The 2025-26 NHL season is packed with marquee events and international action to keep fans and bettors engaged from the opening puck drop through the offseason.
An NHL return to the 2026 Olympics in Milan highlights the campaign, with a Global Series in Stockholm and a pair of outdoor games in Florida complementing all the annual traditions we’re accustomed to.
Here’s a quick look at the key dates for the 2025-26 NHL season to mark on your calendar.
Key dates for 2025-26 NHL season
October 7, 2025: NHL regular season begins
The NHL regular season gets underway with a trio of games all airing on ESPN and Sportsnet:
- Chicago Blackhawks at Florida Panthers (5:00 p.m. ET)
- Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers (8:00 p.m. ET)
- Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET)
All eyes will be on the defending champion Florida Panthers to open the season, while the nightcap includes Colorado Avalanche superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
October 8, 2025: Alex Ovechkin's first regular-season game
After setting the NHL regular-season record for the most goals in NHL history last April, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will hit the ice to start his 21st season in the league.
November 8, 2025: Hockey Hall of Fame Game
The Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 8 ahead of the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions on November 10. Former Bruins Zdeno Chara and Joe Thornton headline the class, joined by Duncan Keith, Alexander Mogilny, Jennifer Botterill, Brianna Decker, and builders Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau.
November 14 & 16, 2025: NHL Global Series in Stockholm
50 dagar kvar tills NHL intar Stockholm! 🇸🇪 #NHLGlobalSeries pic.twitter.com/xuY516b8wl
— NHL Sverige (@NHLsv) September 25, 2025
The NHL heads back to Sweden, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators meeting for two regular-season games at Avicii Arena. Pittsburgh makes its first European trip in 17 years, while Nashville plays in Sweden for the first time.
December 20-27, 2025: Holiday roster freeze
A roster freeze is applied to all players on an NHL active roster, injured reserve, or with non-roster and injured non-roster status with respect to waivers, trades, and loans, subject to the exceptions provided for in CBA Article 16.5 (d).
January 2, 2026: NHL Winter Classic in Miami
The Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in the 2026 Winter Classic, which will also be the southernmost outdoor game in NHL history and beginning of a month-long celebration of hockey in Florida.
January 17, 2026: Hockey Day in Canada in Moncton
Moncton hosts Hockey Day in Canada for the first time, showcasing all seven Canadian NHL teams in action. The celebration includes features from coast to coast and a home game for the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.
February 1, 2026: NHL Stadium Series in Tampa
The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL #StadiumSeries will set sail in Tampa Bay on February 1. ⛵︎ pic.twitter.com/mqwJ310vXY
— NHL (@NHL) August 5, 2025
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium for the 2026 NHL Stadium Series, the second of two outdoor games in Florida. This matchup caps a month-long celebration of hockey in the Sunshine State.
February 5, 2026: Final game before Olympic break
The Vegas Golden Knights will host the Los Angeles Kings in the final game before the Olympic break.
February 6-24, 2026: Olympic break
With just over 5 months until the puck drops on the most anticipated best-on-best hockey event in 12 years, I break down which nation has the best chance at Olympic glory, via @SBRReview: 👇 pic.twitter.com/4d6n3Aa92h
— Gary Pearson (@newagejourno) October 1, 2025
NHL players will return to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, and the league will pause the schedule for the best-on-best showdown in Milan, Italy. Olympic rosters are expected to be announced in January.
February 25, 2026: NHL action resumes following Olympic break
- Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils
- Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
- Seattle Kraken at Dallas Stars
- Colorado Avalanche at Utah Mammoth
March 6, 2026: NHL trade deadline
The cutoff for NHL teams to make trades is Friday, March 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET, and it’s the last chance for Stanley Cup odds contenders to beef up their rosters and acquire the missing pieces to bolster their lineup.
April 16, 2026: Regular season finale
The final day of the 2025-26 NHL regular season features a six-game slate and likely at least one or two playoff scenarios still to be played out.
- Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators
- San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets
- St. Louis Blues at Utah Mammoth
- Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames
- Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers
- Seattle Kraken at Colorado Avalanche
July 1, 2026: NHL free agency begins
The 2026 NHL Draft is likely to feature a number of transactions, and the beginning of free agency on July 1 is a second opportunity for teams to tweak their rosters during the offseason.
To be determined:
- Beginning of the 2025-26 NHL Playoffs
- 2026 NHL Awards
- 2026 NHL Draft Lottery
- 2026 NHL Draft
