Key dates for 2024-25 NHL season: Trade deadline, start of playoffs, holiday roster freeze, and more explored 

NHL: New York Islanders at Dallas Stars - Source: Imagn
NHL trade deadline 2024: Most important dates for next season

With the regular season fast approaching, NHL 2024-25 should be another eventful time of the year for hockey fans. As we head within one month of the first game between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators, we get details on what the key dates are for the upcoming year in hockey.

According to a post on X by NHL insider David Pagnotta, the first break for the players comes up between December 20th - 27th, 2024 as the holiday roster freeze is set to take place in that duration.

The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off between Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA is set to take place between February 10th - February 21st, 2025.

The much-anticipated trade deadline for all sides within the NHL currently stands for Friday, March 7th, 2025 (3 pm ET).

The last day of the regular season has been announced as April 17th, 2025.

The first day of the 2025 Playoffs will be April 19th, 2025, two days after the last day of the regular season.

Lastly, the last possible day of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final for the 2024-25 season could be June 23rd 2025 if the series goes until game seven.


What to expect in the opening game of 2024-25 NHL Season

The season is set to open with a clash between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils on a European stage as both sides face off in the O2 Arena in Prague, Czechia.

The Sabres, who finished sixth in the Atlantic Division, face the Devils who finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division. Both sides, having failed to make the playoffs last season, will set that as a priority target for the upcoming season.

While the Devils landed 29-year-old Brett Pesce on a six-year contract, the Sabres are looking to debut Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio, who they acquired from the Oilers in a trade for Matthew Savoie.

Which of these two sides will start the season on the right foot?

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Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann
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