The full 2025-26 NHL schedule has been released.

Fans can now start marking their calendars for those key games they want to attend and possible road trips to embark on.

As we learned earlier this week, the Florida Panthers will play the first game of the NHL season on Tuesday, October 7 when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at 5 p.m.

Florida will also face the Philadelphia Flyers and Ottawa Senators on a season-opening three-game homestand before playing their next five on the road.

Between mid-November and early December, Florida will play 11 out of 12 games on home ice.

In terms of road trips, the Panthers’ longest will be two five-gamers, one in October and one in April, and a six-game road trip in January.

Florida’s first rematch with the Edmonton Oilers will come on Saturday, November 22 in Sunrise.

The Cats will end the season with five of seven on the road, but the final two regular season games will be on home ice against the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

You can check out the full schedule below:

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Photo caption: May 20, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) enters the ice for warmup prior to the during the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

On Wednesday afternoon, the NHL released the 2025-26 regular-season schedule. 

The New Jersey Devils will kick things off witha three-gameroad trip beginning on Thursday,  Oct. 9, against the Carolina Hurricanes. The club will also visit the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

There is a benefit to beginning the season on the road away from Newark, as it presents an opportunity for new additions Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov, as well as Arseni Gritsyuk if he makes the roster, to spend time with their new teammates and build chemistry and camaraderie. There are also fewer distractions from family and friends as the group spends more time together on the road. 

The club's first home game at Prudential Center will take place exactly three months from now on Thursday, Oct. 16, against the defending champions, the Florida Panthers.  New Jersey earned a 2-0-1 record against Florida last season, and outscored Florida 11-5 in those games.

Key Dates 

- New Jersey will host the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 7. 

- Head coach Sheldon Keefe will get his first opportunity to earn a win against his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Oct. 21 at Scotiabank Arena. 

- Former Devil Curtis Lazar will return to Prudential Center with the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 18.

- Ex-Devils forward Erik Haula and the Nashville Predators will fly to Newark for a Jan. 29 game.   

- On Jan. 3, 2026, the Devils will host the Utah Mammoth. It will be John Marino's first game back at Prudential Center since being traded on June 29, 2024. It marks the second time he will face his former team. 

The NHL season will begin on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with a tripleheader on ESPN, beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET, as the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers, face the Blackhawks at Amerant Bank Arena. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Pittsburgh Penguins will visit MSG and the Rangers. The night will conclude with the Colorado Avalanche taking on the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 p.m. ET. 

The entire Devils' 2025-26 schedule can be viewed here. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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Photo Credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled their 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday.

With Mitch Marner departing the Maple Leafs for the Vegas Golden Knights, all eyes are on when the Thornhill, Ontario, native will make his anticipated return to Scotiabank Arena. That will take place on Jan. 23, 2026. 

The Maple Leafs will host the Montreal Canadiens to open the regular season on Oct. 8.

San Jose Sharks forward Ryan Reaves returns to Toronto on Dec. 11.

The Maple Leafs will host Pontus Holmberg and the Tampa Bay Lightning on Dec. 8.

REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE NOTES

• Longest home stand: Five games (3x) – October 13 to October 21, December 6 to December 16, January 19 to January 27

• Longest road stretch: Six games (2x) – November 22 to December 4, January 29 to February 26

• Number of back-to-back games: 15

• Busiest month: 16 games – January

• Busiest home month: Eight games (3x) – October, December, January

• Busiest road month: Nine games – March

• Busiest day of the week: Saturday – 23 games (10 home, 13 road)

(Top image credit:  Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

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For Ottawa Senators fans, fresh off the club's first playoff appearance since 2017, the countdown to October has never felt more exciting.

The NHL officially released the Senators' 2025-26 regular season schedule on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Senators begin with a Florida road trip they'd probably prefer to save for later in the season when Ottawa's weather turns cold. They face the Tampa Bay Lightning on October 9 and the Florida Panthers on October 11. The Sens home opener at Canadian Tire Centre will be on October 13th against the Nashville Predators.

After playing just three regular-season games against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs last season, the league saw fit to get them together the usual four times this season. But we'll have to wait almost half the season for the first meeting on December 27.

The Senators have a seven-game road trip at the end of November. Their tour takes them through Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas and Montreal. According to the team, it will be third-longest road trip in team history. The Sens had a nine-gamer last season when the World Junior Tournament chased them out of their building.

As was the case for last year's 4 Nations Face-off, things will shut down in February for the Winter Olympics. This one will be a 20-day-long break as eligible active NHL players return to Olympic hockey for the first time in eight years. 

