NHL 2023-24 Schedule Released: The NHL has made its regular-season 2023–2024 schedule public. Here are a few crucial dates that are important to circle in your calendar for this next campaign, which starts on Oct. 10 and concludes on April 18. While there is still plenty of action and excitement to come as the offseason gets begun, here are a few essential dates that are worth noting.
NHL 2023-24 Schedule Released: Opening night: October 10
The 2023–24 NHL season gets off to an exciting start with a tripleheader. The Nashville Predators go to Tampa Bay to face the Lightning in a matchup of sunbelt rivals at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Your appetite should be sufficiently whetted by that appetiser for the remainder of what will be a thrilling set of games. In a rematch of the game that altered time last season, Connor Bedard begins his career in Steeltown against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Bedard has also talked extensively about his love and friendship with Crosby, who is entering his 19th NHL season under the leadership of a brand-new president of hockey operations.
The evening comes to a close with a match between the two most recent expansion teams, as the Seattle Kraken open their third NHL season by gazing up into the rafters of its expansion cousin Golden Knights, who will reveal their Stanley Cup Banner following the franchise’s first-ever title.
Canadian debut: October 11
All seven Canadian clubs are in play on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to begin their regular seasons, though those living north of the 49th parallel must wait an extra day. At 7 p.m. ET, the Ottawa Senators play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Montreal, while the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Raleigh to play the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Edmonton Oilers go west to face the Vancouver Canucks at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while the Winnipeg Jets play in Calgary against a Flames squad that is ready to look quite different come October.
On October 17, Pierre-Luc Dubois returns to Winnipeg
Speaking of the Winnipeg Jets, Pierre-Luc Dubois’ return as an instant franchise villain won’t be delayed for long. On October 17, as Winnipeg hosts its second home game of the season, the newest Los Angeles King travels to Canada Life Centre to take on the Jets with the Kings. What a rip-off of a Band-Aid.
NHL 2023-24 Schedule Released: The Show with Connor Bedard
Starting on October 21 when the Blackhawks come home from their season-opening road trip, there will be three must-see games to watch with Bedard’s name plastered on them. In Bedard’s first appearance on home ice, they will welcome the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights to town back at the Madhouse on Madison.
Then, in December, when Anaheim travels to Chicago for the first of three meetings this season, we’ll get to see a matchup between Bedard and Adam Fantilli or whoever the Ducks choose at second overall.
Bedard will finally experience his long-awaited homecoming on January 22 when the Blackhawks travel to Vancouver to play the Canucks, Bedard’s old team.
Tradition Classic: October 29
On October 29, the Battle of Alberta moves outside at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, marking the event’s 20th anniversary and going back to its original starting location.
Each team has now played outdoors three times, with the Flames’ most recent outdoor match being in 2019’s Heritage Classic versus the Winnipeg Jets. In contrast, Edmonton last played outside versus Winnipeg in 2016.
NHL-Blackhawks will not wear Pride jerseys, citing player safety concerns
Sweet retaliation: October 30
For the first time since Carter Verhaeghe shocked the Boston Bruins in Round 1, the Florida Panthers will play at TD Garden in what will undoubtedly be a competitive game. Perhaps the fact that the Bruins will be distinguished by new uniforms for their Centennial campaign will help dispel the negative energy left over from one of the worst collapses in NHL history.
NHL 2023-24 Schedule Released: NHL visits Sweden from November 16–19
The Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Minnesota Wild are the four teams travelling to Stockholm for the NHL’s annual Global Series, which will feature four games, from November 16–19.
On the 16th, the Red Wings and Senators resume their rivalry in the Atlantic Division before the Maple Leafs play Detroit the following night. The Wild and Senators will play each other the next weekend, with the Wild and Maple Leafs’ Sunday afternoon game featuring an especially noteworthy 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT start for both teams. You’d better make sure your coffee is going.
Dec. 23: Second Stanley Cup game
On December 23, the Golden Knights will play the Panthers in South Beach in the first of two Stanley Cup Final rematches. Let’s hope Florida plays far better than they did in Game 5, when they were destroyed 9-3 and Vegas won the Stanley Cup.
Jan. 1 Winter Classic
As is typical, the NHL’s premier regular-season game, the Winter Classic, ushers in the new year.
The Golden Knights, who appear to be experiencing a bit of a mid-2010s Blackhawks situation due to all the major events they will be a part of, face the Kraken at T-Mobile Stadium in Seattle, the MLB’s Mariners’ home, this season.
Jan. 20 is Hockey Day in Canada.
On Saturday, January 20, all seven Canadian teams will compete to honour the nation’s national pastime. A noon game between the Senators and Jets will get things off in Winnipeg at 3 p.m. ET. At 7 p.m. ET, there will be a doubleheader in the primetime slot, with the Leafs playing the Canucks in Vancouver and the Canadiens playing the Bruins in Boston. At 10 p.m. ET, the Battle of Alberta will conclude with another match between the Oilers and Flames.
NHL 2023-24 Schedule Released: Feb. 2-3 is All-Star Weekend.
On Feb. 2-3, the NHL will return to its position as the centre of the hockey universe as the rest of the hockey world descended on Toronto, first for the skills competition on Friday and then for the All-Star Game(s) on Saturday.
Stadium Series: 17–18 February
Two games between regional rivals are scheduled for MetLife Stadium as part of the Stadium Series’ first return to New York since its inception in 2014. The Devils will host the Flyers on February 17 on Saturday, and the Rangers and Islanders will square off on February 18.
