2025-2026 NHL Schedule: Full Guide to Games, Dates, and Events

The National Hockey League (NHL) unveiled its 2025-2026 regular season schedule on July 16, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET, encompassing 1,312 games involving 32 teams. This NHL schedule guide chronicles significant dates, top matchups, world events, player returns, and television information for an exciting season.
NHL 2025-2026 Opening Night Games
The 2025-2026 NHL schedule release has opening night on October 7, 2025, beginning with a televised tripleheader:
- Florida Panthers vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5 p.m. ET, Amerant Bank Arena): Stanley Cup two-time defending champions Panthers hoist their banner against Connor Bedard's Blackhawks.
- New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden): Mike Sullivan meets his former team, led by Sidney Crosby, in a battle of bitter division rivals.
- Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche (10:30 pm ET, Crypto.com Arena): A Western Conference matchup wraps up the evening.
Best Early Season NHL Games
The 2025-2026 NHL Schedule has early games highlights of:
- October 8, 2025 : TNT doubleheader includes Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals and Mitch Marner's Vegas Golden Knights debut against Los Angeles Kings.
- Canadian Rivalries: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames vs. Edmonton Oilers on October 8.
- Prime Monday Night Hockey (October 13): St. Louis Blues vs. Vancouver Canucks and Maple Leafs vs. Detroit Red Wings.
NHL Global Series 2025 in Sweden
On Nov. 14 and 16, 2025, the Nashville Predators welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins to Stockholm, Sweden, for the NHL Global Series. Sidney Crosby's return to Sweden for regular-season action since 2008 is one of the league's international outreach programs.
NHL Winter Classic and Stadium Series 2026
Two outdoor games give some weight to the season:
- NHL Winter Classic (Jan. 2, 2026, LoanDepot Park): Florida Panthers host New York Rangers for Florida's inaugural outdoor contest.
- NHL Stadium Series (Feb. 1, 2026, Raymond James Stadium): Boston Bruins host Tampa Bay Lightning in an NFL stadium.
Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada 2026
Seven Canadian teams play them all on January 17, 2026, including Montreal Canadiens vs Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs vs Winnipeg Jets, embracing Canada's passion for hockey.
NHL Olympic Break and Season Schedule
The NHL 2026 Schedule features an 18-day Olympic break from February 5 to 24, 2026, which is when the 2026 Winter Olympics are in Milan, Italy. See the NHL return to Olympic play for the first time since 2014. The regular season concludes in April 2026, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Finals take place in June, 2026.
Must See NHL Rivalries and Rematches
The NHL Schedule release did it's due diligences having these games to look forward to:
- Stanley Cup Final Rematch: Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers on November 22, 2025 (Florida) and March 19, 2026 (Edmonton).
- Thanksgiving Showdown: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers on November 28, 2025, an Original Six encounter.
NHL Player Returns and Milestone Moments
Milestone moments and emotional player returns are included in this years 2025-2026 NHL Schedule release:
- Mitch Marner's Toronto Return (January 23, 2026, Scotiabank Arena): Marner, currently playing for the Vegas Golden Knights, returns to the Maple Leafs where he earned 639 points in 576 games.
- Brad Marchand's Boston Homecoming(October 21, 2025, TD Garden): Old Bruins captain, with 1,029 points in 1,029 games, returns home with the Florida Panthers.
- Jonathan Toews' Chicago Reunion (January 19, 2026, United Center): Three-time Stanley Cup champion (883 points in 1,067 games) is coming back, likely with a new team.
- Crosby vs. Ovechkin Rivalry: Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals play each other several times for the final time with Ovechkin's pending retirement, extending the legendary Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin rivalry, with the two stars pursuing record milestones.
Key Notes for the 2025-2026 NHL Season Schedule
The 2025-2026 NHL Schedule is the final year of the 82-game structure prior to expanding in 2026-2027 to 84 games. Utah Hockey Club, the previous Utah Mammoth, unveils its new brand. Offseason roster moves create suspense.
The 2025-2026 NHL schedule release creates suspense with opening night, international play, outdoor play, and the return of players. Supporters can follow on multiple channels and set their season at NHL.com and find daily content here at Fantasy Alarm once the season starts!
Player News
ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports Ja’Lynn Polk will practice on Monday.
Monday will mark Polk’s first practice of training camp. The second-year receiver missed the early part of training camp due to muscle tightness, but now he’ll suit up as he looks to battle not only for playing time but perhaps a spot on the 53-man roster. Reiss suggested earlier this offseason that Polk, who was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft, may not be a lock to make the 53-man roster under the Patriots’ new coaching regime, and the addition of Stefon Diggs and Kyle Williams this offseason could make snaps hard to come by.
The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider reports Trent Sherfield has been “a frequent target” in training camp.
A core contributor on special teams for most of his career, Sherfield’s best offensive season as a pro came in 2022 when he caught 30 passes for 417 yards and two touchdowns with the Dolphins. The only other year in which he produced 100-plus receiving yards came in his 2018 rookie campaign (19-210-1). Head coach Sean Payton praised Sherfield for his field-stretching abilities and the work he’s done in camp as a run blocker. Given his career arc at this point, it’s hard to imagine there being a meaningful offensive role for Sherfield entering his eighth season. That said, the Broncos mixed and matched their receivers for much of last season, with Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele being the only two to surpass 315 routes run, per PFF. It wouldn’t be surprising if we looked back on this moment as nothing more than training camp buzz, but it’s something for fantasy managers to remember who may be eyeing secondary targets like Vele or Marvin Mims late in drafts.
Forrest Whitley threw five shutout innings while allowing just two hits for Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
The 27-year-old struck out nine and walked two on the day while throwing 53 of his 78 pitches for strikes. Since Whitley has moved into the starting rotation in Durham, he has a 1.98 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 23/3 K/BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings. It’s a small sample size, but perhaps the Rays have figured out a pitch mix that will work for Whitley. Now if only they can find a way to also keep him healthy.
Bryce Eldridge went 1-for-4 with a walk, a home run, and four RBI for Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday.
It was the 20-year-old’s fourth home run in the last six games, but he is hitting just .237/.318/.579 in July after missing almost a month with a hamstring strain. The Giants will likely keep Eldridge at Triple-A and try to get Rafael Devers more reps at first base, but the team is only two games over .500 and slipping out of the playoff race, so there’s a chance their top prospect will get MLB at-bats later this summer.
Rockies 1B/3B prospect Kyle Karros went 2-for-4 with a solo home run for Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.
Karros, the son of former Dodgers’ first baseman Eric Karros, was promoted to Triple-A a little over a week ago, so this is his first home run at the level. On the season, Karros is hitting .297/.401/.460 in 67 games at Double-A and Triple-A with five home runs, 24 RBI, seven steals, and a 54/39 K/BB ratio. He could push to be the team’s starting first baseman in 2026.
Bills HC Sean McDermott said Dalton Kincaid won’t practice on Monday due to knee soreness.
The injuries continue to mount for the Bills during their first week of training camp. Monday marks the first day of padded practice for the Bills, but Kincaid won’t be among those participating as he deals with knee soreness that may or may not keep him out beyond Monday’s practice. The third-year tight end dealt with a myriad of injuries in 2025, including a torn PCL in the knee that’s currently sidelining him in camp. Dawson Knox would become the Bills’ tight end to roster in fantasy if Kincaid were ever to miss extensive time, but for now, this is a situation worth monitoring.