2025-26 Ottawa Senators Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 9 at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11 at Florida, 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct 13 vs. Nashville, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 16 vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 21 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 23 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25 at Washington, 7 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 27 vs. Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Chicago, 8:45 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30 vs. Calgary, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 6 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 8 at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 9 vs. Utah, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 13 vs. Boston, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Los Angeles, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 20 at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 22 at San Jose, 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 24 at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Vegas, 10 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 28 at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30 at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Montreal, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 4 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 6 vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 9 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 11 at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 13 at Minnesota, 2 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 15 at Winnipeg, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18 vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20 vs. Chicago, 3 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 21 at Boston, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 23 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 27 at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 29 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 1 vs. Washington, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 5 vs. Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 7 at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 8 at Colorado, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 10 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 13 vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 14 at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 17 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18 at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22 at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 vs. Vegas, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 31 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 2 at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 5 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 26 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 28 at Toronto, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 3 at Edmonton, 9 p.m.

Thursday, March 5 at Calgary, 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 7 at Seattle, 10 p.m.

Monday, March 9 at Vancouver, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, March 11 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 14 vs. Anaheim, 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 15 vs. San Jose, 5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 18 at Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 19 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 21 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 23 at N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 24 at Detroit, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 26 vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 28 at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, March 31 at Florida, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 2 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 4 vs. Minnesota, 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 5 vs. Carolina, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, April 7 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 9 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 11 at N.Y. Islanders, 1 p.m.

Sunday, April 12 at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 15 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.

After playing just three regular-season games against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs last season, the league saw fit to get them together the usual four times this season. But we'll have to wait almost half the season for the first meeting on December 27.

The Senators have a seven-game road trip at the end of November. Their tour takes them through Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Dallas and Montreal. According to the team, it will be third-longest road trip in team history. The Sens had a nine-gamer last season when the World Junior Tournament chased them out of their building.

As was the case for last year's 4 Nations Face-off, things will shut down in February for the Winter Olympics. This one will be a 20-day-long break as eligible active NHL players return to Olympic hockey for the first time in eight years. 

The NHL announced on Monday that the 2025-26 regular season will open on Oct. 7.

The league opted to go with a horrible mismatch to kick things off. They announced on Monday that the first game of the season will be in Florida, where the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers will host the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News - Ottawa

Image Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

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Seattle - The Seattle Kraken announced their first regular season game at home will be on October 9th against the Anaheim Ducks at Climate Pledge with the remainder of the regular season schedule rumored to be released later today. The Kraken will look to win their first opening night after going 0-4 in their first four seasons as a franchise.

This matchup will feature two fresh head coaches coaches on their respective teams, Joel Quenneville for the Ducks, and Lane Lambert for the Kraken. Quenneville is back behind an NHL bench after a hiatus, last coaching the Florida Panthers in the 2021-22 season. This will be Lambert's first home game as Kraken head coach after serving as an associate head coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs last season.

8️⃣5️⃣ days until we're back in The Deep 🌊 pic.twitter.com/vUFFM65dLc

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 16, 2025

This Ducks team will also look quite different to Kraken fans with the departures of star goalie John Gibson (Detroit Red Wings) and flashy forward Trevor Zegras (Philadelphia Flyers), however, the Ducks did add veteran presence in winger, Chris Kreider in a trade with the New York Rangers and signed center, Mikael Granlund toa three-year deal in free agency.

The Kraken are 9-4-1 against the Ducks all time and had a record of 0-2-1 last season. The Kraken also have an 0-4 record on opening day, losing to the Vancouver Canucks (2021), Vegas Golden Knights (2022), Colorado Avalanche (2023), and St. Louis Blues (2024).

Related

Seattle Kraken Announce 2025 Preseason ScheduleThe Seattle Kraken have announced their preseason schedule for the 2025-26 season. They will play six games in total and kick things off against the Vancouver Canucks, on Sunday, September 21st at Climate Pledge Arena. This will be a great chance to see young prospects and veterans in action throughout the training camp process.

Featured graphic by - via nhl.com/kraken

Hero graphic by - via nhl.com/kraken

The Edmonton Oilers are under the microscope in our NHL prospect pool overview series.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Oilers’ strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart, next player in line for an NHL opportunity and more. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises, with some exceptions.

Initial Thoughts

The Oilers made and lost the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back seasons, so they haven’t been focused on their prospect pipeline much in recent years. 

They don’t have much in the way of immediate impact prospects, but a couple of shrewd moves over the last couple of off-seasons gave them their top two prospects. Edmonton must find players who can help Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, two of the best players on Earth.

Last week, the Oilers acquired Hobey Baker Award winner, Isaac ‘Ike’ Howard, from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Sam O’Reilly, drafted 32nd overall in 2024 by Edmonton. Howard’s relationship with the Lightning had soured over the last year or two, and the breakup was telegraphed since before he even won the Hobey Baker in April. Oilers management made a smart move to jump all over the possibility of adding him.

Howard can jump into the lineup immediately. The left winger’s speed should keep up with the Oilers’ top guns. His shot is a weapon, but his overall offensive creation should excite Oilers fans the most. Whether he’s handling the puck in traffic and slipping a pass through a hole or working one-touch give-and-go passes off the rush, Howard has the tools and the offensive instincts to make an immediate impact.

Last off-season, the Oilers acquired Matt Savoie from the Buffalo Sabres. Although he played only four NHL games this past year, Savoie showed he’s on the cusp of reaching The Show.

