The NHL has officially announced the first three games of the 2025-26 regular season, with the remainder of the schedule to be unveiled on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks at 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 7. On that night, they will raise their 2025 Stanley Cup banner.  The Pittsburgh Penguins will visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 pm. ET.

The rest of the NHL schedule, which will include the Columbus Blue Jackets' full 82-game slate, will be released on July 16.

The schedule is usually out by now, but with the 2026 Winter Olympics being factored into the schedule, that could be the reason. 

Others have speculated that the NHL wanted to wait a little bit longer so we could get an idea of where all the free agents would wind up, thus providing some key matchups of new team vs. old, i.e. Mitch Marner and Nikolaj Ehlers, and all of the Florida Panthers. But now we know where they'll be, the NHL is ready to release it. 

Stay tuned on Wednesday for the Columbus Blue Jackets schedule release. 

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What Was Your Most Memorable Moment of the 2024-25 Season?The 2025-26 Columbus Blue Jackets season had plenty of ups and downs. But today, we're focusing on the ups.  On This Date In Columbus Blue Jackets History: Columbus Signs Johnny GaudreauOn this day three years ago, the CBJ made what could be the biggest free agent signing in NHL history when they signed Johnny Gaudreau. No player of his caliber had ever reached free agency. Players like this are usually locked up long before hitting the open market. From The Archive: Premonitions GaudreauThe Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

Heading into July 1, former Montreal Canadien Jake Allen was the clear top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) goalie who could hit the market. Due to this, there was expected to be a ton of interest in the 34-year-old, and he was in a position to land a high average annual value (AAV) had he tested the market.

However, shortly before free agency opened, Allen signed a five-year, $9 million contract to stay with the New Jersey Devils. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique NHL signings of the summer. 

You simply don't see many soon-to-be 35-year-old backup/1B goalies land five-year contracts, so that alone makes this deal so fascinating. Yet, with the Devils giving Allen so much term, they were able to drop his AAV to only $1.8 million. This is far below what many expected Allen's cap hit to be, so that also makes it a unique signing. It is also a complete steal for the Devils.

In the end, the Devils and Allen found a way to get a deal that benefits both of them. Allen gained plenty of job security by getting five years, while the Devils were able to keep his AAV at an affordable price. Now, the former Canadiens goalie will be a long-term part of New Jersey's roster from here. 

It is certainly good for the Devils that they kept Allen around, as he has worked well as Jacob Markstrom's backup. In 31 games this past season for New Jersey, he recorded a .908 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. 

Allen spent four seasons with the Canadiens from 2020-21 to 2023-24. In 127 games with Montreal, he posted a 41-68-15 record, a .899 save percentage, a 3.30 goals-against average, and three shutouts. His time with the Canadiens ended when he was traded to the Devils at the 2024 NHL trade deadline. 

Exciting Canadiens Prospect Is Prime Breakout CandidateThe Montreal Canadiens have several promising young players in their system. Oliver Kapanen is undoubtedly among them, as the young forward has the tools to blossom into an impactful player for the Canadiens as he continues to adjust to the NHL level. 

Photo Credit: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

The NHL has officially announced the first three games of the 2025-26 regular season, with the remainder of the schedule to be unveiled on Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Florida Panthers host the Chicago Blackhawks at 5 p.m. ET on Oct. 7. On that night, they will raise their 2025 Stanley Cup banner.  The Pittsburgh Penguins will visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the Colorado Avalanche visiting the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30 pm. ET.

The remaining NHL schedule, including the Toronto Maple Leafs' full 82-game schedule will be unveiled on July 16. If you were wondering why it's taken a long time for the schedule to be released, you aren't alone. Historically, the full schedule has been released in an around the NHL Draft.

According to THN's Karine Hains, the Leafs will open their regular season on Oct. 8 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. 

There is hope that a later schedule release will allow the strategically book premier matchups with players joining new teams via trade and free agency. For example, Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy hinted on an appearance with Leafs Morning Take that he wouldn't be surprised if his team took on the Maple Leafs early in the schedule. On June 30, the Maple Leafs completed a sign-and-trade with Vegas that saw star forward Mitch Marner depart Toronto after nine seasons with the club.

(Top Photo Credit:  Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the 2025-26 NHL season against one of their biggest rivals.

The NHL announced on Monday that the Penguins would play the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden as part of a triple-header on October 7. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

The puck drops on October 7th with a tripleheader! 🤩 #NHLFaceOffpic.twitter.com/sHUzUqp14c

— NHL (@NHL) July 14, 2025

This is the second season in a row that the Penguins and Rangers will play each other on opening night. The two teams met in Pittsburgh last year on October 9, resulting in a 6-0 win for the Rangers. 

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan will get to coach against his former team for the first time after he was let go by the Penguins on April 28. Sullivan then took the Rangers' head-coaching job later that week on May 2. 

The rest of the 2025-26 NHL schedule will be revealed on Wednesday, July 16. 

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ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues announced the team’s 2025 preseason schedule on Monday that includes the Ottawa Senators for the first time. 

The Blues will play six preseason games, including home and away games against the Chicago Bl;ackhawks and Dallas Stars, while hosting the Senators at Enterprise Center. There is also a road game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The NHL will announce its full 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Wednesday noon (CT).

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Blues 2025 preseason schedule (all times CT):

Sept. 20: Blues at Stars, 6 p.m. 

Sept. 21: Blues at Blue Jackets, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27: Blues vs. Blackhawks, 6 p.m.

Sept. 30: Blues vs. Stars, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2: Blues vs. Senators, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: Blues at Blackhawks, 6 p.m.