second-round exit last spring. With Connor McDavid’s contract set to expire after next season, Edmonton has clearly prioritized winning now, not only by bringing in Babcock but also by signing Alex Formenton after he served a suspension related to an alleged sexual assault.

Unhappy captains, goalie ultimatums and shifting cores

Around the league, several core players have unsettled situations. Brady Tkachuk engineered a move to the Florida Panthers to join his brother, setting up a charged return to Ottawa on Oct. 21 after Senators owner Michael Andlauer said Tkachuk’s brother and father “got in his kitchen.” In Detroit, Dylan Larkin has had his captaincy removed after asking for a trade that has yet to materialize, just as the Red Wings installed Shawn Horcoff as interim general manager.

In Winnipeg, goalie Connor Hellebuyck has reportedly threatened to sit out if he is not traded, while Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has indicated he does not feel rushed to resolve the situation. Similar standoffs are playing out between the defending champion Carolina Hurricanes and defenceman Nikita Nikishin, and between the Columbus Blue Jackets and blueliner Kirill Marchenko.

Future plans are also unclear for Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, who may finally be in line for a major raise after years of being viewed as underpaid, even as the team’s cap crunch already cost them defenceman Darren Raddysh. In Washington, Alex Ovechkin enters the final year of his contract, potentially his last NHL season, with his recent appearance in a Russian propaganda video sparking debate over how it could affect his legacy.

Big-money youth movement and a loaded rookie race

Beyond the contractual drama, the spotlight is firmly on the next generation. In Toronto, the Maple Leafs’ selection of Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft has injected optimism, even as the clock ticks toward Auston Matthews’ potential free agency in 2028. The Calder Trophy race is expected to be one of the deepest in years, with McKenna and Philadelphia Flyers forward Porter Martone among the early favourites, alongside San Jose’s Ivar Stenberg, Washington’s Cole Hutson and Chicago’s Anton Frondell.

San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini is coming off a 115-point season at age 19 and is already being mentioned as a Hart Trophy candidate alongside McDavid and Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon. Calder winner Mathew Schaefer could become the youngest Norris Trophy recipient since Bobby Orr, unless 22-year-old Lane Hutson beats him to it.

Several franchises have made aggressive financial bets on young talent. In Anaheim, Leo Carlsson’s cap hit has jumped from under $1 million to $18 million, while Cutter Gauthier now earns $13.5 million after a 41-goal campaign. The Ducks are fresh off a surprise run to the conference final but could not retain veterans Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba or Radko Gudas under the cap, leaving Carlsson and Gauthier to carry even more of the load.

Columbus has similarly paid heavily for Adam Fantilli’s upside, as have the Chicago Blackhawks with Bowen Byram and the Boston Bruins with Fraser Minten. League-wide, there are five new head coaches, five new captains and six teams still without a captain, plus a new system of full-time emergency backup goalies travelling with clubs after multiple goalie fights last season. With 84 games on the slate instead of 82, there will be even more chances for the drama to spill over once the season finally begins.