Leafs Open Season Against Habs (Again)

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The Toronto Maple Leafs will open the 2026-27 regular season as they normally do, against their historic Atlantic Division archrival, the Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday, September 29th. The game will mark the debut of 2026 top overall pick Gavin McKenna and the new-look Leafs, who could have as many as eight new faces in the starting lineup.

Toronto added goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, defensemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae, and forwards Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Brandon Duhaime, and Teddy Bleuger. The Leafs missed the playoffs last season after nine straight post-season appearances, and are hoping to bounce back under new GM John Chayka and head coach Jim Hiller.

The Leafs and Habs will face each other in the season opener for the seventh straight season, and the second straight year at Scotiabank Arena. Montreal is coming off a successful campaign under Martin St. Louis, making the playoffs for the second year in a row and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final, losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.