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2026 NHL Draft

Here's Everything You Need To Know About The 2025-26 NHL Season

Here's Everything You Need To Know About The 2025-26 NHL Season

As the 2025-26 NHL season gets rolling, there are some things you'll want to know about this how this season is going to take place. Here's what to know.

Sep 23, 2025 by Andy Schamma
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As another National Hockey League (NHL) season winds up across North America, fans everywhere are heading to their nearest barn to watch as hockey teams return to the ice to compete amongst the best.

After a busy offseason and the excitement of the 4 Nations Face-Off, this season promises to be even more exciting as the journey towards the Stanley Cup begins yet again.

This February, the 2026 Winter Olympics add an extra level of spice to the mix, further emphasizing the year of international play that began with the World Juniors in 2025.

After a few weeks of training camps and preseason games, the schedule opens up for the first night of the regular season on October 7, 2025.

From rising stars to established franchises, here's a full preview of what to expect, key dates to add to your calendar, and the biggest storylines to watch for heading into the season.

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Here's what to know.

Here's Everything You Need To Know About The 2025-26 NHL Season

First, the basics. If you're REALLY new here, the NHL season consists of 82 games. Next season, the schedule will feature 84 games.

Each game is made up of three, 20-minute periods with intermissions in between. Overtime during the regular season consists of 3-on-3 hockey for five minutes or until the first team scores. After that, it moves to a shootout.

Teams get points based on winning during regulation time (2), overtime (1), and losing in overtime (1). They receive zero points for a loss during regulation time.

This season is special, however, due to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and the allowance of NHL players' participation. A break will take place in February to accommodate the additional schedule. 

Once the regular season concludes in April, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will take place once again, progressing towards the finals where just one team will raise the cup after winning the best of seven series.

Rebranded at the conclusion of last season, the Utah Hockey Club will return to the ice as Utah Mammoth after the organization generated ideas with help from the local community.

Key Dates For The 2025-26 NHL Season

  • October 7 - First regular season games
  • January 2 - 2026 Winter Classic, Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers
  • February 1 - 2026 Stadium Series, Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins
  • February 5 - Last games before break 
  • February 6-22 - 2026 Winter Olympics
  • February 25 - Games return from break
  • April 16 - Last regular season games
  • April - Start of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
  • June - 2026 Stanley Cup Finals

When does the 2025-26 NHL season start?

The 2025-26 NHL regular season begins play on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 with three games:

  • Chicago Blackhawks vs Florida Panthers at 5:00 p.m. ET
  • Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers at 8:00 p.m. ET
  • Colorado Avalanche vs Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET

When Is the 2026 Winter Classic?

The 2026 Winter Classic featuring Florida Panthers vs New York Rangers is scheduled for January 2, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL.

When Is the 2026 Stadium Series Game?

The 2026 Stadium Series game featuring Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins is scheduled for February 1, 2026 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.

Who Won The Stanley Cup Playoffs In 2025?

The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. The defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Who was the first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft?

The first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft was made by the New York Islanders, who picked Matthew Schaefer, an elite defenseman with expert puck movement skills.

Other Overall Top Picks In 2025

  1. Matthew Schaefer (D) - New York Islanders
  2. Michael Misa (C) - San Jose Sharks
  3. Anton Frondell (C) - Chicago Blackhawks
  4. Caleb Desnoyers (C) - Utah Mammoth
  5. Brady Martin (C) - Nashville Predators
  6. Porter Martone (RW) - Philadelphia Flyers
  7. James Hagens (C) - Boston Bruins
  8. Jake O'Brien (C) - Seattle Kraken
  9. Radim Mrtka (D) - Buffalo Sabres
  10. Roger McQueen (C) - Anaheim Ducks

When is the 2026 NHL Draft?

The 64th annual NHL Entry Draft is expected to be held in the summer of 2026. In 2025, it was held on June 27 and 28.

When and Where Are The Winter Olympics - Milano Cortina 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics, known as Milano Cortina 2026, is scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026. 

Preliminary hockey rounds will begin on Thursday, February 5. Competition will continue throughout the week and conclude with the women's gold medal match on Thursday, February 19. The men's gold medal match will be played on Sunday, February 22 at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place at multiple sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy. Ice events will be hosted in Milan and other events to be hosted around Cortina and in the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys across Italy.

The joint-host were selected in 2019 and are the first Olympic Games to be co-hosted by multiple cities.

Every NHL Team's Minor League Affiliate This Year

Anaheim Ducks Minor League Affiliate 

Boston Bruins Minor League Affiliate 

Buffalo Sabres Minor League Affiliate 

Calgary Flames Minor League Affiliate 

Carolina Hurricanes Minor League Affiliate 

Chicago Blackhawks Minor League Affiliate 

Colorado Avalanche Minor League Affiliate 

Columbus Blue Jackets Minor League Affiliate 

Dallas Stars Minor League Affiliate  

Detroit Red Wings Minor League Affiliate 

Edmonton Oilers Minor League Affiliate 

Florida Panthers Minor League Affiliate 

Los Angeles Kings Minor League Affiliate 

Minnesota Wild Minor League Affiliate 

Montreal Canadians Minor League Affiliate 

Nashville Predators Minor League Affiliate 

New Jersey Devils Minor League Affiliate 

New York Islanders Minor League Affiliate 

New York Rangers Minor League Affiliate 

Ottawa Senators Minor League Affiliate 

Philadelphia Flyers Minor League Affiliate 

Pittsburgh Penguins Minor League Affiliate 

San Jose Sharks Minor League Affiliate

Seattle Kraken Minor League Affiliate 

St. Louis Blues Minor League Affiliate 

Tampa Bay Lightning Minor League Affiliate  

Toronto Maple Leafs Minor League Affiliate 

Utah Mammoth Minor League Affiliate

Vancouver Canucks Minor League Affiliate 

Vegas Golden Knights Minor League Affiliate 

Washington Capitals Minor League Affiliate 

Winnipeg Jets Minor League Affiliate 

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

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