The excitement is building as the 2026-27 NHL regular season is set to commence tomorrow night with five games on tap.

The following is a list of scenarios that I will be watching closely.

Will a Canadian team finally bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada?

It has been 33 years since the Montreal Canadiens were crowned cup champions in 1993. The current Canadiens roster is loaded with young phenoms such as Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.

The Habs and Edmonton Oilers, led by Connor McDavid, Leon Draisatl and newly appointed head coach Mike Babcock, have the best chance at bringing a cup back to Canadian soil.

The Canadiens are a promising team on the rise, but not yet ready for a championship run. The Oilers have already had two recent chances in the cup finals, and I do not envision a third. Canada’s cup drought will continue beyond 2027.

Will the Winnipeg Jets refuse to trade Connor Hellebuyck?

Rumours........

© Peterborough Examiner