The NHL schedule for next season was released on 6th July giving dates for no less than 1,312 fixtures, 82 for each of the 32 teams hoping to win the Stanley Cup.
Each of the 32 teams plays three or four games against the seven other teams in its division, three games against the eight teams in the other division in its conference and two games against the 16 teams from the other conference.
Season opens in Europe
The 2022/23 NHL season will begin on 7th and 8th October with two games in Europe at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators going head-to-head.
The pair of games will be the first time since 2019 that the NHL has travelled to Europe.
The Global Series will also include two games between Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland, on 4th and 5th November.
Avalanche banner raising
The Avalanche have yet to celebrate winning the Stanley Cup on home ice, winning Game 6 in Tampa Bay to clinch their first championship since 2001.
Ball Arena is readying for a party on 12th October when the Avalanche will face the Chicago Blackhawks and raise their championship banner.
Cassidy's return to Boston
Bruce Cassidy led the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his six seasons, including to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final, before he was surprisingly fired as coach following a first-round post-season exit to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Eight days later, the 57-year-old was snapped up by the Vegas Golden Knights who missed the playoffs for the first time in their short history last season.
Cassidy will return to Boston on 5th December with the aim of getting one over on his former employers who he felt let him go unfairly.
Maurice's welcome back to Winnipeg
Paul Maurice stepped down as coach of the Winnipeg Jets in December of last season, stating that he felt the team needed a new voice.
The 55-year-old spent nine seasons as the Jets coach recording the most wins (315) in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history.
During his time in Winnipeg, Maurice led them to the playoffs five times, including the Western Conference Final in 2018.
He will return to his long-time home with new team Florida Panthers on 6th December. A friendly welcome is expected from the Canada Life Centre crowd who haven’t yet had opportunity to show their gratitude for what he accomplished.
Bruins to host Winter Classic
The Boston Bruins will host the NHL's most spectacular event, the outdoor Winter Classic on 2nd January at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.
The Bruins last played in the Winter Classic in 2019, but have not had the highly anticipated event come to them since 2010.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby will their opponents, who will be playing in their first Winter Classic since 2011.
Boston is 2-1 in the Winter Classic and Pittsburgh 1-1.
Hockey Day in Canada
Takes place on 21st January with all seven Canada-based teams in action on the day, headlined by the Toronto Maple Leafs at their long-time rivals Montreal Canadiens.
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Gaudreau back in Calgary
All-Star forward Johnny Gaudreau shocked the hockey world on the opening day of free agency declining a huge offer to extend his eight-year stay with the Calgary Flames to move to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gaudreau was expected to move closer to his New Jersey home, so it came as a great surprise when the Blue Jackets announced the biggest coup of the off-season.
In 602 regular season games for the Flames, Gaudreau scored 609 points (210 goals, 399 assists), meaning the reaction of the Calgary crowd on his first return to Scotiabank Saddledome on 24th January will be very interesting.
Florida to host All-Star weekend
The 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend will be held over the weekend of 3rd and 4th February at FLA Live Arena, the home of the Florida Panthers.
It will be the second time that the star-studded event has taken place in Florida, and the first time since 2003.
Stanley Cup Final rematch
The Avalanche and Lightning will meet in Tampa Bay on 9th February for the first time since Colorado won the Stanley Cup with a 2-1 victory in Game 6 of the Final.
By winning the best-of-seven series 4-2, the Avalanche denied the Lightning a historic three-peat.
Angry with defeat, Tampa Bay will have the fixture circled on their calendar as an opportunity to get back at their conqueror and set a marker in their quest to re-gain the championship.
The two will also meet again five days later at Colorado's Ball Arena.
Hurricanes to go outdoors
The 18th February will see the Carolina Hurricanes play outdoors for the first time as they travel to Washington to face the Capitals at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the campus of North Carolina State University.
The Capitals are 3-0 in outdoor games, having last played in one in the 2018 NHL Stadium Series.
Regular season end date
The Florida Panthers are the current holders of the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the regular season which was the first in their history.
The 2022/23 winner will be known, and the Stanley Cup Playoff series set by the end of 13th April, when 15 games will be played to conclude the regular season.
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