The biggest NHL News development on July 28, 2026, will directly affect how Canadian hockey fans watch games next season. Prime Video and Rogers Communications have announced a 12-year agreement making Prime Video the exclusive Canadian home of national Wednesday night NHL games beginning in 2026-27.
The agreement includes at least 26 regular-season games each year, beginning September 30, along with exclusive Canadian rights to two First Round Stanley Cup Playoff series and one Second Round series per season. At the same time, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have publicly backed new Edmonton Oilers coach Mike Babcock, Quinn Hughes’ future with the Minnesota Wild continues to attract attention, and several recognizable unrestricted free agents remain unsigned.
My immediate takeaway is that the Prime Video announcement is bigger than a routine broadcast shuffle. The NHL is making streaming a permanent part of its Canadian distribution model rather than treating it as a short-term experiment. That could improve production innovation and attract younger viewers, but it also means fans will need to pay closer attention to which service carries each game.
NHL News Today: Streaming Changes and a High-Risk Oilers Decision
The Prime Video agreement runs through the 2037-38 season, matching the length of Rogers’ national NHL rights agreement. Sportsnet will retain English-language rights to more than 500 national games per season, including Monday and Saturday broadcasts and most Stanley Cup Playoff coverage. Prime Video’s playoff package, however, makes the streaming service much more important than it was under its previous Monday-night arrangement.
From a fan-experience perspective, there is a clear trade-off. Moving more national games to streaming may reduce reliance on traditional television packages, but it further divides the NHL schedule across platforms. The league and its broadcasters will need to make game availability extremely clear, particularly for casual viewers who do not follow broadcasting-rights announcements.
On the ice, the Edmonton Oilers remain one of the league’s most fascinating teams. McDavid described Babcock as “the perfect fit,” while Draisaitl revealed that members of Edmonton’s leadership group had an “honest conversation” with the veteran coach about his controversial history before the hiring was completed.
Babcock was hired by Edmonton on June 23 after an NHL review determined there was no current basis to prevent him from returning to the league. His arrival follows Edmonton’s First Round loss to Anaheim and the firing of Kris Knoblauch. McDavid, who produced 138 points last season, clearly believes an experienced and demanding coach can help the Oilers maximize their championship window.
In my view, this is a high-upside but high-risk decision. McDavid, Draisaitl, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard appear comfortable with Babcock’s approach. The more important test may involve Edmonton’s depth players. Successful modern coaches must demand accountability without creating an environment in which younger or less-established players are afraid to make mistakes.
Quinn Hughes and the NHL Free-Agent Market Remain Major Stories
Quinn Hughes’ long-term future is also becoming one of the defining NHL rumors entering the 2026-27 season. Minnesota Wild teammate Nick Foligno believes Hughes should focus on pursuing a Stanley Cup in Minnesota rather than considering a future reunion with brothers Jack and Luke Hughes in New Jersey.
Hughes can become an unrestricted free agent in July 2027. Wild owner Craig Leipold has previously expressed confidence that Minnesota will retain him, but the financial landscape has changed. Leo Carlsson’s $18 million average annual value created a new league-wide benchmark, and Hughes will have a strong argument to become one of the NHL’s highest-paid defensemen.
That does not mean Hughes is destined to leave. It means Minnesota must determine how aggressively it is prepared to build around him. Elite number-one defensemen rarely reach the open market, and the Wild cannot afford to let uncertainty drag deep into the season without understanding Hughes’ intentions.
The current unrestricted free-agent market also contains several intriguing names. Vladimir Tarasenko scored 23 goals in 75 games last season and has been connected through published speculation to Edmonton, Buffalo, Montreal and Ottawa. Patrik Laine could become a low-cost reclamation project after appearing in only five games last season, while Eeli Tolvanen remains available after his production fell from 23 goals in 2024-25 to 12 last season.
| Story | Key number | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Video broadcast agreement | 12 years | Establishes streaming as a permanent part of Canadian national NHL coverage. |
| Prime Video regular-season package | At least 26 games annually | Wednesday national games will be exclusive to Prime Video in Canada. |
| Prime Video playoff coverage | Three series per season | Includes two First Round series and one Second Round series. |
| Vladimir Tarasenko | 23 goals in 75 games | Still offers short-term scoring value to a contender needing help on the wing. |
| Eeli Tolvanen | 12 goals last season | His age and shooting ability make him one of the more interesting unsigned players. |
The longer these players remain unsigned, the more leverage shifts toward NHL teams. Tarasenko, Laine or Tolvanen could become worthwhile one-year bets if their contract expectations fall. A contender does not necessarily need another blockbuster move; it may only need one undervalued player placed in the correct role.
One earlier offseason storyline has already proved accurate. Patrick Kane officially returned to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year, $16 million contract after weeks of speculation about a reunion. That outcome is a useful reminder that persistent rumors can contain real substance, but they should not be treated as completed transactions until a team or the league confirms them.
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