In Thursday’s 2026-27 full schedule release, the NHL did the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken a great favor. They didn’t relegate the two teams to the AHL.
Okay, that’s a cheap shot, even if the Canucks did finish 32nd last season and the Kraken 27th. After all, as of today, both teams are tied for 1st in the Pacific Division, the Western Conference, the entire league for that matter, with undefeated 0-0-0 records. (The full slate for both the Canucks and Kraken is at the bottom of this story.)
Besides, we know Vancouver and Seattle will win games next season – they play each other four times. That’s one of the changes to the NHL’s newly-expanded 84-game schedule, each team playing all seven of its division rivals four times.
We won’t say the Pacific has been “pillow fight” soft – Connor McDavid already said it – but four of the eight teams in the division have replaced their coaches. In addition to the Canucks’ Manny Malhotra, new bench bosses include Peter Laviolette in L.A., Ryan Craig in Vegas and Mike “Can I borrow your phone” Babcock in Edmonton.
We do wonder if Vegas has John Tortorella stashed behind glass, which they can break in case of emergency like they did last year.
And bet you didn’t know that the longest-tenured coach in the division is Calgary’s Ryan Huska, hired June 12, 2024. One season in, Seattle head coach Lane Lambert is the Pacific’s 3rd in senority. NHL coaches really do have the life expectancy of fruit flies.
Enough blather! Here’s the highlights of the Canucks and Kraken 2026-27 schedules.
Canucks & Kraken Openers
- Vancouver at Edmonton, Sept. 29
- Seattle at Calgary, Oct. 1
Canucks & Kraken Home Openers
- Vancouver vs. Edmonton, Oct. 1
- Seattle vs. Calgary, Oct. 4
2026 Global Series Finland
Seattle will play the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in Helsinki, Nov. 12 and 14.
The Canucks will host the Hurricanes on Oct. 20.
Canucks & Kraken Longest Homestand
- Vancouver, 7 games, Feb. 1-21
- Seattle, 5 games, Jan. 31-Feb. 17
Canucks & Kraken Longest Road Trip
- Vancouver, 7 games, Jan. 18-30
- Seattle, 6 games, Jan. 19-28
Canucks & Kraken Back-To-Back Games
- Vancouver, 11
- Seattle, 13
Canucks vs. Kraken
- in Vancouver, Dec. 30, Jan. 14
- in Seattle, Nov. 19, Jan. 3
Seattle won three of the four meetings between the teams last season. They split the first two games, both going to a shootout. The final two, played post-Olympic break, were both Seattle blowouts, 5-1 and 5-2.
Notable NHL Dates
This season will be the first in NHL history in which regular season games are played in North America before the calendar turns to October. It will be preceded by a reduced preseason of four games per team.
A few hours before the Canucks drop the puck against the Oilers on Sept. 29, the opening game of the season matches the two most recent champs, the Panthers vs. the Hurricanes in Raleigh.
News about other key events on the NHL calendar, including overseas games, the three outdoor games and the All Star Game can be found here.
Seattle Kraken 2026-27 Schedule
Vancouver Canucks 2026-27 Schedule
Earlier Seattle:
— Kraken Far From Alone In 2022 Draft Misery
