NHL 2023-24 schedule release: Connor Bedard's primetime debut headlines key dates, must-watch games

The NHL has released its schedule for the 2023-24 regular season. While there’s still plenty of movement and excitement to come as the offseason gets underway, here are a few key dates that are worth circling on your calendar for this upcoming campaign, which begins on Oct. 10 and ends on April 18.

Opening night: Oct. 10

The NHL season kicks off with a bang with a triple-header to begin the 2023-24 NHL season. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET, the Nashville Predators head to Tampa Bay to take on the Lightning in a showdown of sunbelt rivals.

That appetizer should wet your palette plenty for the rest of what will be an exciting pair of games. Connor Bedard kicks off his career in Steeltown against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in a redux of last season's timeline-altering game. Additionally, Bedard has spoken at length about his affinity and admiration for Crosby, who enters his 19th NHL season with a brand new president of hockey operations at the helm.

Finally, the evening wraps up with a battle of the two newest expansion teams, as the Seattle Kraken begin their third season in the NHL by staring into the rafters of their expansion cousin Golden Knights, who will unveil their Stanley Cup Banner following the franchise's first ever championship.

Canada's opener: Oct. 11

Those North of the 49th parallel will have to wait an additional 24 hours, but all seven Canadian clubs are in action on Wednesday, Oct. 11 to kick off their regular seasons. The Montreal Canadiens take on the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Michael Andlauer’s Ottawa Senators head to Raleigh to face the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET.

In the late window, the Winnipeg Jets, who seem poised to look very different come October, are in Calgary to take on a Flames team in similar flux, while the Edmonton Oilers head west to take on the Vancouver Canucks at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Pierre-Luc Dubois returns to Winnipeg: Oct. 17

Speaking of the Winnipeg Jets, their fans won’t have to wait very long for the return of an immediate franchise villain in Pierre-Luc Dubois. The newest Los Angeles King makes his way to Canada Life Centre on Oct. 17 when he and the Kings face off against the Jets in Winnipeg’s second home game of the season. Talk about ripping off the Band-Aid.

The Connor Bedard Show

There will be a trio of must-see games to watch with Bedard’s name plastered on them, beginning on Oct. 21 when the Blackhawks return home from a season-opening roadie. Back at the Madhouse on Madison, they’ll welcome the defending Stanley Cup Champion Golden Knights to town in Bedard’s first showing on home ice.

Then, in December, we’ll get a battle of Bedard versus Adam Fantilli, or whoever the Ducks go with at second overall when Anaheim makes its way to the Windy City for the first of three meetings on the campaign.

Finally, into the New Year, Bedard will make his long-awaited homecoming when the Blackhawks head to Vancouver on Jan. 22 to take on the Canucks, Bedard’s childhood team.

Heritage Classic: Oct. 29

On Oct. 29, the Battle of Alberta makes its way outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, as the event returns to the place where it began on its 20th anniversary.

The game marks the third time each side has played in an outdoor game, with the Flames last participating in the 2019 edition of the Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets. Edmonton, meanwhile, last skated outdoors in 2016, also against Winnipeg.

Sweet revenge: Oct. 30

The Florida Panthers return to TD Garden for the first time since Carter Verhaeghe stunned the Boston Bruins in Round 1 in what will surely be a heated affair. The Bruins will notably be wearing different digs for their Centennial season, so perhaps that will help ward off the bad juju of one of the greatest collapses in NHL history.

NHL heads to Sweden: Nov. 16-19

Between Nov. 16-19, the NHL will go global once again for the regular season, as four clubs — the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild — all head to Stockholm for the NHL’s annual Global Series for four games.

The Red Wings and Senators renew their Atlantic Division rivalry to kick things off on the 16th before the Maple Leafs take on Detroit the following evening. Then, over the weekend, the Wild and Senators square off on Saturday before a Sunday matinee between the Wild and Maple Leafs, with a particularly notable 8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT start for both clubs. Better make sure you’ve got your coffee going.

Stanley Cup rematch: Dec. 23

We’ve got our first of two Stanley Cup Final rematches on Dec. 23 as the Golden Knights head to South Beach to take on the Panthers. Here’s hoping Florida makes things a lot more interesting than they did during their 9-3 thrashing in Game 5 as Vegas clinched the Stanley Cup.

Winter Classic: Jan. 1

As customary, the NHL rings in the New Year with their marquee regular season event, the Winter Classic.

This season, it’s the aforementioned expansion cousins squaring off, as the Golden Knights — who seem to be going through a bit of a mid-2010s Blackhawks situation with all the big events they’ll be part of — take on the Kraken at T-Mobile Stadium in Seattle, home of the MLB’s Mariners.

Hockey Day in Canada: Jan 20

All seven Canadian teams will be in action to celebrate the country's favorite pastime on Saturday, Jan. 20. The Senators and Jets will get things started with a 3 p.m. ET matinee in Winnipeg. The primetime slot will feature a double bill, with the Leafs taking on the Canucks in Vancouver and the Canadiens battling the Bruins in Boston at 7 p.m. ET. The Oilers and Flames will close out the day with another chapter of the Battle of Alberta at 10 p.m. ET.

All-Star Weekend: Feb. 2-3

The NHL returns to the Centre of the Hockey Universe on Feb. 2-3, with the rest of the hockey world descending onto hockey’s mecca in Toronto, first for the skills competition on Friday and the All-Star Game(s) on Saturday.

Stadium Series: Feb. 17-18

The Stadium Series is heading back to New York for the first time since it debuted in 2014 with a pair of games between regional rivals on tap at MetLife Stadium. On Saturday, Feb. 17, the Devils will host the Flyers, followed by a showdown between the Rangers and Islanders on Sunday.