Hockey is back. Honestly, if you felt like the summer dragged on forever, you aren't alone. The NHL season start 2025 officially kicked off on October 7, 2025, and it wasn't just another Tuesday night at the rink.
The league came out swinging with a tripleheader that basically told us everything we needed to know about the power shift in the league. We saw the Florida Panthers—fresh off their back-to-back Cup high—raising another banner against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s kinda wild to think about how fast Florida turned into a powerhouse, but there they were, beating Connor Bedard's crew while the rest of the league watched in envy.
Then you had the Penguins and Rangers, followed by the Avalanche taking on the Kings. Three games. One night. Total chaos.
Why the NHL season start 2025 felt different
Most years, the schedule is a predictable 82-game grind. Not this time.
The 2025-26 calendar is basically a jigsaw puzzle because of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. This created a weird urgency right from the October puck drop. Teams knew they only had until early February to secure their playoff positioning before the league shuts down for three weeks. If you start slow in October, you’re basically cooked by the time the Olympic break hits.
There’s also the money.
The salary cap jumped to $95.5 million this season. That $7.5 million increase from last year changed how GMs built their rosters over the summer. You’ve probably noticed some "super-teams" forming because, for the first time in a long time, teams actually had breathing room to sign big-ticket free agents without trading away their entire future.
The Utah Mammoth and the "New" Look
Remember the Utah Hockey Club? Basically, the team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes finally got their permanent identity. They hit the ice this October as the Utah Mammoth.
It’s weird seeing "UTAH" on a jersey instead of a logo, but the fans in Salt Lake City don't seem to care. They’ve been selling out the Delta Center since the preseason. It’s a fresh start for a roster that actually has some decent young talent, even if they’re still a few years away from being true contenders.
The rule changes you probably missed
Everyone talks about the goals, but the front offices were obsessing over the new CBA rules that went into effect this season.
One of the biggest "gotchas" involves LTIR (Long-Term Injured Reserve). For years, teams like Vegas or Tampa Bay would "hide" players on LTIR until the playoffs to bypass the cap. Not anymore. Now, teams have to dress a lineup within the salary cap during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. No more $100 million rosters in the postseason.
Also, they finally killed the "deferred compensation" loophole. Starting this season, what you see is what you get.
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On a lighter note, the league finally relaxed the dress code. You’ve probably seen players showing up to the rink in hoodies or designer streetwear instead of the traditional suit and tie. It’s about time. It makes the guys feel more like actual humans and less like corporate accountants who happen to be good at skating.
Key Dates for the 2025-26 Season
If you're trying to plan your life around the games, here's the rough timeline we're looking at:
- October 7: The official start.
- November 14-16: Global Series in Stockholm (Predators vs. Penguins).
- January 2: Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami (Panthers vs. Rangers).
- February 1: Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa (Lightning vs. Bruins).
- February 6-22: The Olympic Break. No NHL games, just pure international glory.
- April 16: The regular season ends.
What’s the deal with the 84-game schedule?
There’s been a lot of chatter about the season expanding.
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To be clear: the NHL season start 2025 is still using the 82-game format. The expansion to 84 games doesn't actually kick in until the 2026-27 season. So, if you're wondering why your favorite team's schedule looks "short," it isn't. It's just the usual grind before the big shift next year.
The league is also leaning hard into international growth. Commissioner Gary Bettman has been vocal about playing more games in Europe and even Australia. We're seeing more Saturday morning broadcasts in Sydney and Melbourne, which is... interesting? It’s a long way to go for a hockey game, but the league is desperate to catch up to the NBA’s global footprint.
Practical steps for the season ahead
If you're a fan trying to keep up, here is what you actually need to do to stay on top of things:
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- Check the local listings for Prime Monday Night Hockey. Amazon took over Monday nights in Canada, so if you're north of the border, you need a subscription to watch your team on those nights.
- Track the "Olympic Push." Watch the standings closely in late January. The "Three-Point Game" becomes even more deadly right before the break because nobody wants to go to Italy while sitting in 9th place.
- Download the new NHL app (carefully). They’ve integrated a lot more "EDGE" stats this year. If you're into betting or fantasy, the puck-tracking data is actually useful now, showing things like skate speed and shot burst in real-time.
- Don't sleep on the Mammoth. They aren't just a gimmick. That young core is hungry, and Salt Lake City is a tough place for visiting teams to play.
The reality is that this season is a bridge. It's the bridge between the "Flat Cap" era and the new "Big Money" era. It's the bridge between the old-school suit-and-tie NHL and a more modern, personality-driven league. Whether you’re a die-hard or a casual viewer, the 2025 season start marked the beginning of what might be the most chaotic year in hockey history.