As the NHL offseason winds down and we all start to think about what's to come next year, hope always reigns supreme. Usually, anyway.

With NHL free agency in the final stages of wrapping up, it’s not too early to look ahead to the start of the 2025-26 season. The NHL announced today that it’ll begin the 2025-26 season with a tripleheader on Tuesday, October 7th. The tripleheader will be broadcast exclusively on ESPN in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.

An 84-game schedule, tweaks to the long-term injured reserve rules, and the elimination of the players' dress code are among the highlights from the new CBA, which takes effect in the 2026-27 season.

After several seasons of stagnation, the NHL salary cap has increased significantly, rising from $83.5 million in 2023-24, to $88 million last season, to $95.5 million for 2025-26.

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, center, instructs Cale Makar (8), Gabriel Landeskog (92) and others during a time out in the third period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Dallas Stars Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Gadowsky spoke to the media for the first time since McKenna, the presumed No. 1 overall pick in next year's draft, committed. He also was asked about Flyers prospect Porter Martone.

Joe Dolan, senior vice president of business operations for the Bridgeport Islanders, previews what attendees can expect from this upcoming season.