When Does NHL Season Start? A Complete Guide
As we excitedly await when the NHL season starts, let’s find out what makes this league so special, from the NHL preseason start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The National Hockey League (NHL), which started in 1917, is a much-loved sports league with passionate fans worldwide. The regular season is especially exciting, making the NHL stand out as a top-notch sports experience..
When Does The NHL Season Start?
The NHL season starts on October 10, 2023, as the NHL Preseason 2023–24 takes the ice. What makes this NHL regular season unique is the NHL’s decision to hold preseason games in Australia for the very first time. During this period, fans can enjoy a series of exhibition matches, with the first games featuring the Coyotes and Kings in Melbourne.
For players, the preseason serves as a crucial preparation phase, allowing rookies to make their mark on the NHL roster and veterans to refine their skills. Coaches, too, use this time to evaluate their teams and experiment with strategies.
When Does NHL Season Start? (2023–24) – Ultimate Guide
How long is the NHL regular season?
The NHL regular season is a marathon that stretches over nine months, including three main segments:
- Preseason (September to October): This is when teams fine-tune their skills and test their mettle in the NHL preseason.
- Regular Season (October/November to April): The heart of the NHL regular season, where the real competition takes place.
- Playoff or Postseason (April to June): The grand finale of the NHL regular season, where champions are crowned.
What month does the NHL regular season start?
The NHL regular season will start for the 2023–24 campaign on November 16, 2023. In Sweden’s opening round, the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings will face off.
Additionally, joining them for two games at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm will be the Minnesota Wild and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The match will take place in an NHL venue when they return to the United States.
After that, a postseason or playoff will start in April and finish in June. The current season concludes, and the off-season gets started.
The period between the conclusion of the postseason and the beginning of the preseason is known as the offseason. Since numerous important events are taking place, it is a significant moment for the teams and players.
How many games are in the NHL regular season per team?
The regular-season games are thoughtfully planned out. Every team gets to play every other team twice in competition. Additionally, each of them has the opportunity to play in every NHL venue.
Each team in the NHL plays 82 games during the regular season. The teams play 41 games at home and 41 games away from their home venue.
The 2023–23 regular season will begin with a game between the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. They will compete in Sweden, hundreds of kilometers from their home stadium.
How many rounds are in the Stanley Cup playoffs?
The Stanley Cup Playoffs, a four-round competition that takes place from April to June, are the highlight of the NHL hockey season. The best-of-seven format for each round ensures plenty of drama. If necessary, more periods will heighten the intensity.
First Round
16 clubs, 8 from the Eastern Conference and 8 from the Western Conference participate in this first round of the NHL hockey season. Since the pairings are determined by regular-season rankings, compelling underdog stories result. There are only eight clubs that move on, four from each conference.
Second Round
To provide equally intriguing matches, the remaining teams are reseeded depending on their performance throughout the regular season. The conference champions (two teams from each league) advance to the third round.
Conference Finals:
The competitiveness peaks when there are just two teams from each conference left. Teams are engaged in heated competition as they compete for a coveted position in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Stanley Cup Finals
The winner of the trophy is decided in the final round. The Stanley Cup is contested on the ice by the conference champions. The squad that first wins four games will be crowned champion.
What teams are in the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2023?
The 2023 NHL playoffs have reached the third round, featuring formidable teams such as the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Teams competing in the Stanley Cup playoffs 2023 include:
- Boston Bruins
- Florida Panthers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New York Islanders
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Rangers
- Colorado Avalanche
- Seattle Kraken
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Winnipeg Jets
- Edmonton Oilers
- Los Angeles Kings
Bracket Update:
Teams that won the first round and advanced to the second round include:
- Florida Panthers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Carolina Hurricanes
- New Jersey Devils
- Seattle Kraken
- Dallas Stars
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Edmonton Oilers
Teams that won the second round of Stanley Cup playoffs 2023 are:
- Florida Panthers
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Dallas Stars
- Vegas Golden Knights
These four dangerous clubs will now battle in the third round of the 2023 NHL hockey season, popularly known as the Conference Finals. The winners of these dramatic games will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, where ultimate glory awaits.
When does the NHL Hockey Season end?
The NHL hockey season comes to an end in July after the Stanley Cup playoffs. After the regular season, the offseason starts.
Athletes have time to relax during the offseason. They switched their focus from ice hockey, a sport that requires a lot of physical exertion.
Additionally, it is a time when significant events occur. At the beginning of the offseason, at the NHL Entry Draft, teams select amateur or professional athletes from European leagues.
Clubs arrange development and training camps to assess players’ abilities and enhance performance. They sign players whose contracts have expired or undrafted free agents.
Furthermore, organizations negotiate contracts with players or renew contracts with present members. After the admission draft is finished, the squad may trade and move athletes.
When does the 2023 NHL regular season end?
On April 13, 2023, the NHL regular season concluded. Mid-April marks the end of the season, which starts in October.
The 2023–24 NHL regular season looks to be another amazing adventure full of hope, rivalry, and the quest for championship triumph. The NHL keeps delighting the globe with its long heritage and dedication to greatness in ice hockey as fans excitedly await the arrival of the puck while players prepare for the difficulties ahead.
