If you were sitting on your couch on a Tuesday night in early October, frantically scrolling through your sports apps to find a score, you probably already know that things felt a little different this time around. The 2025-26 NHL season officially got underway on October 7, 2025. It wasn't just a quiet Tuesday night. It was a full-blown spectacle that set the tone for a year of hockey that’s been, honestly, kind of chaotic in the best way possible.
We’re deep into the season now, but looking back at that start date is wild. Usually, the league likes to dip its toes in the water with a couple of games, but this year they went for the cannonball.
When Did the NHL Season Start? The Opening Night Tripleheader
The puck didn't just drop; it plummeted. On October 7, 2025, the league kicked things off with a massive tripleheader on ESPN. If you're a fan of the Florida Panthers, you probably have that date burned into your brain. They were the main event.
The schedule looked like this:
- Chicago Blackhawks vs. Florida Panthers: The 5:00 p.m. ET game where the Panthers raised their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner.
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers: An 8:00 p.m. ET clash at Madison Square Garden.
- Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings: The late-night 10:30 p.m. ET West Coast nightcap.
The Panthers-Blackhawks game was particularly heavy. Seeing Connor Bedard go up against a team that’s basically forgotten how to lose was a weird juxtaposition of the league's future and its current dynasty. Florida didn't disappoint their home crowd, though the Blackhawks actually made them sweat for that banner-raising win.
Why the October 7 Start Date Was Critical
It’s easy to forget that the NHL schedule isn't just a random collection of dates. For the 2025-26 season, the start was compressed for a very specific reason: the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
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Because the league agreed to let players head to Italy in February, they had to jam 82 games into a tighter window. Starting on October 7 allowed the league to keep the "mid-October" tradition while buying enough breathing room for that 19-day break in February. If they’d started much later, we’d be watching the Stanley Cup Finals in July, which, let’s be real, nobody wants to do.
The Global Series and International Chaos
While most of us think of October 7 as the "start," the Global Series complicates things. Usually, we see games in Europe before the North American opener. However, for 2025, the league flipped the script. The Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins didn't head to Stockholm, Sweden until November 14 and 16.
It’s kind of funny how the league manages these logistics. You have teams playing in their home arenas for a month and then suddenly they’re on an eight-hour flight to play in the Avicii Arena. Honestly, the jet lag usually ruins at least one of those teams for a week afterward, but it’s great for the fans in Stockholm.
Key Dates After the Start
If you're tracking the rhythm of the season, the start was just the first domino. We had the Hall of Fame Game on November 8, featuring the Bruins and Maple Leafs. That was a big one because of the inductions of Joe Thornton and Zdeno Chara.
Then you had the Winter Classic on January 2, 2026. This one was historical—the Rangers and Panthers played outdoors at loanDepot Park in Miami. Yeah, ice hockey in Miami. In a baseball stadium. With the roof open (mostly). The temperature was 61°F at puck drop, which is practically "freezing" by South Florida standards but a heatwave for hockey. Mika Zibanejad put on a clinic, scoring a hat trick that basically silenced the home crowd.
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Comparing Recent Start Dates
Is October 7 early? Late? It’s pretty standard for the post-COVID era. If you look back at the 2024-25 season, that one technically "started" on October 4 in Prague with the Sabres and Devils.
| Season | North American Start Date | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | October 7, 2025 | Compressed schedule for Olympics |
| 2024-25 | October 8, 2024 | Utah Hockey Club's first game |
| 2023-24 | October 10, 2023 | Bedard's NHL debut |
The 2025-26 start felt more aggressive. There was this sense of urgency from the first whistle. Every team knew that the February break was looming like a giant wall in the middle of the calendar. You either get your points in early, or you're fighting for your life in March with a tired roster.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Schedule
A lot of people think the "start" is when their specific team plays. "My Bruins didn't play until the 8th, so the season started on the 8th." Nope.
The league counts the official start from the first puck drop of any regular-season game. For 2025, that was the 5:00 p.m. slot in Florida. Another common misconception is that the preseason doesn't matter for the start date. While it doesn't count for points, the "start" of the hockey cycle really begins with training camps in mid-September.
If you weren't paying attention in September, you missed the waiver wire drama. You missed the PTOs (Professional Tryouts) that actually turned into roster spots. By the time October 7 rolled around, the rosters were already hardened.
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Actionable Tips for Keeping Track of the NHL Calendar
If you're tired of being the person who asks "wait, did the season start already?" there are a few things you can do to stay ahead of the curve:
- Sync your calendar: Most team sites have a "Sync to Calendar" button. Do it. It’ll populate your phone with every game, including the oddball start times for the Global Series.
- Watch the "Banner Raising" logic: The defending champ almost always opens the season at home. If you see the Stanley Cup winner playing, the season has officially begun.
- Follow the Olympic Cycle: For the 2025-26 season, the February break (Feb 6–24) is going to be a "second start." Teams are going to treat that late-February return as a mini-opening night. Keep an eye on the injury reports during the Olympics; that’s where seasons are going to be won or lost.
The 2025-26 NHL season start was a milestone because it marked the return of true international cooperation with the Olympics and the 4 Nations Face-Off. It’s been a sprint since that first puck drop on October 7. Whether your team is at the top of the standings or already looking at draft lottery odds, that Tuesday night in October was the beginning of the end for the old 82-game "grind" mentality.
Now, the focus shifts to the trade deadline and the push toward the 2026 playoffs. Make sure your DVR is set for the post-Olympic stretch, because the intensity is about to double.
Source References:
- NHL.com Press Release, July 16, 2025: "NHL releases 2025-26 regular-season schedule"
- ESPN Press Room, July 14, 2025: "Puck Drops on 2025-26 NHL Season October 7"
- Wikipedia: 2025–26 NHL season overview