Full 2025-26 NHL schedule unveiled
Published
The full 2025-26 NHL schedule was released Wednesday, starting with the reveal of home openers.
Key dates of the calendar include Stanley Cup rematches between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 22 in Sunrise and on March 19 in Edmonton. Former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner will make his return to the Toronto on Jan. 23 as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights and Nikolaj Ehlers will be Winnipeg as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes on Nov. 21.
All 32 teams will be in action twice this season, on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Jan. 17 will mark Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada and will feature all seven Canadian teams in action, including Montreal at Ottawa; Toronto at Winnipeg; NY Islanders at Calgary; and Edmonton at Vancouver.
The league calendar will pause from Feb. 6-24 as NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Canadian Home Openers
The Toronto Maple Leafs will open the season at home against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 8. The Edmonton Oilers start their season that same night, hosting the Calgary Flames.
The Winnipeg Jets will open their season at home on Oct. 9 against the Dallas Stars, who eliminated them in the second round of the playoffs this past spring.
The Vancouver Canucks will begin their season at home that same night against the Flames. Calgary hosts the St. Louis Blues on Oct. 11 in their first home game.
The Ottawa Senators will play their home opener on Oct. 13 against the Nashville Predators. The Senators will play in the Tampa Bay Lightning's home opener on Oct. 9.
The Canadiens will also have to wait for their first home game, which comes on Oct. 14 against the Seattle Kraken. Montreal will visit the Detroit Red Wings for their home opener on Oct. 9 as well as the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 11.
For the American teams, the Boston Bruins' home opener is against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks on Oct. 9 at TD Garden while the Nashville Predators will host the Columbus Blue Jackets that same night at Bridgestone Arena.
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will host the Bruins on Oct. 8. The Capitals will visit the New York Islanders for their home opener on Oct. 11.
The Vegas Golden Knights host the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 8 while the Buffalo Sabres will take on the New York Rangers on Oct. 9. The Sharks will host the Golden Knights on Oct. 9 for their home opener.
In Anaheim, the Ducks will also have to wait until Oct. 14 for their home opener as they will take on Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. The Ducks will be in Seattle as part of the Kraken's home opener on Oct. 9.
The Stars will also hold their home opener that night, hosting Central Division rival Minnesota Wild. The Wild will visit fellow Central Division member, the St. Louis Blues, to kick off their season on Oct. 9.
Utah will debut as the Mammoth this season after going by Utah Hockey Club last season after moving from Arizona. The Mammoth will have to wait to unveil their new name in front of their home fans until Oct. 15, when they take on the Flames.
The NHL previously announced the season will open Oct. 7 with the Florida Panthers hosting the Blackhawks, the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the New York Rangers and the Colorado Avalanche facing the Los Angeles Kings.