Savoie is undersized at 5-foot-9, but his offensive skill and speed should be assets for the Oilers if they allow him to make some mistakes. He has the highest upside of any player in the Oilers' system. The silky-smooth forward should see more than a handful of NHL games this season. 

William Nicholl has outplayed his draft position just a year after being selected in the seventh round. His pace and motor are the foundation of his game. He doesn’t have the offensive skill to be a top-six forward at the next level, but he was fantastic for the London Knights as they worked toward a Memorial Cup win. His details and defensive game should give him a shot at an NHL bottom-six role one day. 

After a 104-point season in 2023-24, Dalyn Wakely finished his OHL career with a massive step back in 2024-25, notching just 58 points. Now, he will look to regain his scoring touch playing NCAA hockey with UMass-Lowell. His assist number tanked to 35 from 65 after moving to the Barrie Colts and leaving a strong squad in North Bay. Wakely often gets involved in puck battles, throws little reverse hits and engages opposing players. He has a future as a bottom-six player if he can get a bit faster and work on his puckhandling in space. 

On defense, Beau Akey began getting back on track after playing only 14 games in 2023-24, recording 32 points in 52 games in his final OHL season. The smooth-skating puck-mover will jump to the AHL, which should allow him to hone his two-way game. Akey has the potential to be a solid bottom-pair defender with excellent skating mechanics and fluidity that help him advance the puck.

The Oilers acquired Paul Fischer in the aftermath the St. Louis Blues signing Edmonton RFAs Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg to offer sheets last summer. The Blues sent the Oilers a third-round draft pick in 2028 and Fischer for future considerations after Edmonton chose not to match the offer sheets. The deal felt like a gesture of thanks.

Fischer jumped up to the top of the Oilers' defensive pipeline. The defensive defenseman has shown some nice growth as a puck-mover at Notre Dame during two NCAA seasons. He gets involved physically and tries to close down the angles to cut off play. Fischer could be a very solid depth defender if he continues to develop at this rate.

Edmonton’s goalie pipeline isn’t great, but Eemil Vinni has shown some promise. This past season was a bit of a write-off as the Finnish netminder had back surgery prior to the season. That said, his athleticism and size are excellent traits to build on. Vinni will be in line for a bigger role next year.

Key U-23 Players Likely To Play NHL Games This Season

Isaac Howard (LW), Matt Savoie (RW)

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 3, 83rd overall - Tommy Lafreniere, RW, Kamloops (WHL)

Round 4, 117th overall - David Lewandowski, LW, Saskatoon (WHL)

Round 5, 131st overall - Asher Barnett, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 6, 191st overall - Daniel Salonen, G, Lukko Jr. (Fin.)

Round 7, 223rd overall - Aidan Park, C, Green Bay (USHL)

Edmonton didn’t pick until the third round, when they selected Tommy Lafreniere. He isn’t a highly skilled player with the puck, but he makes up for that with effort. Lafreniere doesn’t have a standout trait, but the right winger’s always found a way to make the best of his tools and leverage his relentless motor. He invites contact at times and outworks opponents along the boards. He could have a future as a bottom-six checking forward. 

David Lewandowski is a strong left winger who powers his way around the ice and consistently looks to play a possession-based game. The German has solid puck protection abilities, and he’s flashed some interesting skill to pull pucks to the middle of the ice and take a shot. He must work on his skating and amp up the pace at times, but Lewandowski is a decent bet in the back half of the draft.

There may be more than meets the eye for fifth-round defender Asher Barnett. He plays a fairly simple game, but he moves well, reads play and has the puck skill to get himself out of trouble when needed. Barnett captained Team USA’s U-18 squad this past year and led by putting his body on the line each shift. There is a long way to go, but he’s committed to the University of Michigan in 2026-27 and will be in a prime position to continue his growth. 

The Oilers needed to swing on a goalie in the draft, and their choice was Finnish netminder Daniel Salonen. The 6-foot-3 overage draft pick will turn 20 in December, so there is a little less runway with Salonen than a typical draft pick. He’s had some success at Finland’s second professional level, but he must start to prove himself and possibly get over to North America as soon as his deal ends at the end of the season.

Aidan Park put up 66 points in 55 games as a rookie in the United States League. The Oilers picked the 19-year-old in his second go-around at the NHL draft. With the new NCAA rules allowing CHL players, Park is headed to the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen this upcoming season. He could be in line for a big season by exploding at the WHL level before heading to the University of Michigan the following year. Park is a crafty forward who can bring some power elements to the game when he has the puck. It should be fun to watch him in the WHL next season. 

Strengths

Saying anything is a real strength for the Oilers would be providing false hope. 

Wingers Howard and Savoie could help the NHL roster this season, so that’s a strength for now. When they graduate, the wings will no longer be a strength. The Oilers must add some young talent, but with their eyes set on winning a Cup, no one in Edmonton will be upset if they don’t put much focus on the prospect pool.

Weaknesses

The Oilers’ prospect pipeline is as dry as it comes. 

