ESPN2 is set to give Hurricanes fans a fresh look at Carolina’s championship run with the premiere of the 2026 Stanley Cup Championship Film on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. ET.
The one-hour documentary, produced by NHL Productions, revisits the biggest moments from the 2025-26 season and the path that carried captain Jordan Staal, head coach Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes through the postseason. The film builds toward Carolina’s matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final, with a dozen players - including Staal, Sebastian Aho, Brandon Bussi, Taylor Hall, Jordan Martinook and Jaccob Slavin - offering their perspective on the six-game series.
The film leans into the drama of the Final, mixing in highlights from comeback wins, overtime finishes and unexpected heroes with player and coach commentary. It ends with Carolina’s celebration and the kind of behind-the-scenes access that captures what the Cup means to the group, from the locker room to the moment the trophy was raised.
After the ESPN2 debut, the film will be available on ESPN+ and Hulu. It will also air again on ESPN2 on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
ET. In Canada, Sportsnet will carry the film on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m.
ET, followed by a re-air on SN1 at 10 p.m. ET.
Fans in Canada can also watch it on Sportsnet and the NHL’s YouTube channel on Sept. 28, while viewers outside the U.S. will be able to access it through the NHL’s international broadcast partners.
Carolina’s title was the franchise’s first in 20 years. The defending champions will open the 2026-27 season by unveiling their Stanley Cup Championship banner on opening night, Sept. 29 on ESPN, before facing the Florida Panthers. That game is part of ESPN’s tripleheader, which also includes the New York Rangers at the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks against the Vegas Golden Knights.
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