We are almost there, folks. The beginning of the 2022-23 NHL season is less than two weeks away now, as teams are gearing up to start their Stanley Cup quest.
The upcoming season is one of the first “normal” seasons the NHL will have since the 2018-19 season (fingers crossed). There’s no break for the Olympics and hopefully no delays/cancellations due to COVID-19. Each team has a full, 82-game schedule that begins in October and will run until mid-April, with only the All-Star break in between.
The Avalanche enter the season with the goal of defending their Stanley Cup win over the Lightning. However, as is the case every year, each team has its eyes on the biggest prize in hockey. With plenty of movement this offseason, there are a number of potential contenders for the Cup.
MORE: NHL 2022-23 preseason schedule
Here’s a breakdown of everything we know regarding the NHL’s upcoming season.
When does the 2022-23 NHL season start?
- NHL season start date: Friday, Oct. 7
- NHL season end date: Thursday, April 13
The NHL kicks off the 2022-23 season in Europe, as the Sharks and Predators will play two games as part of the NHL Global Series. The games will be Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. It’s the first time the NHL has played games outside North America since 2019.
The start of the NHL season in North America is on Wednesday, Oct. 11, with two games on deck. The Rangers face off against the Lightning in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Final, and the Kings host the Golden Knights.
The regular season will conclude on Thursday, April 13 with 15 games slated for the final day.
How many games will be played?
All teams will play the normal 82-game schedule, featuring at least two games against every team in the league and multiple battles against divisional opponents.
What are the NHL divisions?
The NHL is once again back to its typical division structure. It is the same divisional alignment as last year, when the Kraken joined the league and entered the Pacific Division.
| Atlantic | Metropolitan | Central | Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | Carolina Hurricanes | Arizona Coyotes | Anaheim Ducks |
| Buffalo Sabres | Columbus Blue Jackets | Chicago Blackhawks | Calgary Flames |
| Detroit Red Wings | New Jersey Devils | Colorado Avalanche | Edmonton Oilers |
| Florida Panthers | New York Islanders | Dallas Stars | Los Angeles Kings |
| Montreal Canadiens | New York Rangers | Minnesota Wild | San Jose Sharks |
| Ottawa Senators | Philadelphia Flyers | Nashville Predators | Seattle Kraken |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Pittsburgh Penguins | St. Louis Blues | Vancouver Canucks |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Washington Capitals | Winnipeg Jets | Vegas Golden Knights |
Key dates for the 2022-23 NHL season
NHL Global Series Czech Republic
- Dates: Oct. 7 and 8
- Location: O2 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
- Teams: Sharks vs. Predators
NHL Global Series Finland
- Dates: Nov. 4 and 5
- Location: Nokia Arena, Tampere, Finland
- Teams: Avalanche vs. Blue Jackets
Winter Classic
- Date: Jan. 2
- Location: Fenway Park, Boston
- Teams: Bruins vs. Penguins
All-Star Weekend
- Dates: Feb. 3 and 4
- Location: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, Fla.
Stadium Series
- Date: Feb. 18
- Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, N.C.
- Teams: Hurricanes vs. Capitals
2022-23 trade deadline
2023 NHL Entry Draft
- Date: June 28 and 29
- Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.
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