While there are still three months left until the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season, the Nashville Predators have released who they will be facing for their upcoming campaign. 

On Wednesday, the NHL announced the regular season schedules for all 32 teams, with the regular season set to kick off on Tuesday, October 7. 

Nashville will open its season at home, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. 

The Predators will play their first two games at home, the second being against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 11, before going on a four-game Canadian road trip where they will face Ottawa (Oct. 13), Toronto (Oct. 14), Montreal (Oct. 16) and Winnipeg (Oct. 18). 

Don't miss a moment in Smashville.

Our 2025-26 schedule release feat. @dustinlynch (and friends) just dropped 🤠

Watch now » https://t.co/tY1ZrtbXRUpic.twitter.com/E4SCXU3myo

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) July 16, 2025

It'll also play the Pittsburgh Penguins twice at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 14 (1 p.m. CST) and 16 (8 a.m.) as part of the NHL's Global Series. 

The NHL regular season will pause from February 6 to February 24 for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Roman Josi (Switzerland) and Juuse Saros (Finland) have already been named to their nations' preliminary rosters. 

Below is the Predators full 2025-26 regular season schedule. 

Nashville Predators' full regular season schedule 

Oct. 9 vs. Columbus 

Oct. 11 vs. Utah 

Oct. 13 at Ottawa 

Oct. 14 at Toronto 

Oct. 16 at Montreal 

Oct. 18 at Winnipeg 

Oct. 21 vs. Anaheim

Oct. 23 vs. Vancouver 

Oct. 25 vs. Los Angeles 

Oct. 26 vs. Dallas 

Oct. 28 vs. Tampa Bay 

Oct. 30 at Philadelphia 

Nov. 1 vs. Calgary 

Nov. 3 vs. Vancouver 

Nov. 4 at Minnesota

Nov. 6 vs. Philadelphia 

Nov. 8 vs. Dallas 

Nov. 10 at New York Rangers 

Nov. 14 vs. Pittsburgh (Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden)

Nov. 16 vs. Pittsburgh (Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden)

Nov. 22 vs. Colorado 

Nov. 24 vs. Florida 

Nov. 26 at Detroit 

Nov. 28 at Chicago 

Nov. 29 vs. Winnipeg 

Dec. 2 vs. Calgary 

Dec. 4 at Florida 

Dec. 6 at Carolina 

Dec. 9 vs. Colorado 

Dec. 11 vs. St. Louis 

Dec. 13 at Colorado 

Dec. 15 at St. Louis 

Dec. 17 vs. Carolina 

Dec. 20 vs. Toronto 

Dec. 21 vs. New York Ranger 

Dec. 23 at Minnesota 

Dec. 27 at St. Louis 

Dec. 29 at Utah 

Dec. 31 at Vegas 

Jan. 1 at Seattle 

Jan 3 at Calgary 

Jan 6 at Edmonton 

Jan. 8 vs. New York Islanders 

Jan. 10 vs. Chicago

Jan. 11 vs. Washington 

Jan. 13 vs. Edmonton 

Jan. 16 at Colorado

Jan. 17 at Vegas 

Jan. 20 vs. Buffalo 

Jan. 22 vs. Ottawa 

Jan. 24 vs. Utah 

Jan. 27 at Boston 

Jan. 29 at New Jersey 

Jan. 31 at New York Islanders 

Feb. 2 vs. St. Louis 

Feb. 4 vs. Minnesota 

Feb. 5 at Washington 

Feb. 6-24 Olympic Break 

Feb. 26 vs. Chicago 

Feb. 28 at Dallas 

March 2 vs. Detroit 

March 3 at Columbus 

March 5 vs. Boston

March 7 at Buffalo 

March 10 at Seattle

March 12 at Vancouver 

March 15 at Edmonton 

March 17 at Winnipeg 

March 19 vs. Seattle 

March 21 vs. Vegas 

March 22 at Chicago

March 24 vs. San Jose 

March 26 vs. New Jersey 

March 28 vs. Montreal 

March 29 at Tampa Bay 

April 2 at Los Angeles 

April 4 at San Jose 

April 6 at Los Angeles 

April 7 at Anaheim 

April 9 at Utah 

April 11 vs. Minnesota 

April 13 vs. San Jose 

April 16 vs. Anaheim 

The Hockey News Big Show is here to answer your questions in a mailbag episode as the NHL off-season continues.

