NHL Announces Start Date for 2025-26 Season Ahead of Full Schedule Release

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced Wednesday that the 2025-26 NHL regular season will begin on Oct. 7.

While the full NHL schedule for next season likely won't be announced until July if last year is any indication, there are already a few games locked in for the 2025-26 campaign.

Chief among them is the annual Winter Classic, which will be played between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2, 2026.

Additionally, a second outdoor game is scheduled for Feb 1, 2026, as part of the NHL Stadium Series. That contest will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Tuesday, the NHL announced a two-game series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, next season as well.

The games will be played on Nov. 14 and Nov. 16, 2025, which is just over a month after the start of the 2025-26 season.

Pittsburgh and Nashville will clash at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, marking Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby's first regular-season games in Sweden since 2008.

Also, Swedish stars Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Filip Forsberg are currently lined up to play in those games.

Before the entire 2025-26 slate is announced, the conclusion of an exciting and competitive 2024-25 season will play out, along with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Teams have between 13 and 16 regular-season games remaining before the playoffs begin next month.

The Panthers are the defending Stanley Cup champions, and they are currently leading the Atlantic Division with 85 points, although the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs are on their heels with 83 points each.

Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets are battling it out for the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team with 98 points apiece.