The NHL offseason has hit quite the lull, and there is not much happening around the league. Erik Karlsson could be traded any day now, and rumors are circulating about the league’s biggest stars heading back to the Olympics, but nothing as of now. As a result of this quietness, it is time to take a peek into the 2023-24 NHL season and preview a few key dates on the calendar.

This holiday matchup has the potential to be a lot closer than how the five game series played out just six months prior. The Vegas Golden Knights were the overwhelmingly better team between the two in June of 2023, but December may be a different story. It is quite possible that the Panthers will have Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour back from injuries by this date, and Matthew Tkachuk will be healthy too. This will be a fun one to watch if the Panthers can pull it off or if the Golden Knights continue their reign of dominance. 

After being fired from his position as General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Pittsburgh Penguins named Kyle Dubas their new President of Hockey Operations. The first game against his former team of five years will come right before December begins. Despite not being a player on the ice, Dubas made a huge impact on the Toronto team and most recently helped them get over the hump of the first round of the NHL Playoffs. His firing surprised many, including longtime NHLer turned Assistant General Manager Jason Spezza, who followed Dubas to Pittsburgh. This game is a must-watch because of the confusion surrounding the situation and the matchup of two Eastern Conference teams that may be in similar spots come November. 

The upcoming NHL Winter Classic will absolutely be an exciting one to watch. The reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights and third-year Seattle Kraken will battle it out at the home of the Seattle Marines, T-Mobile Park. The baseball diamond will be swapped for a sheet of ice where the two Pacific Division teams will continue to grow their blossoming rivalry. As fans often express frustration with the NHL choosing the same teams year after year to participate in outdoor games, there is no better way to solve this issue than choosing the two newest teams in the league. Not only this but the Kraken and Golden Knights are two very fun teams to watch that can allow for an entertaining game.

The moment everyone has been waiting for will finally arrive about two weeks into October. 2023 first-overall pick and generational talent Connor Bedard will finally get his proper introduction to the NHL. The Chicago Blackhawks’ prized new center will also be playing against his idol, hockey superstar Sidney Crosby. Ultimately, this game will showcase the beginning of a new era in the NHL, with current star Crosby and future star Bedard going head-to-head.

Since the NHL expanded and added the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken, there has only been one time that all 32 teams played on the same day. October 24th will mark the second time ever of this occasion happening. Beginning at 6 PM ET with the Toronto Maple Leafs taking on the Washington Capitals, games will start every 15 minutes around the league. NHL fans have been and continue to be very vocal about growing the game, marketing, and exposure. A day with 16 games and something for everyone is a great start to this much-needed publicity that fans have been asking for.