July 16, 2025: Hockey fans are lashing out at the NHL over the newly released 2026 NHL schedule, and most of their frustration centers around the Florida Panthers — the reigning two-time Stanley Cup champions.
The Panthers are set to raise their championship banner on October 7, but instead of a primetime spotlight, the NHL has scheduled the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at an early 5 PM ET, sparking major backlash. Fans feel the league is disrespecting the champs with both the time slot and the opponent.
Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk had high hopes heading into the season, saying, “I want to get used to this whole winning thing,” but fans online aren’t happy with how that journey begins. One user on X (formerly Twitter), @RyanWinsBets, fumed: “How is the FLA vs CHI game not the prime time game?” Another, @McCant4Life, asked, “Do we have to three-peat to get some respect around here?”
Many fans were hoping for a Stanley Cup Final rematch to open the season, with @TakenKhariaYa saying, “Should be Florida vs Oilers on opening night, that would be something.”
Adding fuel to the fire are ongoing concerns about NHL broadcast accessibility. One user asked, “Stanley Cup champs get a 5 p.m. start time, and I’m guessing the NHL will make it hard to watch unless you have the right subscription?” Others echoed long-standing complaints about streaming limitations, with Ryan Hana of the Winged Wheel Podcast lamenting, “Best sport in the world and nobody can watch.”
With the full season schedule now public, this rocky rollout raises new questions about how the league chooses to highlight its biggest stars—and whether it listens to its most passionate supporters.