Golden Knights release 2026-27 schedule for landmark Season X

The Vegas Golden Knights today unveiled their 2026-27 regular-season schedule, an 84-game slate that brings a Stanley Cup Final rematch, an outdoor showdown in the Lone Star State and several compelling storylines involving familiar faces returning to T-Mobile Arena in unfamiliar colors.

The NHL announced the full schedule for what the organization is calling Season X — the franchise's 10th year in the league.

For the eighth time in 10 seasons, the Golden Knights will begin at home, hosting the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 29, with puck drop set for 7:30 p.m. The nationally televised opener on ESPN will launch what the franchise is billing as its most anticipated season to date.

The 2026-27 campaign introduces an expanded 84-game regular season under the league's new collective bargaining agreement — the first time the NHL has played that many games since the early 1990s.

Stanley Cup Final rematch

The most anticipated date on the calendar arrives just before the holiday break. A rematch of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final is set for Dec. 21, when the Carolina Hurricanes visit T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes will meet again Jan. 17 in Raleigh, N.C.

Vegas will be seeking revenge after holding a 2-1 series lead in the Cup Final before losing the final three games. Carolina won two of three games in Las Vegas during the series, including the decisive Game 6.

The Hurricanes secured the 2026 Stanley Cup with a 3-0 Game 6 victory against the Golden Knights, ending Vegas' bid for its second championship in four years.

Western Conference heavyweights

The schedule is loaded with marquee Western Conference matchups that should define Vegas' path toward another deep playoff run.

The Golden Knights face the Edmonton Oilers three times, including a road trip to Edmonton on Nov. 24, a home date Jan. 20 at T-Mobile Arena and another road game Feb. 3. The Oilers, who finished second in the Pacific Division last season, figure to be one of Vegas' chief rivals in the hunt for a division title.

Dallas appears on the schedule four times — home games Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 and road games that include the season's marquee outdoor spectacle. Vegas will face the Stars in the 2027 NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 20, at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The two clubs are expected to be among the Western Conference's top contenders, making the outdoor setting in Arlington, Texas, one of the most anticipated games of the regular season.

Colorado visits T-Mobile Arena on Jan. 2, and the Golden Knights return to Denver on Jan. 4 and again Feb. 22 — three games against the Avalanche, the Western Conference's top seed last season, in the span of about seven weeks. Minnesota appears on the schedule three times — road games Oct. 12 and Dec. 28 and a home date Jan. 7.

The Los Angeles Kings, division rivals who closed out the regular season as Vegas' final opponent, appear four times, including on both Oct. 10 and April 10 at T-Mobile Arena. The regular season concludes April 10 as the Golden Knights host the Kings.

Familiar faces returning

Several players who were part of the Golden Knights' run to the Stanley Cup Final will return to T-Mobile Arena wearing opposing colors this season — a byproduct of the substantial roster reshaping general manager Kelly McCrimmon undertook this offseason.

Notable departures include forward Pavel Dorofeyev, traded to the New York Rangers; forward Keegan Kolesar, traded to Detroit; forward Colton Sissons, who signed in Toronto; forward Cole Smith, who signed in Chicago; defenseman Kaedan Korczak, traded to Pittsburgh; and goaltender Akira Schmid, traded to Florida.

Dorofeyev's return stands out most prominently. The 25-year-old winger, who set a career high with 37 goals last season, was traded to the New York Rangers for the 26th overall pick in the 2026 draft, a third-round pick and a top-10 protected 2028 first-round pick. The Rangers subsequently signed him to a seven-year, $11 million average annual value extension. The Golden Knights host the Rangers on March 13, giving the T-Mobile Arena crowd its first look at the ex-Knight in New York's red, white and blue.

Kolesar, a fan favorite for his physical play and locker-room presence, said it was "a shock" to find out he had been traded to Detroit. The Red Wings visit T-Mobile Arena on Feb. 15.

Sissons and his new team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, visit T-Mobile early in the season, on Oct. 8, while Smith and the Chicago Blackhawks are the opponent for the Knights in their Sept. 29 home opener.

Nevada Day and New Year's Eve traditions continue

The Golden Knights return a pair of fan-favorite scheduling traditions in 2026-27.

Since the franchise's inaugural season in 2017, the club has observed Nevada Day with an afternoon home matinee. Nevada Day 2026 falls on Oct. 30 — and the schedule obliges, with Vegas hosting the New Jersey Devils that afternoon at 3 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

The New Year's Eve home game tradition also continues. The Golden Knights will host the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 31, with a noon puck drop — giving fans plenty of time to ring in 2027 on the Strip after the final horn.

Five-game homestands

The Golden Knights will have two five-game homestands this season, first in November then in March. The November stretch runs from Nov. 11 through Nov. 19, featuring Utah, Nashville, Vancouver and an unusual home-and-home with Dallas Nov. 17 and 19. The March homestand covers March 9 through March 17, with San Jose, Philadelphia, the Rangers, Winnipeg and Seattle all visiting the Fortress.

Mid-season break

The season will pause in February for the 2027 NHL All-Star Game, which takes place Feb. 5-6 at UBS Arena on Long Island.

The Golden Knights indicated information on preseason dates, broadcast schedules, training camp and single-game ticket availability will be announced at a later date. Fans interested in season memberships can contact the Golden Knights at 702-645-4259 or [email protected].