NHL Mailbag Episode – Marner’s Return, Sleeper Team And More by The Big Showundefined

Here’s what Katie Gaus, Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy discussed in this episode:

01:20: Will Toronto Maple Leafs fans miss Mitch Marner more than they think?

02:26: Is there anything left for Leafs GM Brad Treliving to do?

05:15: What will Marner's reception be on his return to Toronto?

07:15: Which team will be the biggest surprise next season?

10:00: Will the Pittsburgh Penguins finish last this season?

13:50: Do you think the Sabres will still trade Bo Byram?

16:59: What do you think Connor Bedard's next contract will look like?

20:57: Biggest sleeper team?

23:40: If Arturs Silovs had played better at the beginning of last season, would he still be in the Canucks organization?

26:45: Why did Brian Burke cut Mike Babcock loose after he took the Ducks to the finals?

30:25: How many players from the 2025 draft will start this season in the NHL?

33:30: How many different graphic tees does Ryan Kennedy own?

36:30: Should Stan Fischler be in the Hockey Hall of Fame?

38:00: Will Gavin McKenna win a Frozen Four title?

40:25: Which would you prefer: a heat wave or extreme cold?

41:45: Yay or nay: Nintendo Switch 2

Watch the full Episode here 

Subscribe to The Hockey News Big Show on your preferred platform

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues will open the 2025-26 regular season at Enterprise Center against the Minnesota Wild.

The NHL released the season schedule on Wednesday afternoon.

It will be the first meaningful game for the Blues since that agonizing, excruciating Game 7 loss against the Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference First Round.

The Blues will debut some new faces in the lineup for the upcoming season, including free agent signings Pius Suter, who left the Vancouver Canucks to sign a two-year contract; Nick Bjugstad also signed a two-year deal, leaving the Utah Mammoth; and it is likely that defenseman Logan Mailloux will also debut with the Blues after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens for Zack Bolduc.

Speaking of Bolduc, he and Mailloux will each face his former club on Dec. 7 in Montreal.

Gone from last year's club are Nick Leddy, who was claimed off waivers by the San Jose Sharks, and Radek Faksa, who returned to the Dallas Stars after signing a three-year contract. Veteran defenseman Ryan Suter remains an unrestricted free agent and it's unknown if the 40-year-old played his final game in Game 7 against the Jets.

Some other notable highlights in the Blues schedule:

* 2026 Winter Olympics break from Feb. 5-25

* All 32 teams will be in action on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Tuesday, Oct. 28

* 16 total home games on Friday and Saturday nights (six on Friday, 10 on Saturday)

*  Season starts with seven of 11 October games at Enterprise Center

* Five Saturday home games feature popular 6 p.m. puck drops

* First rematch of 2025 playoff series against Winnipeg is on Dec. 17

* Rival Chicago Blackhawks visit St. Louis on Oct. 15 and Dec. 12

* Four different four-game homestands, which will be the longest homestands of the season

* Two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visit St. Louis on Jan. 29

* Final regular-season home game: April 14 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; season finale: April 16 at Utah.

 

2025-26 ST. LOUIS BLUES SEASON SCHEDULE

PRESEASON

SEPTEMBER

20 -- at Dallas, 7 p.m.

21 -- at Columbus, 4 p.m.

27 -- vs. CHICAGO, 6 p.m.

30 -- vs. DALLAS, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER

2 -- OTTAWA, 7 p.m.

4 -- at Chicago, 6 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON

9 -- MINNESOTA, 7 p.m.

11 -- at Calgary, 3 p.m.

13 -- at Vancouver, 6:30 p.m.

15 -- vs. CHICAGO, 8:30 p.m.

18 -- vs. DALLAS, 6 p.m.

21 -- vs. LOS ANGELES, 7 p.m.

23 -- vs. UTAH, 7 p.m.

25 -- at Detroit, 6 p.m.

27 -- at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.

28 -- vs. DETROIT, 7:15 p.m.

30 -- vs. VANCOUVER, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER

1 -- at Columbus, 6 p.m.

3 -- vs. EDMONTON, 7:30 p.m.

5 -- at Washington, 6:30 p.m.

6 -- at Buffalo, 6 p.m.

