When does NHL regular season start? Key dates, home openers, Olympics break Mike Brehm, USA TODAYSeptember 23, 2025 at 5:06 AM 0 The 202526 NHL season will feature two competitions. First, there is the battle for the Stanley Cup.
- - When does NHL regular season start? Key dates, home openers, Olympics break
Mike Brehm, USA TODAYSeptember 23, 2025 at 5:06 AM
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The 2025-26 NHL season will feature two competitions.
First, there is the battle for the Stanley Cup. The Florida Panthers will try to become the first NHL team to win three consecutive titles since the New York Islanders won four in a row in the early 1980s.
There's also a midseason battle for medals as the NHL shuts down the season and sends its players to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014.
With preseason games already under way, here are the key dates for the 2025-26 NHL season, including opening and closing days, outdoor games, reunions, the Olympic break, the trade deadline and more.
Forward Mitch Marner joined the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/K9ZYPwm class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Mitch Marner joined the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade.
">Forward Mitch Marner joined the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade.
" src=https://ift.tt/K9ZYPwm class=caas-img>Forward Nikolaj Ehlers signed with the Hurricanes.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/uaxskty class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Nikolaj Ehlers signed with the Hurricanes.
">Forward Nikolaj Ehlers signed with the Hurricanes.
" src=https://ift.tt/uaxskty class=caas-img>Mikael Granlund signed with the Ducks.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/o2ShYcu class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Mikael Granlund signed with the Ducks.
">Mikael Granlund signed with the Ducks.
" src=https://ift.tt/o2ShYcu class=caas-img>Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov signed with the Rangers.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ETxkKN9 class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov signed with the Rangers.
">Defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov signed with the Rangers.
" src=https://ift.tt/ETxkKN9 class=caas-img>Forward Pius Suter signed with the Blues.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ZSAGjLE class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Pius Suter signed with the Blues.
">Forward Pius Suter signed with the Blues.
" src=https://ift.tt/ZSAGjLE class=caas-img>Defenseman Nate Schmidt signed with the Mammoth.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/V1QgeET class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Defenseman Nate Schmidt signed with the Mammoth.
">Defenseman Nate Schmidt signed with the Mammoth.
" src=https://ift.tt/V1QgeET class=caas-img>
Defenseman Brent Burns signed with the Avalanche.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/wYDufmT class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Defenseman Brent Burns signed with the Avalanche.
">Defenseman Brent Burns signed with the Avalanche.
" src=https://ift.tt/wYDufmT class=caas-img>Connor Brown signed with the Devils.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/OiEA46x class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Connor Brown signed with the Devils.
">Connor Brown signed with the Devils.
" src=https://ift.tt/OiEA46x class=caas-img>
Forward Jeff Skinner signed with the Sharks.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/jydboC9 class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Jeff Skinner signed with the Sharks.
">Forward Jeff Skinner signed with the Sharks.
" src=https://ift.tt/jydboC9 class=caas-img>
Defenseman Travis Hamonic signed with the Red Wings.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/eiPqw5k class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Defenseman Travis Hamonic signed with the Red Wings.
">Defenseman Travis Hamonic signed with the Red Wings.
" src=https://ift.tt/eiPqw5k class=caas-img>
Defenseman Noah Dobson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/8UQqnNH class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Defenseman Noah Dobson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
">Defenseman Noah Dobson was traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
" src=https://ift.tt/8UQqnNH class=caas-img>
Defenseman K'Andre Miller was traded to the Hurricanes.
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Defenseman K'Andre Miller was traded to the Hurricanes.
">Defenseman K'Andre Miller was traded to the Hurricanes.
" src=https://ift.tt/HlTQYsK class=caas-img>
Forward Mason Marchment was traded to the Kraken.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/rkzYbZ9 class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Mason Marchment was traded to the Kraken.
">Forward Mason Marchment was traded to the Kraken.
" src=https://ift.tt/rkzYbZ9 class=caas-img>Forward Viktor Arvidsson was traded to the Bruins.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/eCESUGt class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Viktor Arvidsson was traded to the Bruins.
">Forward Viktor Arvidsson was traded to the Bruins.
" src=https://ift.tt/eCESUGt class=caas-img>Goaltender John Gibson was traded to the Red Wings.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/giy0eAq class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Goaltender John Gibson was traded to the Red Wings.
">Goaltender John Gibson was traded to the Red Wings.
" src=https://ift.tt/giy0eAq class=caas-img>Forward Chris Kreider was traded to the Ducks.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/Cm4Uc0s class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Chris Kreider was traded to the Ducks.
">Forward Chris Kreider was traded to the Ducks.
" src=https://ift.tt/Cm4Uc0s class=caas-img>
Forward Evander Kane was traded to the Canucks.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/c9tEpdK class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Evander Kane was traded to the Canucks.
">Forward Evander Kane was traded to the Canucks.
" src=https://ift.tt/c9tEpdK class=caas-img>Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Mammoth. Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan went to the Sabres in the trade.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/YnKRsH5 class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Mammoth. Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan went to the Sabres in the trade.
