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Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News
The 2026-27 NHL schedule is set. Here are some key dates for Utah Mammoth fans to plug into their calendars.
Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. MDT.
Season opener: Oct. 1 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
As indicated when the preseason schedule was released, the Delta Center renovation will not force the Mammoth to begin the season on an extended road trip the way the New York Islanders did in 2021-22.
The Mammoth will host the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 1, the third day of the regular season.
It’s reminiscent of Utah’s first-ever game, when the then-Hockey Club hosted the Blackhawks on Oct. 8, 2024 — a 5-2 win to kick off the franchise’s existence.
The Mammoth catch a bit of a break with this schedule in the sense that they’ll face a Connor Bedard-less Blackhawks team, as the budding star is projected to be out until November after undergoing shoulder surgery in early July. Bedard has a goal and four points in four career games against Utah.
It will also be Ian Cole’s first game against the Mammoth. He and Nick Schmaltz remain the only players to skate in all 164 games in franchise history.
First road trip: Oct. 3-10
After getting reacquainted with the fans at the home opener, the Mammoth will immediately hit the road to tour the Eastern Conference.
They begin with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 3, followed by the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres on a one-day-on, one-day-off rotation.
This is the first time the Mammoth don’t play the New York Islanders as part of their New York-area trip. Newly signed Anders Lee, the former captain of the Islanders, will have to wait until Dec. 15 to visit UBS Arena as a visitor.
Winter Classic: Dec. 31
You surely already knew about this one.
The Mammoth will host the Colorado Avalanche on New Year’s Eve at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The outdoor game will be accompanied by a host of festivities, including a concert at the Delta Center.
The NHL released the start time with Thursday’s schedule drop: 4 p.m. MST.
No matter who plays in the Winter Classic, it’s always a must-watch event.
First time facing the Golden Knights since the playoffs: Nov. 11
After seeing the Vegas Golden Knights crack the Stanley Cup Final, Mammoth fans can’t help but wonder how far their team could have made it had the two overtime games in their first-round series with Vegas gone the other way.
There’s no way of knowing, but fans can be certain that Mammoth players will have Nov. 11 circled on their calendars when they visit “The Fortress” in Las Vegas. The teams also meet on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas and April 3 in Utah.
Rivalries are built, in large part, on playoff series. These should be intense games.
Former Mammoth players returning to the herd
Here’s when each former Mammoth player is set to dress in the opposing locker room of the Delta Center for the first time since leaving.
- JJ Peterka, Boston Bruins: Jan. 23
- Sean Durzi, New York Rangers: March 9
- Ian Cole, Chicago Blackhawks: Oct. 1
- Olli Määttä, Minnesota Wild: Oct. 27
- Alexander Kerfoot, Nashville Predators: Jan. 31
- Vítek Vaněček, New York Islanders: Dec. 15
Additionally, a few players that left two seasons ago have yet to return. Here’s when they’re scheduled to return.
- Nick Bjugstad and Vladislav Kolyachonok, New Jersey Devils: Dec. 29
- Juuso Välimäki, Carolina Hurricanes: Dec. 17
- Dakota Mermis, Toronto Maple Leafs: Oct. 13
UTAH WINS 👏
Sean Durzi buries it in @Energizer overtime to secure the extra point! pic.twitter.com/hXwPOZzmFY
— NHL (@NHL) January 6, 2026
When are the superstars in town?
Every team plays in every building every year, so barring injuries and transactions, each fan base gets to see each star player each season.
Here’s when some of the NHL’s biggest stars will be in Utah.
- Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers: Oct. 17
- Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche: Sept. 26 (preseason), Nov. 18, Dec. 31 (Winter Classic)
- Kirill Kaprizov and Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild: Oct. 27, Jan. 25
- Mikko Rantanen, Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars: March 15, April 7
- Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins: Oct. 19
- Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals: Jan. 29
- Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks: Nov. 14, March 26
- Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Oct. 24
- Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets: Feb. 17
The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, will play at the Delta Center on Dec. 17.
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Melissa Majchrzak
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