Toronto Maple Leafs will open NHL season earlier than ever before

If you've been itching for Toronto Maple Leafs hockey, you'll get your wish a little sooner than usual this upcoming season.

The NHL revealed opening-night games for all 32 teams on Wednesday, and the Maple Leafs are one of eight teams beginning the 2026-27 season on Sept. 29.

The Maple Leafs will host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m., which is the first game of an opening night all-Canadian doubleheader on Sportsnet.

The game will mark the earliest regular-season opener in Maple Leafs history, as Toronto has traditionally opened its season in October.

The @NHL announced today the 2026-27 regular season, expanded to 84 games with the addition of two more divisional contests per team, will open on Tuesday, Sept. 29. In addition, the League announced each team’s home opener.

Details: https://t.co/jMxZCwXZU6 pic.twitter.com/wfrDekHQs1

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 15, 2026

The earlier start comes as the NHL now expands its schedule from 82 to 84 games for the 2026-27 regular season, with each team playing two additional divisional matchups.

That means two more chances for the Maple Leafs to take it to Montreal and the Ottawa Senators.

The decision to add two extra games came following the 2024-25 season, when the NHL and NHLPA agreed to expand the schedule as part of the league's new collective bargaining agreement.

There's already plenty of excitement surrounding the 2026-27 Maple Leafs team, with a new general manager, head coach, and the first overall pick – Gavin McKenna.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, Toronto's goal with these new changes remains clear: get back to being a Stanley Cup contender.

The NHL will release the full 2026-27 schedule on July 16 at 1 p.m.