NHL 2024-25 Season: October marks the return of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 2024-25 season of North America’s premier ice hockey competition will commence on October 4 across the Atlantic Ocean in Prague as part of the NHL’s global series.
On the opening night of NHL 2024-25, Buffalo Sabres takes on the New Jersey Devils in the Czech, the first of two clashes in Czechia on 4 and 5 October.
Florida Panthers are the defending champions after winning their first Stanley Cup in June, while Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) is the new name in the tournament.
NHL 2024-25 season: Format and Schedule
The NHL season is divided into two phases: the regular season and the post-season playoffs, where the winner of the Stanley Cup is determined.
Teams are divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, which is further split into two divisions. Each club will play 82 games over seven months during the regular season, which concludes on 17 April 2025.
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In the aftermath of the regular season, teams face off in the playoffs in a best-of-seven elimination format for a place in the Conference finals, and then the Stanley Cup Finals. Click here for the full schedule of NHL 2025 season.
NHL 2024-25 season: Key dates
The NHL regular season begins on October 4 with the international matches in Czechia, featuring two games to be played at the O2 Arena in Prague.
Finland will also play host to regular season matches later in the season of NHL 2024-25, when the Panthers face the Dallas Stars in Tampere in November. The first games of the season’s North American leg will take place on 8 October.
There will be a season break in February for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off: Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States will contest the tournament from February 12-20, 2025, hosted between Montreal and Boston.
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to start in April and they will culminate with the Stanley Cup Finals in June.
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How to watch NHL 2024-25 season live
In the United States, fans can catch all the actions from NHL matches televised between ESPN and ESPN+, TNT and ABC. In Canada, ice hockey lovers can watch matches on Sportsnet, Prime Video and TVA Sports.
For fans around the world, NHL.TV stream matches globally, though some territorial restrictions may apply.
