​It’s time to mark those calendars, Hawks fans! The NHL released the schedule of home openers for all 32 teams to begin the 2026-27 regular season on Wednesday morning, and it’s now known when Chicago Blackhawks hockey will officially be back in our lives.More in the links for the Blackhawks home opener and who they’ll face to kick off next year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAlso in Blackhawks news, the organization’s minor-league affiliate made an addition to its forward group for 2026-27.Around the league, the cover athlete for NHL 27 was announced, the Pittsburgh Penguins avoided arbitration with an RFA forward, and an unforeseen turn of events involving the Detroit Red Wings.All that & more in the Daily!Chicago Hockey Now: Another year, another opening night on the road for the Blackhawks. To begin the 2026-27 season, the Blackhawks will play their first three games away from home before returning to the United Center on Oct. 6. Here’s who they face during the road trip, and which team they host for their home opener.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMore CHN: Connor Bedard isn’t expected to be healthy enough to dress for the Blackhawks during the opening month of next season. With that being the case, should the franchise consider a homecoming with future Hall of Famer Patrick Kane, who remains an unrestricted free agent?More CHN: For anyone who missed it, here’s the video of Bedard’s offseason injury that forced him to require surgery, and all the information about his recovery timeline.Lastly, the Rockford IceHogs signed 27-year-old forward Kyler Kupka to a one-year AHL contract on Wednesday. Kupka has primarily played in the ECHL since turning pro in 2024, with only 24 AHL appearances combined from the last two seasons. In 12 games with the Hershey Bears in 2025-26, Kupka tallied one goal and two assists for 12 points.Kupka played for IceHogs’ current head coach Jared Nightingale with the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays in 2024-25, so the two are familiar with one another.San Jose Hockey Now: Macklin Celebrini continues to make San Jose Sharks history, as he was announced as the NHL 27 cover athlete on Wednesday. Celebrini, 20, is the youngest player to serve as the game’s cover athlete.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPittsburgh Hockey Now: As it turns out, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nick Robertson won’t need arbitration to iron out his next contract. The 24-year-old winger inked a two-year deal with a $3.25 million cap hit on Wednesday. Robertson tallied 32 points in 78 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26.Detroit Hockey Now: In another tumultous turn of events for the Detroit Red Wings this summer, general manager and executive vice president Steve Yzerman plans to step down from those roles to become a senior advisor. Detroit will effectively be moving on from the “Yzerplan”…NHLtraderumors.me: Speaking of the Red Wings, there have been multiple reports suggesting that the D