">Forward JJ Peterka was traded to the Mammoth. Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan went to the Sabres in the trade.
" src=https://ift.tt/YnKRsH5 class=caas-img>
Forward Trevor Zegras was traded to the Flyers.
" data-src=https://ift.tt/cXfMt4C class=caas-img data-headline="NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason" data-caption="
Forward Trevor Zegras was traded to the Flyers.
">Forward Trevor Zegras was traded to the Flyers.
" src=https://ift.tt/cXfMt4C class=caas-img>
1 / 39NHL players on the move in the 2025 offseason
Forward Mitch Marner joined the Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade.
When does the NHL regular season begin?
The 2025-26 NHL season opens on Oct. 7 with three games, including the Panthers raising their Stanley Cup banner. All of the games will be broadcast by ESPN
Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers, 5 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers, 8 p.m. ET
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET
Exclusive book: Relive the Panthers' latest Cup
NHL teams' home openers -
Anaheim Ducks: Oct. 14 vs. Penguins
Boston Bruins: Oct. 9 vs. Blackhawks
Buffalo Sabres: Oct. 9 vs. Rangers
Calgary Flames: Oct. 11 vs. Blues
Carolina Hurricanes: Oct. 9 vs. Devils
Chicago Blackhawks: Oct. 11 vs. Canadiens
Colorado Avalanche: Oct. 9 vs. Mammoth
Columbus Blue Jackets: Oct. 13 vs. Devils
Dallas Stars: Oct. 14 vs. Wild
Detroit Red Wings: Oct. 9 vs. Canadiens
Edmonton Oilers: Oct. 8 vs. Flames
Florida Panthers: Oct. 7 vs. Blackhawks
Los Angeles Kings: Oct. 7 vs. Avalanche
Minnesota Wild: Oct. 11 vs. Blue Jackets
Montreal Canadiens: Oct. 14 vs. Kraken
Nashville Predators: Oct. 9 vs. Blue Jackets
New Jersey Devils: Oct. 16 vs. Panthers
New York Islanders: Oct. 11 vs. Capitals
New York Rangers: Oct. 7 vs. Penguins
Ottawa Senators: Oct. 13 vs. Predators
Philadelphia Flyers: Oct. 13 vs. Panthers
Pittsburgh Penguins: Oct. 9 vs. Islanders
St. Louis Blues: Oct. 9 vs. Wild
San Jose Sharks: Oct. 9 vs. Golden Knights
Seattle Kraken: Oct. 9 vs. Ducks
Tampa Bay Lightning: Oct. 9 vs. Senators
Toronto Maple Leafs: Oct. 8 vs. Canadiens
Utah Mammoth: Oct. 15 vs. Flames
Vancouver Canucks: Oct. 9 vs. Flames
Vegas Golden Knights: Oct. 8 vs. Kings
Washington Capitals: Oct. 8 vs. Bruins
Winnipeg Jets: Oct. 9 vs. Stars
When is Alex Ovechkin's opening game?
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who broke Wayne Gretzky's goal record last season, has a chance to break another one this season. He needs 43 goals to break the Hall of Famer's record of 1,016 combined regular season and playoff goals.
Ovechkin, who combined for 49 goals last season, opens the season on Oct. 8 at home against the Boston Bruins. He is entering the final year of his contract.
What days do all 32 NHL teams play?
All 32 teams will play on the same day twice this season: Oct. 11 and Oct. 28.
When does Brad Marchand return to Boston?
The longtime Bruins star was traded to the Panthers in March and won a Stanley Cup there. He re-signed with Florida for six years and will return to Boston on Oct. 21.
When is the Hall of Fame game?
The Bruins will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 8. Two former Bruins – Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton – are among the Hockey Hall of Fame inductees. Chara, Thornton, Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker and builders Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau will be inducted on Nov. 10.
When is the NHL Global Series?
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators will play at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden on Nov. 14 and 16. Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell and Nashville's Filip Forsberg are Swedish.
When is the Stanley Cup Final rematch?
The Panthers, who downed Edmonton in the Stanley Cup Final the last two years, will host the Oilers on Nov. 22. They teams will also play in Edmonton on March 19.
When is the Winter Classic?
The Winter Classic will be held on Jan. 2 at the Miami Marlins' LoanDepot Park. The Panthers will host the New York Rangers at 8 p.m. ET.
When will Olympic teams be named?
No firm date has been set, but full teams are expected to be named in early January.
When does Jonathan Toews return to Chicago?
Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL after taking two seasons off for health reasons, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets. The three-time Stanley Cup champion and former longtime Blackhawks captain plays in Chicago on Jan. 19.
When does Mitch Marner return to Toronto?
Mitch Marner went to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade. He visits his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Jan 23.
When is the Stadium Series game?
The Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins outdoors on Feb. 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Raymond James Stadium.
When is the Olympic break?
The NHL will take a break from Feb. 6-24 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The men's gold medal game is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22.
When is the NHL trade deadline?
The trade deadline will be at 3 p.m. ET on March 6, 2026.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The regular season is scheduled to end with six games on April 16, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does 2025-26 NHL regular season start? Key dates, home openers
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