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The Chicago Blackhawks released their 2026-27 season schedule earlier this week (Jul.
16).
This is also the first season the NHL is rolling with 84 games on the calendar.
Fans will get to see two more hockey games from each club, along with a shortened preseason (four exhibition games instead of six).
The Blackhawks are starting their campaign on the road for the ninth consecutive season, with three contests out west before their home-opener on Oct.
6.
Its a tough way to get started, especially since franchise cornerstone Connor Bedard is sidelined until November.
However, the existing group can jump in with both feet, getting important bonding established on the road against some worthy opponents.
Below are some highlights of this years schedule, along with 10 must-watch games to circle on your calendar.
It would be hard to pass up on the first game of the season as a must-watch game.
The Blackhawks will face the Golden Knights in Vegass home-opener, who obviously competed and fell just short in this past seasons Stanley Cup Final.
It will be a tough test, AND it wont happen until 9:30 Central Time (aired on ESPN).
Thats awfully late in Chicago, but its also the first time to see the Blackhawks lineup in the 2026-27 campaign.
Win or lose, it should be worth it to stay up and see who made the opening night roster, and what the forward lines and defensive pairings are.
Plus, newcomer Cole Smith will be facing his former team on this night.
A few days later, the Blackhawks will head to Buffalo to take on the Sabres.
It will be Buffalos home-opener.
As we know, this young team made it to the second round of the playoffs last season, but were defeated in seven games by the Montreal Canadiens.
Another reason this game will be special is the Blackhawks big offseason acquisition Bowen Byram will be back in his old barn, as will Jordan Greenway (also included in the trade).
These two put their hearts and souls into the Sabres playoff run, but now theyll be members of the Blackhawks.
Its a strange juxtaposition, but thats business in the NHL.
Im sure both Byram and Greenway will want to prove theyll be missed in Buffalo, but also that theyre names to watch in Chicago.
Finally, Blackhawks fans will be seeing Louis Crevier playing for the other side.
The towering defenseman was a fan favorite in Chicago, never afraid to rip his howitzer of a shot from the point.
He was the Hawks top-scoring defenseman because of it (seven goals and 25 points).
The friendly and humble blueliner will be dearly missed in Chicago.
Obviously, nobody wants to miss the Blackhawks home-opener.
It will be the first time for fans to see their team in their home barn, and against the division rival Blues to boot! Their heated rivalry goes way back.
While it hasnt been much of a rivalry of late, this young Blackhawks team will be super hungry to give the fans something to cheer about.
It will be their fourth game of the season, and a good time to measure just how theyre stacking up for far.
Numerous players will also be suiting up in the red, white and black for their initial contest of the regular season at the United Center.
Theyll want to play a strong game.
Just how many times will we hear Chelsea Dagger?! It should be noted Bedard is slated to return some time in mid-November.
The Blackhawks have three road games from Nov.
4 Nov.
7, and then dont play again until Nov.
12 at the United Center against the Sabres.
Will this be when the franchise cornerstone makes his 2026-27 debut?! If not then, there are three more home games on Nov.
14, 17 and 19.
Expect Bedard to make his return at some point in this span.
Who doesnt like a good ole Blackhawks game around Thanksgiving weekend?! You could also go with the 3:30 game on Friday, Nov.
27, featuring the Hawks and fellow Original-Six franchise, the New York Rangers.
But I chose instead to highlight the Blackhawks and the Wild, seeing as theyre division rivals.
Its also a convenient 2 p.m.
matinee game.
The Wild have obviously fared better than the Blackhawks of late, having advanced to the playoffs the last two seasons and making it to the second round last year.
Its always fun to see superstar Kirill Kaprizov in person, as well as elite defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Even though he hasnt donned a Blackhawks jersey in years, fans still love to root against Ryan Hartman.
Plus, Nick Foligno will be back in town.
It should make for an exciting afternoon.
Speaking of homecomings, the Hawks host the Oilers on Dec.
6.
This means longtime Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy will be back at the United Center, along with forwards Jason Dickinson and Colton Dach.
Expect video tributes celebrating all three of these favorite former Blackhawks.
