NHL fans this weekend can see their first on-ice action since the Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.
A 104-game NHL preseason schedule begins Saturday, Sept. 20 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 4.
Prospects get a chance to make their cases for sticking with their teams. Veterans can get in some game action while trying to avoid injuries as happened to Kings defenseman Drew Doughty last year.
There will also be a fond farewell.
Retired goalie Marc-Andre Fleury signed a professional tryout agreement with the Pittsburgh Penguins so he can suit up one more time for the team with which he won three Stanley Cup titles. He’s scheduled to play part of the Sept. 27 home preseason game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That game will be on NHL Network, as are about two dozen others during the preseason. TNT will also show one preseason game. (Sling TV carries TNT and certain packages carry NHL Network.)
This will be the last season with this many preseason games. Under the new collective-bargaining agreement that starts in 2026-27, teams will play two fewer preseason games apiece as the regular season expands to 84 games.
Here is the full preseason schedule, with dates, times and TV. The 2025-26 regular season starts on Oct. 7.
All times Eastern
SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
MONDAY, SEPT. 22
TUESDAY, SEPT. 23
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 24
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
MONDAY, SEPT. 29
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
THURSDAY, OCT. 2
FRIDAY, OCT. 3
SATURDAY, OCT. 4
Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
Hockey News