NHL’s Evolution: Key Changes and Developments Shaping Hockey’s Future in 2025-26

A Transformative Season Ahead

The 2025-26 NHL season marks the 109th season of operation and will begin on October 7, 2025. Notably, this will be the final regular season under the current 82-game schedule, as the league prepares to expand to 84 games in 2026-27.

Olympic Return and Broadcast Evolution

A significant highlight of the season will be the mid-season break in February for the NHL’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The broadcasting landscape is evolving, with Sportsnet+ offering tiered streaming options, including national games on the Standard level and out-of-market games on the Premium tier.

Team Developments and Changes

The Utah Hockey Club has been officially renamed to the Utah Mammoth, featuring new jerseys with the Mammoth primary logo and Utah state outline shoulder patches. The Boston Bruins have also undergone changes, permanently adopting their redesigned “spoked B” logo and introducing new uniforms inspired by their 1980s and 1990s era jerseys.

Looking to the Future

The league’s upcoming shift to an 84-game schedule in 2026-27 will see the season starting in late-September and ending in mid-June. This change has been welcomed by many hockey fans, though it will create a tighter schedule between the season’s end and the start of free agency.

Hall of Fame Honors

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 induction class, with Joe Pavelski, Scott Gomez, and Zach Parise headlining the group. Pavelski and Parise retired last year, with Pavelski already finding success in his post-hockey career, notably winning the celebrity American Century Championship in July.