8 -- vs. SEATTLE, 6 p.m.

11 -- vs. CALGARY, 7 p.m.

14 -- vs. PHILADELPHIA, 7 p.m.

15 -- vs. VEGAS, 7 p.m.

18 -- at Toronto, 6 p.m.

20 -- at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

22 -- at N.Y. Islanders, 2:30 p.m.

24 -- at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m.

26 -- at New Jersey Devils, 6 p.m.

28 -- vs. OTTAWA, 3 p.m.

29 -- vs. UTAH, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER

1 -- vs. ANAHEIM, 7 p.m.

4 -- at Boston, 6 p.m.

6 -- at Ottawa, 6 p.m.

7 -- at Montreal, 6 p.m.

9 -- vs. BOSTON, 6 p.m.

11 -- at Nashville, 7 p.m.

12 -- vs. CHICAGO, 7 p.m.

15 -- vs. NASHVILLE, 7 p.m.

17 -- vs. WINNIPEG, 7 p.m.

18 -- vs. N.Y. RANGERS, 7 p.m.

20 -- at Florida, 5 p.m.

22 -- at Tampa Bay, 6 p.m.

27 -- vs. NASHVILLE, 7 p.m.

29 -- vs. BUFFALO, 7 p.m.

31 -- at Colorado, 8 p.m.

JANUARY

2 -- vs. VEGAS, 2 p.m.

3 -- vs. MONTREAL, 3 p.m.

7 -- at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

9 -- at Utah, 8 p.m.

10 -- at Vegas, 9 p.m.

13 -- vs. CAROLINA, 7 p.m.

16 -- vs. TAMPA BAY, 7 p.m.

18 -- at Edmonton, 7 p.m.

20 -- at Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

23 -- at Dallas, 7 p.m.

24 -- vs. LOS ANGELES, 7 p.m.

27 -- vs. DALLAS, 7 p.m.

29 -- vs. FLORIDA, 7 p.m.

31 -- vs. COLUMBUS, 6 p.m.

FEBRUARY

2 -- at Nashville, 7 p.m.

4 -- at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

26 -- vs. SEATTLE, 7 p.m.

28 -- vs. NEW JERSEY, 6 p.m.

MARCH

1 -- at Minnesota, 5:30 p.m.

4 -- at Seattle, 9 p.m.

6 -- at San Jose, 9 p.m.

8 -- at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

10 -- vs. N.Y. ISLANDERS, 6:30 p.m.

12 -- at Carolina, 6 p.m.

13 -- vs. EDMONTON, 7 p.m.

15 -- at Winnipeg, 2 p.m.

18 -- at Calgary, 8:30 p.m.

21 -- at Vancouver, 6 p.m.

24 -- vs. WASHINGTON, 7 p.m.

26 -- vs. SAN JOSE, 7 p.m.

28 -- vs. TORONTO, 6 p.m.

30 -- at San Jose, 9 p.m.

APRIL

1 -- at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

3 -- at Anaheim, 9 p.m.

5 -- at Colorado, 8:30 p.m.

7 -- vs. COLORADO, 7 p.m.

9 -- vs. WINNIPEG, 7 p.m.

11 -- at Chicago, 4 p.m.

13 -- vs. MINNESOTA, 7 p.m.

14 -- vs. PITTSBURGH, 8:30 p.m.

16 -- at Utah, 7 p.m.

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.

The Mental Side of the Game: Devils Players & Mental Skills Coach Andy Swärd Take You Behind the Scenes

Hischier's Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He's Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily

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)

Sabres Troll Maple Leafs As 'Choking Hazard' Ahead of NHL Schedule ReleaseThe NHL is set to reveal the rest of their regular season schedule on Wednesday, and it’s clear that every team’s social media accounts have been gearing up for their visual presentations. The Buffalo Sabres provided a sneak peek of what they were up to Tuesday by presenting all of their opponents as chicken wings, a Buffalo staple. Maple Leafs' Matthew Knies Ranked In Top-10 Of NHL.com's Top Forwards Under 25 ListToronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies has made NHL.com's top 10 forwards under 25 list. Why The Maple Leafs Signed Prospect Miroslav Holinka To An Entry-Level ContractThe Toronto Maple Leafs have signed prospect Miroslav Holinka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

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