The summer is over and preseason action is well underway as teams prepare for the upcoming year. There are several notable days throughout the NHL schedule and we want to make sure you're aware of what's going down.
From regular season action kicking off this Friday in the Czech Republic to the NHL Draft taking place at the end of June, let's take a look at what's in store for the upcoming puck season.
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September 24: Preseason
The NHL preseason kicked off back on September 24 and will continue until October 8. Preseason spanned across 15 days and provided bettors 108 games to sink their teeth into before the real games get rolling.
October 7: Regular season
On October 7, the NHL regular season starts — sort of. The Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks will kick off their regular seasons with a game at O2 Arena in the Czech Republic for the NHL's "Global Series" while everyone continues preseason.
October 11: Regular season, again
Ok, seriously, for real this time. The regular season will kick off in North America with a doubleheader including the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. New York Rangers, and the Vegas Golden Knights vs. the L.A. Kings.
January 2: NHL Winter Classic
The NHL will continue its tradition of outside games when the Boston Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Fenway Park. This will be the 16th Winter Classic, and the second held at Fenway (2008 between the Flyers and Bruins).
February 3-4: NHL All-Star weekend
The All-Star weekend kicks off in South Florida this season at the beginning of February. Although not the most interesting event, it does offer some fun moments for fans. The skills competition will take place on February 3 and the All-Star game itself will be on Feb. 4.
February 18: Stadium Series
With the success of the Winter Classic, the NHL decided to add another annual outdoor game in the Stadium Series. This year, it'll be the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Washington Capitals at Carter-Finley Stadium.
February 20: Trade deadline
Right after the Stadium Series, plenty of moves will be made as the trade deadline takes place just 48 hours later. At this point in the season, teams will have to decide if they want to be buyers or sellers heading into the home stretch.
April 13: End of the regular season
The 2022-23 regular season comes to a close on April 13, with 30 of the 32 teams in action. The only two teams not suiting up will be the New York Islanders and Calgary Flames who finish their regular season on April 12.
April 17: Playoffs begin
Round 1 will commence on April 17, with 16 teams beginning their quest to hoist Lord Stanley. The playoff format will remain the same, with the Top 3 teams in each division making up 12 teams, and two Wild Card spots for each conference. The remainder of the playoff schedule will be announced round-by-round.
June 26: NHL Awards
Players and celebrities alike will gather on June 26 for the NHL Awards show. The event will be held in Nashville, although no official venue has been announced. Awards given out at this show will include the Hart Trophy, Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy, and many more.
June 28-29: NHL Draft
The NHL Draft kicks off on June 28 at Bridgestone Arena, with Round 1 picks being made on Day 1, and Rounds 2-7 all on Day 2. The draft is always an exciting time to see just how franchises build for their future.
Key NHL Dates FAQ
The 2022-23 NHL season gets underway October 7.
The regular season will come to a close on Monday, April 17.
The Winter Classic takes place on January 2, 2023 at Fenway Park