Aside from a few interesting players, such as Howard, Savoie and Akey, there is a collection of long shots and low-upside players. The fall off after those players is massive. 

Despite having holes everywhere, the lack of effective talent on the back end is a real concern for Edmonton. Even Akey is a bit of a long shot, but the players behind him lack true NHL upside in most cases. The Oilers are in desperate need of finding a couple of defensive prospects to help fill the NHL roster, as some of the current Oilers get older. Right now, they’d have to rely on a journeyman who likely has very little upside to offer. 

Hidden Gem: Beau Akey, D

Akey’s been a bit of a forgotten prospect after losing most of a year to injury and putting up a good but not great campaign to finish his OHL career.

In the AHL, Akey can regain some of his offensive form and leverage his high-level skating to become the player some in Edmonton hoped he could be when they drafted him.

Akey has plenty of runway left, and the AHL is an excellent place for him to further his development. It will allow him to get used to the physicality of pro hockey and get a gauge for where he is moving forward.

Next Man Up: Isaac Howard, LW

The Oilers have needed a talented young winger to step in and establish themselves as a reliable scoring option who can play within the top six and help supplement their star centers. Holloway represented the last great hope of a young player for the top six before he joined the Blues – until now. 

Howard might be the player they need. He has the speed, finishing ability and offensive mind to not only play with McDavid or Draisaitl but actually keep up, unlike so many of their other linemates in past years. He may not keep up on the scoresheet, but he can be a functional offensive option for them.

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Isaac Howard, William Nicholl, David Lewandowski, Matvey Petrov, Roby Jarventie, Maksim Berezkin

C: Dalyn Wakely, Jayden Grubbe, Aidan Park

RW: Matt Savoie, Brady Stonehouse, Tommy Lafreniere, Petr Hauser, Quinn Hutson

LD: Asher Barnett, Paul Fischer, Nikita Yevseyev

RD: Beau Akey, Albin Sundin

G: Eemil Vinni, Daniel Salonen, Samuel Jonsson, Nathaniel Day, Connor Ungar

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of The Hockey News in print.

The NHL schedules will be released today, with each team posting the dates when they play their respective opponents at 1 p.m. ET.

Most schedules will look relatively standard, except for one team that has gone above and beyond to release their upcoming opponents ahead of the schedule release in the most creative way: the Buffalo Sabres.

The Sabres took an approach similar to the National Football League, unveiling their opponents as chicken wings on X, complete with clever captions and playful references.

Our schedule drops tomorrow...so here are our opponents as wings. 🧵

See all teams in the gallery → https://t.co/DWhjzTy44n#LetsGoBuffalo | @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/mewwI3BMFN

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 15, 2025

This creative strategy of taunting opponents is something no other NHL team has attempted this year. The Sabres focused on finding niche references for each team, offering fans fun hints about their opponents.

For example, the Vancouver Canucks, displayed two orange wings on one side of the plate and one blue wing on the other.

The caption? “Where art thou, brother?”

This was a reference to the Hughes brothers, Jack and Luke, who both play for the Devils (orange wings), and Quinn Hughes in Vancouver (blue wing).

For the New Jersey Devils, the Sabres posted a single wing covered in flames with the caption: “Hell.”

7/8 #LetsGoBuffalo | @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/3HBhodLKGY

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 15, 2025

The Sabres modeled their schedule release after the NFL, which has mastered turning schedule announcements into major social media events. The NFL’s creative reveals generate buzz from both fans and media.

Of course, the NHL faces a challenge the NFL doesn’t: there are 82 games instead of 17. Creating a detailed video for every matchup would result in something closer to a 30-minute production.

Instead, the Sabres thought outside the box, revealing their full season of opponents in a clever, digestible format.

This type of creativity should become part of NHL culture. It sparks media coverage, excites fans, and adds personality to the league. Who doesn’t love a little shade thrown at rival teams?

The Sabres nailed it, incorporating subtle digs into their posts.

Take their representation of the New York Rangers, for example. 

At first glance, the image of the wing seems harmless. But remember when Rangers staffers were given restrictions on access to players following an alleged conflict involving a staffer and a player? The Sabres hinted at that drama by positioning the Rangers’ wing far from the camera. Keeping the admin a safe distance from the wing.

They didn’t stop there. The Toronto Maple Leafs’ wing was drizzled with sauce, nothing unusual, until you read the caption: “Choking hazard.” A not-so-subtle jab at Toronto’s playoff struggles.

While all of this was done in good fun, it highlights something important: more NHL teams should embrace this level of creativity. With an hour left before the official schedule drop, other teams still have a chance to jump on board, but so far, the Sabres stand alone.

Hockey is fun. Why leave the chirping to the players? Let the social media teams have their moment to shine.

Photo Credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens are adding to their center depth.

The Canadiens have announced that they have signed Joe Veleno to a one-year, one-way contract. 

Pen to paper! The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, one-way contract with forward Joe Veleno.

