NHL Preseason 2025: Final Extended Preseason Program Before Changes

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September 20 - October 4, 2025

The National Hockey League enters a crucial preparation period with 104 games over fifteen days. This season represents the last opportunity to experience such an extensive preseason program before the new collective bargaining agreement brings significant format changes.

Historic Transitional Period

NHL Preseason 2025 marks the end of an era of extensive preseason programs. Starting from the 2026-27 season, the number of preseason games will be reduced by two per team, while the regular season will expand to 84 games.

All 32 NHL teams will host at least one home preseason game, ensuring fair distribution of hockey action across the continent. This period serves as a crucial testing phase for new players, trades, and tactical systems.

The program begins Saturday, September 20, and culminates Saturday, October 4, with eleven simultaneous games closing the preseason before the regular season starts October 7.

Neutral Sites Across the Continent

The preseason period will bring hockey to seven non-traditional locations, continuing the League's efforts to expand the hockey fan base. Cities like Abbotsford in British Columbia, Bakersfield and Ontario in California, Boise in Idaho, Hershey in Pennsylvania, Orlando in Florida, and Quebec City in Quebec will host significant games.

These neutral arenas provide teams opportunities to play before new audiences, while fans in smaller hockey markets get chances to see NHL stars in action. The program also serves as a testing phase for potential future league expansion.

Olympic Dimension of 2025-26 Season

The upcoming regular season will be interrupted in February 2026 due to the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. This pause adds extra importance to the preseason period, as teams must find optimal rhythm before the Olympic break.

Many NHL stars will represent their countries at the Olympics, making preparation even more critical for finding proper chemistry and conditioning before the season's demanding schedule.

Key Preseason Storylines

Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will be under scrutiny as Stanley Cup defenders. Their preseason games will provide the first glimpse of how they handle the pressure of defending their title.

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche comes off a career-best scoring season, and fans will watch whether he can maintain this form. The Toronto Maple Leafs with Auston Matthews are testing new coaching leadership.

The Minnesota Wild rely on Kirill Kaprizov to lead the team to higher ambitions, while the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby may be experiencing one of their legend's final seasons.

Tactical Experiments and Team Composition

The preseason period allows coaches to test various game systems without point-earning pressure. New formations, power-play combinations, and defensive schemes build on training camp experiences.

Young players and rookies will compete for roster spots, while veterans try to find proper rhythm before the season begins. The return of injured players also provides teams with important information about their readiness.

Future of NHL Format

This preseason represents a transitional period before significant changes to the NHL calendar. Shortened preseason programs from 2026 will place greater emphasis on preparation efficiency, while the expanded regular season will change the dynamics of the entire year.

Fans should enjoy this final extensive preseason program, which provides rich opportunities to see teams in action before the real competition for the Stanley Cup begins.

Photo:The New York Times

More information:24live.com


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