NEW YORK — The NHL released the full 2025-26 schedule on Wednesday, the final 82-game season before the new collective bargaining agreement kicks in and increases it to 84.

This will be the final season under the current NHL scheduling rules. The Carolina Hurricanes’ 2025-26 slate of regular-season games begins with their opener against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 9

The 2025-26 NHL season will open on Oct. 7 and end on April 16 with a break in February for the Olympics. Here are the season highlights:

The NHL brings back the all-32 team frenzy. Every single game on the 16-game schedule will be staggered to start at different times, allowing fans to consume hockey from 6 p.m. EST until the wee hours of Wednesday morning without any breaks. This will be center J.T. Miller's first return trip to Vancouver in a New York Rangers uniform.

The 2025-26 NHL schedule is officially here, and this year we're seeing a well-deserved nod to Sunshine State teams with marquee events, an American Thanksgiving loaded with action, and tons of hype leading up to the Winter Olympics.

The Florida Panthers offseason was filled with contract extensions of their free agents. It's time to look at the Panthers free agency grades

The National Hockey League said on Monday its 2025-26 season will begin on October 7 when the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game of a triple-header.

The Panthers have beaten the Oilers in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, and the regular-season rematches of the past two Cup Finals between the Panthers and Oilers are set for Nov. 22 in Florida and March 19 in Edmonton.

With offseason fully upon us and most of the big free-agent signings in the books, The Athletic asked its NHL staff for their 2025-26 picks.

The Florida Panthers are set to raise their second consecutive Stanley Cup banner before beginning the NHL season against the Chicago Blackhawks. The back-to-back champions play at 5 p.m.