News release ↓ #GoHabsGo | Montblanc Boutique Montréalhttps://t.co/CUE2zccT15

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 16, 2025

Veleno's salary with the Canadiens on his new deal will be $900,000, The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reports.

$900,000 for Veleno https://t.co/7JjozNvQw8

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) July 16, 2025

Veleno, 25, was viewed as a potential target for the Canadiens, and he is now officially heading to Montreal. He will now offer them another experienced option to work with for their bottom six.

Veleno appeared in 74 games this past season split between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks, where he posted eight goals, 17 points, and 139 hits. He was traded to the Seattle Kraken this off-season but then immediately bought out, making him an unrestricted free agent.

In 306 career NHL games over five seasons, Veleno has recorded 38 goals, 43 assists, 81 points, and 529 hits. He was selected by the Red Wings with the 30th overall pick back in 2018.

Report: Ex-Leafs Kadri Would Be Willing To Join CanadiensIt has been an excellent off-season for the Montreal Canadiens, as they notably brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson and young forward Zack Bolduc in two separate trades. Yet, they might not be done yet, as there has been plenty of talk about the Canadiens wanting to find an upgrade for their second-line center spot. 

Photo Credit: © Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

Most of the recent trade speculation surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins is focused on Erik Karlsson. Their acquisition of right-shot blueliner Matt Dumba has some observers believing the 35-year-old defenseman will soon be on his way out of Pittsburgh.

However, their addition of goaltender Arturs Silovs earlier this week raises questions about Tristan Jarry's future in Pittsburgh. 

A frequent subject of trade rumors for the past two seasons, the 30-year-old Jarry has battled inconsistency as the Penguins' starting goaltender. He spent some time with their AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season as he struggled to regain his form. 

Daily Faceoff's Jeff Marek noted the addition of Silovs to the Penguins' goalie ranks. With promising Joel Blomqvist expected to take on a larger role this season, he wondered if Jarry would be traded and what it could cost the Penguins to move him. 

Marek suggested the Edmonton Oilers as a trade partner. It's rumored they could seek an upgrade between the pipes, but no suitable options have appeared thus far. 

Jarry's inconsistent play isn't an improvement over Edmonton's current tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Assuming the Oilers were willing to acquire him, they lack sufficient cap space even with the Penguins retaining half of his $5.375 million average annual value through 2027-28.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Mike Matheson has surfaced as a trade candidate in the rumor mill following the Canadiens' acquisition of Noah Dobson last month. 

GM Kent Hughes has denied that Matheson would be shopped. However, the 31-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July, prompting some observers to suggest he would make a good trade chip to add an experienced second-line center. 

Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens' executive VP of hockey operations, recently reiterated the club's commitment to Matheson. He told RG.Org's James Murphy he's pleased with the blueliner's performance, citing his leadership, experience, all-around skills and his ability to log 25 minutes per game. 

Gorton and Hughes could change their minds about Matheson if the rebuilding Canadiens are out of playoff contention by the March trade deadline. For now, however, the veteran defenseman will be in their lineup when they open the season in October.

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Takeaways, important dates from Bruins' 2025-26 regular season schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Bruins are hoping for a bounce-back during the 2025-26 NHL season.

After reaching the playoffs in eight consecutive years, the Bruins not only failed to quality last season, they also finished tied for the fourth-worst record in the league. Injuries, lackluster goaltending and a lack of scoring depth were among the issues that plagued the B’s.

The Bruins have not yet made any major upgrades to their roster this offseason. General manager Don Sweeney signed a bunch of bottom-six forwards in free agency and traded for middle-six left wing Viktor Arvidsson. The most notable offseason change for the Bruins was the hiring of Marco Sturm as the new head coach.

A fast start to the 2025-26 season would be very helpful for the Bruins as far as building some momentum that can propel them back to the playoffs. The B’s typically have been a fast-starting team. They went 10-2-0 to begin 2022-23 and 10-1-1 to start 2023-24. But last season, a lackluster 8-9-3 start cost Jim Montgomery his job as head coach.

All 32 teams announced their 2025-26 regular season schedule Wednesday afternoon.

A fast start in 2025-26 could be a bit of a challenge for the Bruins since 14 of their first 21 games are against teams that made the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including a season-opening matchup Oct. 8 versus the Washington Capitals on the road.

Let’s take a look at some key dates and takeaways from the Bruins’ 82-game slate.

Save the dates 🗓️🏒 pic.twitter.com/7nlmOis2Qf

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 16, 2025

Home opener

The Bruins’ first game at TD Garden is scheduled for Oct. 9 against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks were the Bruins’ home opener opponent for the 2023-24 campaign, too.

Black Friday matinee

The Black Friday matinee returns to TD Garden on Nov. 28 when the Bruins host the rival New York Rangers. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

2026 Stadium Series

The Bruins will play another outdoor game, this time against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 1 as part of the 2026 Stadium Series. Raymond James Stadium, where the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play, will be the venue.

Rivalry matchups

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Bruins’ best rivalry right now is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. These two Original Six franchises have met in the playoffs four times in the last 13 years, and most recently in 2024.

