The Carolina Hurricanes will hoist their Stanley Cup championship banner on Tuesday in the 2026-27 NHL season opener, then turn their attention to a title repeat.
Brandon Bussi came off the bench when goaltender Frederik Andersen was injured in the final after a 13-2 playoff run and went 3-1 with a 1.60 goals-against average to secure the Cup. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 last season, boast 2026 NHL Draft top pick Gavin McKenna, an 18-year-old who has reignited hope for a team that has not won the Cup since 1967. The Edmonton Oilers, who have not lifted the trophy since 1990, lost in the 2024 and 2025 finals before being dumped in the first round last season, but return with Andersen and new coach Mike Babcock. NHL all-time scoring leader Alex Ovechkin, 41, signed a one-year deal to return to the Washington Capitals for a 22nd campaign and try to improve on 929 career goals after the club made off-season moves following a campaign out of the playoffs. The San Jose Sharks are boosted by 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini, who signed a $94 million deal and was made captain of a talented young squad after finishing fourth in NHL scoring last season with 45 goals and 70 assists.
“We’re on a new journey,” said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, looking ahead to a campaign that opens at home against Florida, the 2024 and 2025 NHL champions. The NHL allowed Babcock to return this year and five days later he was named to guide Oilers stars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman on another Cup run.
