- Rookie games open Saturday, Sept. 12 and run through Tuesday, Sept. 15
- 29 of the 32 teams are playing, with Florida, Minnesota and Washington sitting out
- Read below for the full site-by-site schedule and the prospects worth watching
The 2026-27 season starts for real on Saturday.
Rookie camps and prospect tournaments open Sept. 12 and wrap up Sept. 15, and 29 of the 32 teams have games on the calendar. Florida, Minnesota and Washington are the only clubs skipping the games portion, though the Capitals still hold a rookie camp at McMullen Hockey Arena in Annapolis from Sept. 13-15.
Detroit hosts the marquee event. The four-team NHL Prospect Tournament at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena brings in Columbus, Dallas and Pittsburgh, and the Red Wings open against the Stars on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET. Goalie Trey Augustine is the draw there after back-to-back Big Ten Goaltender of the Year seasons at Michigan State.
San Jose has the deepest field. The Sharks host Los Angeles, Anaheim, Colorado, Vegas and Utah at Tech CU Arena and Sharks Ice, which puts Ivar Stenberg, Tij Iginla, Caleb Desnoyers, Roger McQueen and Trevor Connelly on the same ice over three days.
Gatineau gets the Canadian bracket. Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Winnipeg play a two-day Prospect Challenge at Centre Slush Puppie on Sept. 12 and 13.
One name might be missing from that group, and it happens to be the biggest one. Asked whether he plans to suit up in Gatineau, Gavin McKenna told The Hockey News his plans are still “up in the air.” Mike G. Morreale of NHL.com lists Maple Leafs training camp, not the tournament, as the first place to see the No. 1 pick.
Toronto still plays Ottawa on Saturday and Winnipeg on Sunday either way. McKenna has already pulled on the No. 92 sweater once this summer at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase.
Here is where the rest of the league is playing:
- Buffalo: Sabres and Bruins, LECOM HarborCenter, Sept. 13-14
- Morrisville, N.C.: Hurricanes, Predators and Lightning, Wake Competition Center, Sept. 13-15
- Allentown, Pa.: Flyers and Rangers, PPL Center, Sept. 12-13
- Abbotsford, B.C.: Canucks and Kraken, Sept. 12-13
- Chicago: Blackhawks and Blues, USG Arena, Sept. 14-15
- Calgary: Flames and Oilers, Sept. 14
- Newark and East Meadow, N.Y.: Islanders and Devils, home-and-home Sept. 13 and 15
Most of these games stream free on team websites, with some regional blackouts. That is a low bar for a first look at James Hagens in Buffalo, Porter Martone in Allentown, Radim Mrtka against the Bruins and Carter Yakemchuk in Gatineau.
Main training camps open a week later, which is when the roster math gets serious. Four days in September will not decide anyone’s season, but it is the first time these kids get judged against professionals instead of junior competition.