But with the Montreal Canadiens becoming a playoff-caliber team again, maybe the classic Bruins-Canadiens rivalry will get re-ignited this season. It’s been too long since Boston and Montreal had true animosity, and they haven’t squared off in the playoffs since 2014.

The Panthers have become the Bruins’ newest rivals after two hard-fought playoff series in 2023 and 2024. Brad Marchand’s presence on the Panthers could take this rivalry to a new level.

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Nov. 8 at Toronto
• Nov. 11 at Boston
• March 24 at Boston

Montreal Canadiens

• Nov. 15 at Montreal
• Dec. 23 at Boston
• Jan. 24 at Boston
• March 17 at Montreal

Florida Panthers

• Oct. 21 at Boston
• Feb. 4 at Florida
• April 2 at Florida

Reunions

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Brad Marchand: vs. Panthers, Oct. 21

Marchand is one of the best players in Bruins history and likely a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He was injured and did not play in the only Panthers-Bruins matchup at TD Garden after last season’s trade deadline.

We can expect Marchand to receive a raucous ovation in his first game back next season.

Marchand cements Hall of Fame legacy with second Stanley Cup title

Charlie Coyle: vs. Blue Jackets, Feb. 26

Coyle was acquired by the Bruins during the 2018-19 season and played in Boston until he was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche on trade deadline day back in March. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets earlier this month.

Coyle grew up in Weymouth, Mass., and played college hockey at Boston University. He’s a local favorite and should receive a great ovation when he returns.

Brandon Carlo: vs. Maple Leafs, Nov. 11

The Bruins selected Carlo in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft, and he played a significant role on their blue line for many years before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March.

2026 Winter Olympics break

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

NHL players will compete in the men’s ice hockey competition at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. As a result, the league will shut down for about three weeks. The Bruins’ final game before the Olympic break is Feb. 4 versus the Panthers. They will resume their schedule Feb. 26 against the Blue Jackets.

Due to the Olympic break, there will be no All-Star Game this season.

Longest road trip

The Bruins’ longest road trip is five games, and it features a swing through Western Canada.

• Dec. 27 at Buffalo Sabres
• Dec. 29 at Calgary Flames
• Dec. 31 at Edmonton Oilers
• Jan. 3 at Vancouver Canucks
• Jan. 6 at Seattle Kraken

The Bruins also have two four-game road trips.

The first includes a swing through California:

• Nov. 19 at Anaheim Ducks
• Nov. 21 at Los Angeles Kings
• Nov. 23 at San Jose Sharks
• Nov. 26 at New York Islanders

The second is in April:

• April 2 at Florida Panthers
• April 4 at Tampa Bay Lightning
• April 5 at Philadelphia Flyers
• April 7 at Carolina Hurricanes

Regular season finale

For the second straight year, the Bruins will close out the regular season against the New Jersey Devils at TD Garden.

The 2025-26 NHL schedule is set to come out today, Wednesday, at 1 PM ET. Ahead of the release, the Buffalo Sabres decided to show what their opponent would look like as chicken wings.

While some teams got absolutely roasted, like the Toronto Maple Leafs, which received the "Choking Hazard" label, the Sabres opted for the good old "Fish Sticks" for the New York Islanders.

Not only that, but they made sure to say "On" Long Island instead of the incorrect "In". 

#Isleshttps://t.co/XlzxdJAzGPpic.twitter.com/VLo3IamARC

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) July 16, 2025

Here's the full gallery:

Our schedule drops tomorrow...so here are our opponents as wings. 🧵

See all teams in the gallery → https://t.co/DWhjzTy44n#LetsGoBuffalo | @Ticketmasterpic.twitter.com/mewwI3BMFN

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) July 15, 2025

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The New Jersey Devils are currently golden at the goaltender position, as they have veteran Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen on their NHL roster. This veteran duo worked exceptionally well together this past season, and there is no reason to believe that this can't be the case again in 2025-26.

However, besides having two very good veteran goaltenders between the pipes, the Devils also have a very exciting goalie prospect in Mikhail Yegorov in their system. The 19-year-old's high potential has now also earned him some serious praise. 

In a recent article for The Athletic, Scott Wheeler ranked the top 20 drafted NHL goalie prospects, and Yegorov was listed at the No. 4 spot. The only goalies ahead of him on Wheeler's list are Yaroslav Askarov, Jacob Fowler, and Trey Augustine. 

When looking at the 2024-25 season Yegorov had with Boston University (BU), it is understandable that he is being viewed so highly. In 18 games with the school on the year, he posted an 11-6-1 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 2.15 goals-against average. This was after he started the year in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with the Omaha Lancers, posting a 3-12-3 record and .912 save percentage in 19 games. 

Overall, it is hard not to feel optimistic about Yegorov's future after what he did with BU this past season. The 2024 second-round pick still has plenty more time to develop his game with the school, too, so he has the potential to become a key piece for New Jersey later down the road. 

