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.
The Hurricanes won their first crown in 20 seasons last June, defeating Las Vegas four games to two in the Stanley Cup Final, and return most of the same lineup in their back-to-back bid. 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. 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. Washington added three-time 30-goal season scorers Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou in trades and signed forward Boone Jenner and defenseman Vincent Desharnais also. 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.
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.