Its always super weird to see players suit up with other teams once theyve left Chicago, but to face off against three of them will be super bittersweet.
Oh, and did I mention Connor McDavid, arguably the best hockey player in the world, happens to play for the Oilers? The Blackhawks will head to Dusseldorf, Germany for two games in December, right before Christmas.
The first contest is at 11 a.m.
on a Friday, which isnt exactly ideal for those working folks among us.
But sacrifices must be made to help grow the game in Europe.
The matchup on Sunday falls at 7 a.m.
Central time.
Why not make a morning party out of it?! Fans can get up early to enjoy coffee, Bloody Marys and mimosas to cheer on the team playing abroad.
What a perfect way to usher in the week of Christmas?! Besides, the Blackhawks dont play again until after Christmas, on Dec.
27, so it will be worth it to set those alarms for this contest.
Another interesting tidbit is that Andre Burakovsky will now suit up with the Senators, as he was traded to the club this offseason.
After what ended up being a horrible 2025-26 season with the Blackhawks, will this be the veterans revenge tour? We have to keep with the theme of the holidays by highlighting the Blackhawks hosting the Boston Bruins on New Years Day.
This will be two Original-Six teams facing off, and the game will kick off at 1 p.m.
Who can think of a better way to spend the first day of the new year?! Seeing the legendary David Pastrnak play is always worth tuning in for, along with other big names in Elias Lindholm and defenseman Charlie McAvoy.
Plus, the beginning of the new year is always a good measuring stick to where the team is at in the season.
Just how will the Blackhawks be faring at this point in their campaign? This is the first time in the 2026-27 season that Bedard and Macklin Celebrini will face each other.
Its a shame we have to wait this long, because Bedard and Celebrini are two of the top young faces of the NHL right now.
Theyre also good friends, which always makes for a few extra fireworks when these two teams meet.
Not to mention the Sharks and the Blackhawks are both trying to break out or rebuilding mode and become teams contending for the playoffs on a regular basis in the future.
Many will tell you the Sharks are ahead of the Blackhawks in this department, but the Blackhawks won two of their three contests in the 2025-26 season, including a feel-good 5-2 victory on Apr.
15, the last game of the season.
Can the Blackhawks come out on top this year as well? Theyll play each other again on Feb.
10 and Mar.
16 to complete the series.
Im feeling a little guilty for not highlighting a single game in February.
So for those of you that are interested, a good matchup to attend would be the Blackhawks versus the New York Islanders on Tuesday, Feb.
23.
Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer made quite the name for himself in his rookie season, and it would be fun to see him at the United Center.
I ended up skimping a little bit on March games when doing this exercise.
The Blackhawks are actually on the road for nine of 16 games in March, making for plenty of action.
One contest that could be of importance is when the Hawks head to Washington at the end of the month to take on the Caps.
Its well known that Alex Ovechkin is nearing the end of his infamous run as one of the best hockey players in the world and the NHLs all-time leading goal-scorer.
Ovechkin and the Caps agreed to a one-year contract on Jul.
2, and many believe this will be his last season before retirement.
That said, all eyes will be tuning in for what could be the final games for the Great Eight.
Many of the young Blackhawks probably grew up worshipping Ovechkin, and Im sure it will be a great honor to match up against him one last time.
The festivities will get started early; its a 5 p.m.
puck drop.
So make your dinner plans around watching the Blackhawks and the Capitals on this date.
Wed be remiss if we didnt highlight the last game of the season for the Blackhawks, when they host the Kraken at the United Center.
Will the Blackhawks be headed to the postseason at this juncture, or will it truly be the last contest before another long offseason? If theyre pushing for the playoffs as the season winds down, the last nine games will be favorable.
They face the Nashville Predators three times, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the aforementioned Capitals and the Kraken twice in that span.
All these teams didnt make the playoffs last season.
Could the final Kraken contest be a meaningful one? Well just have to wait and see.
While all Blackhawks games are much-watch events for die-hard fans, the above are contests that could be especially fun and interesting to watch.
The 2026-27 season will be here before we know it.
Hopefully Chicago can take another step forward with a strong campaign.
What contests will you be watching?! More must-reads:.