The 27 People Who Will Define the 2026-27 NHL Season

Home Read the original ↗ Every season, a select group of players, coaches, and executives hold the keys to what unfolds over the next nine months. This year's list includes the usual suspects and some names that might surprise you, but each one has the power to shape playoff races and franchise trajectories. From young stars proving they belong to veterans making their final push, these are the people you need to watch. The question isn't whether they'll matter - it's how much. AI-generated briefing — triage, not the story; every claim links out to the coverage below.