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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The 2026-2027 NHL season is shaping up to be one of the richest in storylines in years. With the release of the 84-game schedule, certain matchups are already capturing the attention of fans and observers. Between legends at the twilight of their careers, young prodigies on the rise, and divisional rivalries heating up, here are the four duels that should set the pace for the coming months.
Crosby-Ovechkin, the timeless classic
Sidney Crosby against Alexander Ovechkin remains the absolute benchmark.
Sidney Crosby against Alexander Ovechkin remains the absolute benchmark. On the eve of their 22nd season, the captains of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals continue to write one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. Their four meetings — October 7, January 18, March 13, and April 4 — will be as many opportunities to measure the passage of time. Ovechkin dominated their rookie season in 2006 with a Calder Trophy and 106 points, but Crosby has since turned the tide: 40 wins against 25 in the regular season, and above all three successes in four playoff series. Every time these two have met in the postseason, the winner has lifted the Stanley Cup. At 39 and 40 years old, imagining a final spring together would be a miracle, but nothing is ever quite impossible with these two competitors.
Kucherov-McDavid, the war of numbers
The duel between Nikita Kucherov and Connor McDavid is of a different nature. No personal animosity or playoff history — the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers play in different conferences — but a statistical competition bordering on obsession. Nine of the last ten Art Ross Trophies, awarded to the league's top scorer, have landed in their hands. McDavid has claimed six, Kucherov three. Last season, however, the Russian took symbolic revenge by capturing the Hart Trophy as most valuable player, the second of his career, despite McDavid's dominance in the scoring race. League players, however, named the Oilers captain for the Ted Lindsay, his fourth. With Nathan MacKinnon and Macklin Celebrini knocking at the door, this battle for individual honors promises to reach new heights in 2026-2027.
The new generation, from Schaefer to Celebrini, via McKenna and Bedard
The next wave is embodied in several matchups that herald the next decade of the league. Matthew Schaefer, recipient of the 2025-2026 Calder Trophy, and Gavin McKenna, first overall pick in the last draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, already carry the weight of comparisons on their shoulders. Their first head-to-head, scheduled for September 30 on the second day of the season, will be scrutinized as an early barometer. Schaefer, a complete defenseman with fluid skating, immediately met expectations in the bustling New York market. McKenna arrives in the Toronto furnace with the label of generational talent to confirm. Their four duels this season could lay the foundations for a rivalry destined to last a decade.
Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini embody the present and future of the league. Friends in life — they grew up in North Vancouver and continue to train together in the summer — the two jewels of the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks see their trajectories diverge. Celebrini exploded last season with 115 points and 45 goals, taking a lead in this fraternal race. Bedard, now holder of a $15 million per season contract, has compiled 203 points in 219 games but shows a collective plus-minus of -98 that raises questions. Their only two NHL meetings have gone in favor of Chicago and Bedard. The next one will be an opportunity to see if the gap widens or closes.
Suzuki-Barkov, the clash of the top students
The Selke Trophy has found a new owner in Nick Suzuki, who recorded 102 points and was the main architect of Montreal's run to the Eastern Conference Final. But Aleksander Barkov, three-time winner in 2021, 2024, and 2025, remains the undisputed defensive standard among forwards since Patrice Bergeron's retirement. With the addition of Brady Tkachuk in Florida and the rise of the young Canadiens, the Panthers-Canadiens rivalry takes on a new dimension. Suzuki and Barkov will share the ice for long stretches during their four regular-season meetings, in what increasingly looks like a divisional duel destined to spill into the playoffs.
The regular season begins September 29. Four storylines, four duels, and hundreds of stories waiting to be written on the ice.
