A staggering 1,312 regular-season games will be played in the NHL over the next six months. You can see it as a cluttered deluge, or you can take a closer look at the long list and find the contests that are sure to be special.
Toews back in the NHL and Chicago
When: October 10th, 2025 and January 20th, 2026
Legendary centre Jonathan Toews returns to the world's most famous ice surface after two years. He will enjoy his first pro game in his hometown of Winnipeg as a homegrown player.
The big story will be the duels with his former club, Chicago. He never played anywhere else, wearing a Blackhawks jersey for 12 years and three times hoisting the Stanley Cup over his head. However, he had to interrupt his career the year before last due to the effects of COVID-19; his contract expired, and he didn't get a new one.
He will face his fateful club four times this season, first on October 30 on home ice, but it will be much more special when Winnipeg visit the United Centre for the first time in the regular season.
Marchand in Boston as an opponent
When: October 22nd, 2025
At the beginning of the summer, Brad Marchand was arguably the most talked-about name in the NHL. The experienced forward was traded from Boston to Florida just before the trade deadline and helped significantly in winning the Stanley Cup. He will return to the Bruins' ice for the first time as an opponent shortly after the start of the season.
The game between these rivals is scheduled for October 22. The 37-year-old hockey player already had one chance to face his former club, just five days after he changed his jersey; the Bears won 3-2 in early March thanks to a late turnaround, but Marchand was unable to play due to injury. He made his debut for the Panthers two and a half weeks later.
Edmonton's chance for revenge
When: November 23rd, 2025
Edmonton have made it to the playoffs twice in a row, only to be stopped by Florida each time. The disappointment of the group led by star captain Connor McDavid is great, but the Oilers also feel both the desire and determination to win the Stanley Cup for a third time and become the first Canadian club since 1993 to do so.
The quest for revenge will come in the regular season for the first time on November 23rd in Sunrise, on Panthers ice. The second matchup is scheduled in Edmonton on March 20th, 2026. Can they ease the pain of two unsuccessful series?
Battle of the Billionaires
When: December 3rd, 2025
Germany's Leon Draisaitl will enter the season as the NHL's, and therefore the world's, new highest-paid hockey player. With an annual salary of $14 million, the Edmonton forward has replaced Toronto's Auston Matthews in that position.
However, he will only last a year at the top of the rankings; then he will be replaced by Minnesota forward Kirill Kaprizov, who signed the most valuable contract in history this week.
Their first matchup will be in Edmonton, and the Russian forward will be facing what has been an unpleasant opponent for him; he has a worse record against no other NHL team than he has against the Oilers (one goal in 11 games).
Winter Classic under the palm trees
When: January 2nd, 2026
In a series of crazy ideas from the minds of sports businessmen that take the very spirit out of the game, this one is particularly bizarre. Because this year, the outdoor games will be played in Florida! Even in January, when it's scheduled, the temperature there is around 20 degrees...
The defending champions, the Florida Panthers, will play the New York Rangers in the traditional Winter Classic, and the organisers have put a palm tree in the logo of the event.
They want to take advantage of LoanDepot Park's special air conditioning system, which has a retractable roof. They intend to keep it closed for as long as possible before the match, and then open it during it.
Marner returns to Toronto
When: January 16th, 2026
The saga surrounding the star forward ended for Vegas with a bargain trade and a long-term contract; Mitch Marner is set to be the new star in the Nevada desert as he tries to work his way to the top.
The Canadian winger has played a total of 12 games for Toronto against his new employer during his career, scoring five goals and adding ten assists. He recorded a total of 25 shots or six penalty minutes.
The first clash between the two teams will be played in Vegas, and eight days later, the two teams will exchange home environments, and Marner will visit Toronto for the first time, where he has spent his entire NHL career.
The first game of the No. 1 draft pick
When: TBA
Defenceman Matthew Schaefer was the number one pick in this year's draft despite a serious injury. He was selected first overall by the New York Islanders, who have high expectations for the youngster in the future. It is still unclear whether he will be part of the NHL from the start of the season, but if he does, he will make his debut on October 10th in Pittsburgh.
For now, the last number one pick in the draft who did not start his first season in profile was Owen Power. Buffalo decided to send him to the NCAA, and he didn't make his debut for the Sabres until late in the regular season. Schaefer is the first back selected from the starting position since the aforementioned Power.
Where to watch the NHL on TV?
DAZN is the main rightsholder outside of the US and Canada for the upcoming NHL season, with every game available globally via their app for those subscribed to NHL.TV.
In Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, games can also be watched on Viaplay, while Sky Sports will be showing them in Austria and Germany, and Premier Sports will be doing so in the UK and Ireland.
In the US, the action will be shown on ABC, ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and TNT Sports.
In Canada, matches will be broadcast on Amazon Prime and Sportsnet in English, and on TVA Sports in French.