On Thursday, Jul. 16, the NHL revealed the release of the 2026-27 schedule. For the first time since 1993-94, it’ll include 84 games. By adding two more to the schedule, it guarantees four games for each divisional opponent. Previously, there was an imbalance created by the league, which limited some division rivalries to only three matchups. For example, the Devils and Rangers only met three times last season. Now, that won’t be the case any longer with four regular season meetings.

For the Rangers, they’ll open up the season by visiting the Bruins on Sept. 29. It’ll be the second part of a nationally televised tripleheader on ESPN at 8 PM. They’ll follow up a battle between the last two Stanley Cup winners, featuring the Panthers and Hurricanes in Raleigh at 5 PM. The final part of ESPN’s Opening Night coverage will showcase the Blackhawks taking on the runner-up Golden Knights in Vegas.

Two days later, the Rangers will host the Lightning in their home opener at Madison Square Garden. Game time is at 7 PM following player introductions. Fans will get to welcome newest Blueshirt Pavel Dorofeyev, with the former Knights goalscorer wearing number 16. That’ll take some getting used to after popular former Ranger Vincent Trocheck was traded to the Mammoth on July 1 for a package that included defenseman Sean Durzi, 20-year-old center prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 third round pick.

Due to the longer schedule, the Rangers will play only four preseason games. It’ll be two sets of back-to-backs against the Devils and Islanders on Sept. 21-22 and Sept. 24-25. They’ll then have the weekend to set the roster.

Following their visit to Boston to kick off 2026-27, they’ll play the first of only seven back-to-backs by hosting the Lightning and then visiting the Red Wings on Oct. 1-2. Compared to other teams, that’s a very low amount.

Games of note include Trocheck’s MSG return on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 6 PM. He’ll definitely get a video tribute and a warm Garden welcome back. Two days later, the biggest rivalry is renewed when the Islanders take on the Rangers at 33rd and 7th. The season series includes a matchup in Elmont before Christmas on Dec. 20. Almost two months later, the Rangers and Islanders face off at UBS Arena on Feb. 12. The final meeting is six days later on Feb. 18 at MSG.

The Hudson Rivalry gets going with a visit to Newark on Oct. 15 to face the Devils. In the first full month, the Rangers will play the Lightning twice over 13 days with the Bolts back in town on Oct. 13 in a nationally scheduled game at 7:15 PM. On Oct. 19, they’ll host the Ducks. If he doesn’t get moved, Chris Kreider will once again return to MSG. In what should be their first look at 2026 top pick Gavin McKenna, the Rangers visit the Maple Leafs on Oct. 22.

In November, the Rangers see Connor McDavid and the Oilers at the start of the month. They’ll play Edmonton twice over nine days with the return match as part of a four-game road trip that begins in Seattle and concludes with stops at Calgary and Vancouver between Nov. 7-13. After returning to MSG for Montreal on Nov. 16, they get five days off before the defending champion Hurricanes visit on Nov. 22 for a 1 PM Sunday matinee.

A highlight is a Turkey eve visit at Buffalo to battle the Sabres on Nov. 25. After Thanksgiving, they visit the Blackhawks in a Black Friday matchup at 5:30 PM on national TV. They wrap up a busy week with a third game in four days at home against the Flames. The Rangers conclude November with another big matchup at MSG against the Hurricanes. That’s part of a five-game homestand that features Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks on December 3, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche on Dec. 5, and Jack Hughes and the Devils on Dec. 5 for one of three matchups in the month against their bitter rivals.

The Rangers and Devils will also see each other on Dec. 15 at The Rock and Dec. 22 at MSG in the final game before Christmas. The Blueshirts will be top heavy with rivalry matchups around the holidays, including a visit to Philadelphia on Dec. 16. They’ll conclude December with games at the Blues, home for the Red Wings, and a stop in Dallas on New Year’s Eve.

The New Year begins with a home and home series against the Blue Jackets on January 3 and 5. Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks pay a visit to MSG on Jan. 7. The Rangers then embark on a three-game California trip with stops in San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim between 1/9-12. Near the conclusion of the month, they visit Sidney Crosby and the Penguins on Jan. 29. That’s followed by a stop at Ottawa for a rare back-to-back.

After a home date with the Jets on February 3, the Rangers have over a week off due to the All-Star Game in Long Island. When they return, the Islanders will visit MSG. A stop at Montreal followed by a quick turnaround home for the Sabres marks a back-to-back on 2/14-15. As part of a four-game road trip, it’s all divisional matchups with a day off in between, which starts at the Islanders, followed by the Flyers, Hurricanes, and Capitals between 2/18-23. The Rangers then see Alex Ovechkin and the Caps on Feb. 26 before wrapping up the month at home for the Pens.

March is all games outside the division. That includes the Bruins on Mar. 3 and the Sabres Mar. 6. They then take on Vegas twice over six days with a home match on Mar. 7 and a road match on Mar. 13. In between, they’ll visit Utah and Colorado as part of a three-game road swing. A four-game homestand features the Senators, Maple Leafs, Pens and Caps between 3/16-21. The game on the 21st could be the final game of Ovechkin’s Hall of Fame career at MSG. That could be very special. Mark your calendars.

With most of the division wrapped up, only one of the final eight games inside the Metro. After concluding March with the Wild at home on Mar. 29, the Rangers visit the Canadiens on April Fool’s Day. That’s followed up by the Panthers, Pens, and Maple Leafs to conclude the regular season. The final game against Toronto is on Apr. 10. What about the home match on Apr. 6 against the Pens? Is that it for Malkin and Crosby? Who knows.

Overall, the Rangers have a very favorable schedule without many back-to-backs. There aren’t any long road trips. There are a few times where they have breaks, including three days off before the 84th and final game against the Leafs. Whether or not any of this matters depends on how well the team plays. Are they good enough to compete in an improved Metropolitan Division? Both the Caps and Devils got better. It’s hard to say the same for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Columbus, and the Islanders.

A plus is having three games against the Devils in December, including two close to the holidays. A negative is how spread out the Islanders are. At least there’s two games just over a week apart in February. I like having the Caps for essentially two straight, along with the second to last game against the Pens in April. That’ll probably be the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award. It could be extra special with possibly handshakes with at least Malkin following the game.

That’ll do it for the schedule. There won’t be any commemorative celebration like the centennial anniversary. Hopefully, the on ice product will be better.