NHL Schedule 2015-16: Opening Day, All-Star Weekend and Key Dates Released

The Stanley Cup Final ended one week ago, but the NHL isn't taking time to rest. On Thursday, the league announced its 2015-16 schedule, which will begin October 7 and run through April 9. 

According to the official release on NHL.com, the season begins with four games, led by a marquee matchup between the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers at the United Center: 

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The other three games on the opening night of the 2015-16 season: the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs re-new their "Original Six" rivalry at Air Canada Centre; the Vancouver Canucks visit the Calgary Flames in a re-match of a 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round series; and the Los Angeles Kings play host to the San Jose Sharks at STAPLES Center.

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A staple of the NHL schedule since 2008, the New Year's Day Winter Classic will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with the Boston Bruins hosting the Montreal Canadiens. The release notes that the Bruins are the first team to host two Winter Classic games, previously playing Philadelphia in 2010. 

The coming season will also feature two extra games in outdoor stadiums in February. The Blackhawks will play the Minnesota Wild at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium on February 21. Six days later, the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche will meet at Coors Field. 

In 2014, the NHL announced that Nashville would host the 2016 All-Star Weekend. Now, the official dates have been released, with the top players converging on Bridgestone Arena from January 28 through February 1 and the game taking place on Sunday, January 31. 

With all 30 teams playing 82 games, there are 1,230 matchups scheduled for the six-month regular season. That leaves fans with plenty of hockey action to chew on before the action intensifies with the postseason. 

The Blackhawks will be eager to prove that they're still the top Stanley Cup contenders, but will have talented teams like the Lightning, Ducks, Canadiens and even the young Flames gunning to dethrone them. 

The only bad part is the three months fans have to wait between now and the October 7 season-opening date.