In the blink of an eye, the NHL is back in action.The 2021 season ended July 7 when the Lightning won the Stanley Cup; now, the 2021-22 seasonis just around the corner.As the preseason kicks into high gear and teams shake off the rust, all the key dates are starting to form. While the last two seasons were anything but normal
Roger Maris Jersey , this season is shaping up to be not normal as well with an Olympic break in the middle of it.Here's a breakdown of everything we know regarding the NHL's upcoming season.When does the 2021-22 NHL season start?NHLseason start date: Tuesday, Oct. 12NHL season end date: Friday, April 29, 2022Ninety-seven days after the Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second straight year, the NHL will return to action Oct. 12 with two games. The opening act showcasesthe champion Bolts raising their banner and taking on the Penguins, while the headliner has the NHL's two newest franchises the Golden Knights and the Kraken in their first regular-season game meeting in Sin City.MORE: How many games will be played?After two seasons that were cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021-22 season is set to be (fingers cro
Brian Roberts Jersey sed)a full 82-game slate.How will games work in 2021-22?Last season included a few new wrinkles to the schedule, such as limited opponents and baseball-like series. Those are officially scratched, as are division-only slates. Back on the schedule for 2021-22 are cro s-country treks and West Coast or East Coast swings. Players will be suiting up against each of the other 31 teams over the course of the next seven months;that's great news for fans who mi sed out on seeing Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and other NHL stars in person last season.MORE: What are the divisions?Welcome back to the old divisions. Gone are the North (aka Canadian), West and East. The Central was, and is, still around, but with
Phil Rizzuto Jersey a return to the usual teams. Also making a grand return are the conferences: Eastern and Western.There is one slight change from the 2019-20 season: the Coyotes have moved from the Central to the Pacific to make room for the Kraken, who jointhe Pacific.AtlanticMetropolitanCentralPacificBoston BruinsCarolina HurricanesArizona CoyotesAnaheim DucksBuffalo SabresColumbus Blue JacketsChicago BlackhawksCalgary FlamesDetroit Red WingsNew Jersey DevilsColorado AvalancheEdmonton OilersFlorida PanthersNew York IslandersDallas StarsLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensNew York RangersMinnesota WildSan Jose SharksOttawa SenatorsPhiladelphia FlyersNashville PredatorsSeattle KrakenTampa Bay LightningPittsburgh PenguinsSt. Louis BluesVancouver CanucksToronto Maple LeafsWashington CapitalsWinnipeg JetsVegas Golden Knights'ALL OR NOTHING: TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS': Will there be a Winter Cla sic? An All-Star Game?Yes! Both the Winter Cla sic
Matt Holliday Jersey and the NHL All-Star Game are back for 2021-22.Winter Cla sic Date: Jan. 1, 2022Location: Target Field, MinneapolisTeams: Blues vs. WildAll-Star Game Date: Feb. 5Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las VegasWhen is the Olympic break?Olympic break:Feb. 5-22, 2022NHL players are heading back to the Olympics in 2022. The league that it had reached an agreement with the IOC to allow its players to attend. Of course, because of the ongoing pandemic, there is a chance things will change,but for nowit's a go.OLYMPICS: What are other key dates?2021-22 trade deadlineMarch 21(3 p.m.
Luis Severino Jersey ET)2021-22 Stanley Cup playoffsBegin: May 2Last po sible day of final: June 302021-22 free agencyFirst buyout period:July 1-12 (5 p.m. ET)Free agency begins: July 13(noonET)2022NHL Entry DraftFirst round: July 7Rounds 2-7: July 8The 2022 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal.