Exodus of American stars puts Canada’s hockey credentials to the test
The NHL enters its 2026-27 season amidst concerns regarding the migration of American-born stars and broader geopolitical tensions affecting the sport. The league faces questions about its Canadian identity and the competitive balance of its teams.
Why it matters
Hockey is a central pillar of Canadian culture, and shifts in player demographics and league stability impact the national identity and sports economy.
The Tkachuk brothers, Matthew, left, and Brady, will skate alongside each other with the Florida Panthers this season. Jim Rassol/Reuters
Judge Thomas Chandler Haliburton’s official portrait sits high on the wall of the Clifton Museum in this small East Coast community that calls itself the ‘Birthplace of Hockey.’
The judge is not smiling. He looks, well … perturbed … which is about as accurate an assessment as possible of NHL hockey as the league enters its 110th season – 109th of actual play, if you exclude the 2004-05 lockout.
The preseason is already under way, the first official games scheduled for Tuesday evening when five regular-season matches will be played, including the Vancouver Canucks at the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs (and the league’s No. 1 draft pick, Gavin McKenna).
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