If Yegorov can blossom into an NHL starting goalie in the future, it would be huge for the Devils. While they have Markstrom and Allen now, both goalies are in their mid-30s. Thus, having an exciting 19-year-old goalie prospect like Yegorov in their system is significant. It will be fascinating to see what kind of season he puts together in 2025-26 from here. 

Report: Former Devils Forward Linked To 2 KHL TeamsAfter not being re-signed by the New Jersey Devils this summer, Daniel Sprong remains an unrestricted free agent (UFA). This comes after the 28-year-old winger posted two goals, seven points, and a minus-1 rating in 30 NHL games split between the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, and Devils this past season. He also had 11 goals and 25 points in 19 AHL games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2024-25. 

Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2024–25 report card. Today, we’ll be discussing Vancouver and Abbotsford Canucks forward Linus Karlsson, who played in 23 games for the former and 32 games for the latter. 

In both the NHL and AHL, Karlsson took big steps to carve himself a spot in the Canucks’ lineup in this season and possibly 2025–26. He played his first game of the season with Vancouver on December 19, skating in one other match before being sent back to Abbotsford. Karlsson didn’t make his way back into Vancouver’s playing roster until January 23, though after that, he managed to find a bit of consistency within the lineup. 

Karlsson scored his first NHL goal on January 29 against the Nashville Predators, though in the AHL, he was already scoring at a rapid rate. By mid-March, Karlsson had broken an Abbotsford franchise record in most goals scored as an AHL Canuck in team history with 66. He has since upped his career total to 70 during the regular season. He finished the AHL season with 23 goals and 16 assists in 32 games, coming out to a points-per game pace of 1.21.

On an NHL level, Karlsson found success particularly towards the end of the 2024–25 season. With injuries hitting the Canucks as the season wound down, Karlsson and many of his other Abbotsford peers were given opportunities to prove themselves with the Canucks. In his final 10 games of the season with Vancouver, Karlsson registered two goals and three assists. 

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Karlsson clearly benefitted from the extra time in the NHL this season, as once he got back to Abbotsford for the Calder Cup Playoffs, he exploded offensively. By the end of the AHL postseason, Karlsson led all players in points with 14 goals and 12 assists in 24 games played, averaging a points-per game pace of 1.08. He led all players in goals as well, having five goals over the next highest total. His 11th goal of the postseason also broke an AHL record for most goals scored in a single postseason by a Swedish player. Had it not been for the spectacular play of Artūrs Šilovs during the team’s Calder Cup victory, it’s likely that Karlsson would have won the award for playoff MVP in 2025. 

The Evolution Of Vancouver And Abbotsford Canucks Forward Linus KarlssonWhen the Vancouver Canucks acquired Linus Karlsson on February 25, 2019, fans had mixed feelings. The piece going back to the San Jose Sharks in exchange was Jonathan Dahlén, a player who had previously shown flashes of success alongside franchise cornerstone at the time Elias Pettersson. Some had even referred to the two as the second-coming of the Sedin twins. Still, the 19-year-old Karlsson had the belief of Canucks general manager at the time, Jim Benning, behind him. 

The 2024–25 season was a solid one for Karlsson, who did pretty much what was asked of him by further developing his game and working towards getting himself a solid spot in Vancouver’s lineup. His 23 NHL games this season were a massive step-up from the four he played the season prior. With the team’s roster looking a little clearer now that the first day of free agency has passed, Karlsson has a solid shot at getting himself a spot in the team’s depth ranks. This season, Karlsson receives a B- for the work he did in improving his game. Optimistically, he’ll be able to build on his NHL goal-scoring in the 2025–26 season, making him an even more impactful depth player. 

Player Review Series Articles: 

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko

Jake DeBrusk

Filip Hronek

Brock Boeser

Tyler Myers

Conor Garland

Elias Pettersson (F) 

Quinn Hughes 

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After spending last season watching highlights of Ivan Demidov play with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, Montreal Canadiens’ fans will likely do the same for the next two seasons as the team’s first pick, Alexander Zharovsky, who plays for Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Marco D’Amico from RG.org spoke exclusively to his coach, Viktor Kozlov, about the youngster, and he had some interesting things to say.

He explained why the youngster got an opportunity to try his hand in the KHL playoffs last season because one of the team’s two under-21-year-olds was injured. What is important to note here is that in the KHL, teams have two designated roster spots in addition to their 18 skaters and three goaltenders for junior players from the MHL. This league includes players aged 17 to 20 (see Section 41 of the KHL Regulations).

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According to Kozlov, the plan wasn’t to use Zharovsky much, but he impressed his coach with his poise and maturity on the ice, which earned him extra ice time. The youngster didn’t panic with the puck; he wasn’t in a hurry to get rid of it. Instead, he made good reads, passing it to a teammate, taking a shot, or making a good play for himself.

The coach’s words will be music to Habs fans’ ears, the former NHLer who suited up for 897 games with the San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Capitals, says Zharkovsky clearly has something special, and he is pleasantly surprised by him. He also added:

“It’s obvious that, playing like that, he can create scoring chances. That’s why I gave him ice time. He earned every minute he got—no favors from me.”

