NHL · Preseason
The 2026-27 Season
The next NHL season drops the puck September 15, 2026 — this race goes live again then.
2025-26 · Champion · Carolina Hurricanes
View the 2025-26 season
How the playoffs work
Seeds 1–8 — Playoffs
The top eight in each conference reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs — four best-of-seven rounds to the Cup. (Officially: three per division plus two wild cards.)
Seeds 9–16 — Out
Below the cut line — the season ends, with eyes turning to the draft lottery.