The New York Islanders will kick off their 2026-27 NHL season on September 30th in Toronto, marking the beginning of Peter DeBoer's first full season as head coach. This season opener will also feature the second career matchup between two recent No. 1 overall draft picks: defenseman Matthew Schaefer, selected in 2025, and Gavin McKenna, drafted in 2026.
Schaefer, who hails from the Hamilton, Ontario area, is set to play in the NHL city closest to his hometown for the second consecutive year. Last season, an estimated 1,000 people attended the Islanders' single game in Toronto. The team is scheduled to return to Scotiabank Arena on October 17th.
Three days after the season begins, the Islanders will play their home opener at UBS Arena on October 3rd, hosting the New Jersey Devils. This information comes from the 84-game schedule released on Thursday.