- Kozlov on Zharovsky

As for what the plan is going forward, the coach explains that there hasn’t been any contact with the Canadiens yet, but that he’s open to discussing how they would like to see Zharovsky develop. He even jokingly added that if Martin St-Louis isn’t busy and he has nothing better to do in August, he’d be more than welcome to attend the team’s training camp.

The Canadiens’ first pick isn’t guaranteed a roster spot with Ufa, but there is one up for grabs, and judging by Kozlov’s interview, he’s on track to win it, but there are no guarantees. Like any coach would, he values the team’s success and wants the youngster to prioritize the team's needs over his own personal stats and spectacular plays, but so far, so good in that department. The coach added that he’ll have to avoid the temptation of becoming overconfident due to his early success; he doesn’t want to develop a sense of entitlement. His player must earn their ice time every day.

It’s reassuring to read that Zharovsky will be given his opportunities and that there will be room for him to make mistakes, growing pains are common with young players, and that doesn’t seem to bother Kozlov. The coach wants what’s best for the team, but he’s willing to do what’s best for the 18-year-old’s development.

New Habs prospect Alexander Zharovsky’s highlight reel looks sick 🔥

pic.twitter.com/GzTbvbcpNX

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 28, 2025

While he says the goal isn’t to rush him to the NHL, he wants to prepare him for it. Given that Kozlov himself left for the NHL at just 19 years old, he knows what it’s like for a young player to crave playing in the NHL, and that should make him an excellent asset for the youngster’s development.

With Zharovsky’s contract running until the end of May 2027, he will have ample time to put muscle on his 6-foot-1 and 163-pound frame. In other words, he’s not as close to the NHL as Ivan Demidov was when he was drafted, but he should be worth the wait.

Photo credit: MHL Website

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Three goalie options after Detroit GM Steve Yzerman notes third goalie as a position of need. 

During his press conference following free agency, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman noted the team is still open to bringing in another goaltender as the third goalie. 

This is because the AHL Griffins have a lot of young talent and not many NHL-ready goaltenders that could step up when John Gibson or backup Cam Talbot go down with injury. Goaltenders in Carter Gylander and Michal Postava both haven't seen enough starts at the AHL level. This leaves high-end prospect Sebastian Cossa as the teams current-best option but reports indicate they don't want to push him into the next level too quickly and they want Cossa to continue developing as Yzerman didn't mention him when discussing the third goalie spot. 

The position is an important one as injuries will almost certainly happen and when every games count towards the end of the season, Detroit will want a reliable option. Here are three potential options for depth goaltenders that the Wings could go out and add. 

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Not Everybody Loves Raymond: Red Wings Star Snubbed By NHL.com Ranking There is no denying that Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond is one of the best young players in the National Hockey League today - but why isn't he getting that acknowledgement from the League's official site? 

Louis Domingue 

The former Arizona Coyotes starter has found his way to be a solid third goalie option as he's played 12 NHL games over the last four seasons and has put together some solid numbers like a 6-5-0 record with a 2.86 goals against average of 2.86 and a .916 save percentage. 

The recent stint includes six playoff appearances with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in the 2021-22 season and he managed to win half his starts but finished with a 3.65 goals against average. The 33-year-old Quebec native currently doesn't have an NHL contract and could work in as decent third goalie option that could also coach up the younger goalie talent in Grand Rapids. 

Semyon Varlamov

Health is a concern as Varlamov was downed with an undisclosed injury but recent reports suggest he should be ready for training camp. The Islanders have seen Varlamov be a steady netminder over seven seasons and but the Russian has started to slowly lose his role. 

New York has brought in more goalie depth this offseason by adding David Rittich and still have Marcus Hogberg as options behind regular starter Ilya Sorokin. This leaves Varlamov as the odd man out and the Islanders would like to clear Varlamov's $2.75 million cap hit off their books. 

In a salary dump, the Red Wings could look to take on some of the contract with the Islanders hopefully able to retain some and could give Detroit another solid backup option. At 37 years old, Varlamov has proven to still be useful with a 28-21-9 record along with a 2.68 goals against average and a .912 save percentage over 59 appearances since taking on the role as the Islanders backup over the past three seasons. 

Dustin Tokarski

The best potential one year rental available as the now 35-year-old Tokarski has a wealth of NHL experience that he can use to help the Red Wings win less than a handful of games if needed while also deploying wisdom on the younger goalie prospects. While reportedly working as a positive presence in the locker room, the Humboldt native started six games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season and was solid with a 4-2-0 record along with a 2.18 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. 

He has spent a majority of his career at the AHL level but this could also work in their favor as their younger prospects that could be experiencing struggles like Cossa with his end to the season last year with the Griffins. Tokarski could be used to help build morale at both the AHL and NHL level while playing a meaningful role when called upon and being able to keep the team afloat if they run into bumps in the road.

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Detroit Red Wings Most Memorable Pop Culture MomentsLooking back at memorable moments for the Detroit Red Wings in pop culture history.