Welcome to the new season
Hockey is back, We The Hockey People. The NHL drops the puck on the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, September 29th, 2026, and it's a big one on our home network: a nationally televised tripleheader on ESPN in the United States and a doubleheader on Sportsnet up in Canada.
The night opens the way every season should — with a banner going up. The Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes raise their flag in the opener against the Florida Panthers at Lenovo Center (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). From there it's the New York Rangers at the Boston Bruins (8 p.m. ET), then the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Western Conference champion Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET) to close the tripleheader.
Real hockey is 23 days out. Our draft is even closer — so let's get organized.
🏆 All hail the champ
Before we look ahead, we tip the cap. Congratulations to Josh Davidson and Eagle Fang, your reigning We The Hockey People champions. A 15-6 run capped by a title is no fluke — that was a season to remember. The banner hangs in the Hall of Fame forever. Everyone else: the bar is set. Come take it.
Front office poll
Two quick questions — which draft times you can make (check every slot that works so we can find the date that fits the most GMs), and whether you're running it back next season. Drop your name once and it's all tied to you.
Front Office Poll — Live
Check every draft time you can attend, answer the return question, add your name once, and cast your vote. Results update live below.
1 · Which draft times can you make? check all that work
2 · Are you back next season?
One more ask
- Rule changes: if there's anything you want to tweak for this season, email your proposal to the front office so we can put it to the group before the draft. Nothing changes without a vote — but nothing gets discussed if it doesn't get sent in.
League dues & payouts
The buy-in is again $50 per person, payable via Venmo to @Paul-Stojanovski. Please get it in before the draft — you must be paid up to pick.
The Pot — Payouts
- Champion$300
- Runner-Up$60
- Most Points (regular season)$120
- Weekly Winner · $5 × 24 weeks$120
How to pay
- Amount
- $50 per GM
- Venmo
- @Paul-Stojanovski ↗
- Deadline
- Before the draft
Scan the code or tap the handle. Paid up = draft eligible.
Set your keeper
Every team must declare one keeper before the draft — and this is where seasons are quietly won or lost. Don't guess. We've already done the math for you:
- Keeper Value Analysis — all 12 rosters scored on a blend of last year's production and where ESPN's 2026-27 board has each player going, with your best-value keeper surfaced and every eligibility flag applied.
- The Rulebook — all 8 keeper rules in plain language, including the no-three-peat rule and the re-keep surcharge that makes holding a star more expensive every year.
Head to Draft Central, find your team, and lock in the smart pick.
Vote on the date, pay your dues, set your keeper, and email the front office with anything on your mind. Let's have a great one.
— The Front Office