So, you’re trying to figure out exactly how much hockey is packed into a year. It feels like a lot, right? If you’ve ever felt like the season just keeps going and going, you’re not alone. Honestly, it’s a marathon.
For the vast majority of hockey history that we actually care about, the answer to how many regular season NHL games are played has been a rock-solid 82. Every single team, from the sunny beaches of Florida to the frozen rinks in Edmonton, plays exactly 82 games. It’s been this way since the 1995-96 season. But here's the thing: that's actually about to change, and most fans haven't realized the shift is already in motion.
The 82-Game Era is Actually Ending
We are currently living through the swan song of the 82-game schedule. If you’re looking at the 2025-26 season, yes, the number remains 82. That adds up to a league-wide total of 1,312 games.
But wait. A massive change was tucked into the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) extension. Starting in the 2026-27 season, the NHL is officially bumping the schedule up to 84 games per team. Why? Basically, it’s about money and divisional rivalries. The league wants to ensure that every team plays its divisional rivals four times a year. Currently, the math is messy—you play some rivals three times and others four. Moving to 84 games fixes that "imbalance" while putting more ticket revenue in the owners' pockets.
Where Does That 82 Number Even Come From?
Before the mid-90s, the league was all over the place.
Back in the "Original Six" era (1942–1967), teams played 70 games. It was a tight, intimate league where you saw the same faces constantly. When the league expanded in 1967, the number jumped to 74, then 76, then 78. By 1974, they settled on 80 games.
📖 Related: LA Rams Home Game Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
There was a weird blip in 1992-93 and 1993-94 where they actually tried 84 games. They used those extra two games as "neutral site" matchups to test out markets like Phoenix or Dallas. It didn't stick then, but clearly, the idea never truly died. After a lockout shortened the 1994-95 season to just 48 games, the league came back with the 82-game format we know today.
A Breakdown of the Current 82-Game Math
Ever wonder how they actually decide who plays who? It isn't random.
- Divisional Play: You play 26 games against your own division.
- Conference Play: You play 24 games against the other teams in your conference.
- Inter-conference Play: You play 32 games against the opposite conference.
This ensures that every team visits every single arena at least once a year. If you’re a Rangers fan living in Los Angeles, you’re guaranteed to see your team at least once at Crypto.com Arena.
The Physical Toll of the Schedule
Playing 82 games is brutal. We're talking about professional athletes flying across three or four time zones, playing back-to-back nights, and taking 100 mph frozen rubber disks to the shins.
When people ask how many regular season NHL games there are, they often forget the context of the calendar. This season, for example, features a massive 19-day break in February. Why? The 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The league is pausing so the best players in the world can go represent their countries.
👉 See also: Kurt Warner Height: What Most People Get Wrong About the QB Legend
What does that mean for the players? It means the rest of the 82 games are compressed. You get more "3-in-4" stretches (three games in four nights). It’s exhausting. Coaches like Paul Maurice or Jon Cooper often talk about "managing the engine." Sometimes, a team isn't losing because they suck; they’re losing because they’ve played five games in seven days and their legs are gone.
Why 84 Games is Controversial
The jump to 84 games isn't sitting well with everyone.
Players are worried about injuries. More games mean more opportunities for a season-ending ACL tear or a concussion. To compensate, the league is looking at shortening the preseason. The idea is to go from six or eight exhibition games down to maybe four.
"Adding two games to the calendar may not bring mass injuries overnight, but tipping points are difficult to identify in the moment." — Daily Faceoff analysis.
There’s also the "watering down" effect. If you have more games, does each individual game matter less? In a league where the difference between making the playoffs and sitting at home is often just two or three points, every game should be a war. But with 84 games, we might see more "load management," a term hockey fans usually mock NBA fans for.
✨ Don't miss: Juan Carlos Gabriel de Anda: Why the Controversial Sportscaster Still Matters
Beyond the Regular Season
Don't forget that 82 (or 84) is just the beginning.
If a team makes it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, they could play up to 28 additional games. That's 110 games of high-intensity hockey in a single year. It’s insane.
Compare that to the NFL's 17 games or MLB's 162. Hockey sits in that middle ground where there's enough volume to be profitable, but the physical impact is so high that every extra game feels like a massive ask of the human body.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're tracking the season or planning a trip to see your team, keep these things in mind:
- Check the "Back-to-Backs": Teams playing the second half of a back-to-back lose significantly more often. If you're betting or just hoping for a win, look for the "rested" vs. "tired" dynamic.
- The February Gap: Remember there is no All-Star game in 2026 because of the Olympics. If you're looking for hockey in mid-February, you'll have to watch the international feed from Milan.
- The 84-Game Shift: Enjoy the 82-game symmetry while it lasts. Next year, the record books will look a little different as the league moves toward that 84-game mark to balance the divisional scales.
- Travel Matters: Teams in the Western Conference (like Vancouver or Seattle) travel way more miles than teams in the "New York/Philly/Jersey" triangle. This fatigue usually shows up in the final 10 games of the regular season.
The magic number for now is 82, but the era of the "balanced" 82-game schedule is officially entering its final period. Keep your eye on the schedule—the grind is about to get even longer.