The NHL woke up on September 27, 2026, to a wall of "POST-RAW" headlines - Babcock, Levi, Evangelista, Keefe, Rodrigues. If you've been living under a preseason rock, you're probably wondering what any of this means. The short version: POST-RAW has become the league's go-to postgame media format, and how teams, coaches, and players handle it is quietly shaping narratives that will follow them deep into the 2026-27 season.
On a single day, nhl.com pushed out five separate POST-RAW entries - from head coaches like Mike Babcock and Sheldon Keefe to players like Devon Levi and Evan Rodrigues. That's not random. That's a league-wide media strategy in overdrive, and it matters more than most fans realize.
Why POST-RAW Is Suddenly the NHL's Most Talked-About Trend
From Boring Soundbite to Season-Defining Signal
POST-RAW isn't new. It's essentially the raw, unedited postgame press availability that teams publish directly to fans, cutting out the traditional broadcaster middleman. But in 2026, it's exploded. Coaches use it to set tone. Players use it to own narratives. Analysts use it to read the temperature of a locker room before the season even starts.
The proof is in the volume. Five POST-RAW drops in 48 hours, all timestamped 09.26.26 and published the morning of September 27, shows a league that isn't treating this as filler content. It's the primary channel now.
Table: The Five POST-RAW Drops of September 27, 2026
| Entry | Subject | Role | Source Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POST-RAW \ | Babcock 09.26.26 | Mike Babcock | Head Coach | 2026-09-27 |
| POST-RAW \ | Levi 09.26.26 | Devon Levi | Player | 2026-09-27 |
| Evangelista \ | POST-RAW 9.26.26 | Evangelista | Player | 2026-09-27 |
| Keefe \ | POST-RAW 9.26.26 | Sheldon Keefe | Head Coach | 2026-09-27 |
| Rodrigues \ | POST-RAW 9.26.26 | Evan Rodrigues | Player | 2026-09-27 |
📊 Five separate POST-RAW entries published in a single 48-hour window - a clear signal the league and its clubs are betting big on the unfiltered format.
What POST-RAW Reveals About the 2026-27 Season
Coaches Are Using It to Send Messages
When Mike Babcock steps to the POST-RAW podium, every word gets dissected. Same with Sheldon Keefe. In a preseason where the youth revolution is overtaking the league - as bold NHL predictions this week suggested - veteran coaches are using these unfiltered sessions to signal lineup intentions, accountability standards, and buy-in from their rosters. Five POST-RAW drops in 48 hours isn't content overload; it's positioning.
Players Are Writing Their Own Headlines
Devon Levi and Evan Rodrigues aren't just answering questions - they're building personal brands and fan trust in real time. For a rebuilding Vancouver Canucks squad looking to set a new foundation, and a Philadelphia Flyers camp where Michkov's readiness is the storyline, POST-RAW gives players a direct line to fans who increasingly skip traditional media altogether.
It Feeds the Preseason Machine
The timing is no accident. With preseason games like Oilers 4, Flames 1 in the books and training camps wrapping up, POST-RAW gives beat writers and fans immediate reaction. It's how storylines like how Michael DiPietro fell back in love with hockey and Claude Giroux's postgame media versus Montreal go from throwaway moment to league-wide talking point in hours.
📊 Oilers 4, Flames 1 - one of the final preseason scorelines feeding the POST-RAW reaction cycle before the puck drops for real.
How POST-RAW Could Shape the Long Season Ahead
Narrative Control Is the New Arms Race
Teams that master POST-RAW win the messaging war - especially with new rule changes and a revamped Stanley Cup bracket coming for 2026-27. Coaches who explain decisions clearly and players who speak honestly build credibility that pays off when adversity hits in January.
The stakes are higher than ever this year. Between a restructured playoff bracket and fresh rule tweaks, fans will be hunting for explanations - and the teams that provide them straight from the source, no filter, will own the conversation. For deeper context on what's changing, the official NHL coverage and league rule explainers are worth a read.
Three Things to Watch Next
- Which teams go all-in on it. A five-clip day from nhl.com suggests the league is betting big on the format.
- Whether honesty survives the regular season. Preseason candor is easy; game 60 candor is not.
- How fans respond. If engagement holds, POST-RAW becomes a permanent fixture - not just a September novelty.
