2025-26 NHL Season Highlights
The 2025-26 NHL season has already been packed with exciting developments, including Patrick Kane ascending to the rank of the all-time leading scorer among American players and Sidney Crosby surpassing the legendary Mario Lemieux. Additionally, fans witnessed an unforgettable Winter Classic and an extraordinary Stadium Series event in Tampa, along with two rare goalie confrontations.
Upcoming Olympic Games
As the season progresses, attention is shifting toward the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, marking the NHL players’ return to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. Below are the significant dates for the remaining schedule of the NHL season, particularly focusing on the Olympic break:
Olympic Break Details
The NHL will pause operations from February 6 to February 24 to accommodate the 2026 Winter Olympics. Prior to this break, there will be seven games played on February 5, and it’s important to note that no trades will be allowed during this period.
Olympic Men’s Hockey Tournament Schedule
The men’s hockey tournament is set to commence on February 11, featuring two initial matchups. The USA team will hit the ice against Latvia on February 12. Participating teams will engage in a round-robin format from February 11 to February 15, playing three games each. The top four teams from this stage will secure byes into the quarterfinals, which will take place on February 18, followed by the semifinals on February 20. Teams ranked fifth through twelfth will compete in playoff qualification matches on February 17. The tournament will conclude with the bronze medal game on February 21 and the gold medal match on February 22.
Post-Olympics NHL Schedule
The NHL will resume its regular season on February 25, featuring eight scheduled games. The trade deadline is set for March 6 at 3 p.m. ET, leading the league into the home stretch of the season. The last day of the regular season is planned for April 16, with the Stanley Cup playoffs kicking off two days later on April 18.
Future Key Dates
The NHL draft lottery date is still to be announced, while the Stanley Cup Final is expected to extend until June 21 at the latest. The draft itself is earmarked for June 26-27 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, where top draft-eligible players will be present, albeit with general managers participating remotely as they did last year. Finally, NHL free agency will begin at noon ET on July 1, marking the start of a new offseason for teams and players alike.
This coverage was originally published on USA TODAY, outlining vital dates for the NHL’s 2025-26 season, including the upcoming Olympic break, trade deadline, and other significant events.
