Categories: Illinois News

NHL releases 2025-26 schedule, Blackhawks set to face Stanley Cup champs opening night

CHICAGO (WGN) — The National Hockey League released next season’s schedules for all 32 teams Wednesday afternoon, and the Chicago Blackhawks will face the reigning, back-to-back Stanley Cup champions on opening night.

The Blackhawks will open up the NHL regular season at the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with puck drop set for 5 p.m. CT.

As for the other 81 games Chicago will partake in, here’s how their schedule breaks down:

Next year’s outlook

Next season looks like it’s going to be another year spent developing young talent as the team falls into the basement of the Western Conference’s Central Division once more.

But there will still be interesting individual pieces and lines to keep an eye on.

Young, playmaking centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar will look to anchor the Blackhawks’ top two lines. Bedard’s best line-mate and the club’s leading goal-scorer, Ryan Donato, inked a four-year, $16 million contract this offseason to stay with Chicago. General Manager Kyle Davidson traded for forward Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken, who figures to be a veteran factor in the Blackhawks’ attack.

Developmentally, the club will likely look toward their youth movement to find one more top-six forward for their roster. Nick Lardis put up an eye-popping 71 goals in the OHL last season. Colton Dach and Oliver Moore project as nice possibilities. Could Anton Frondell make the roster as a winger on one of Chicago’s top two lines?

Okay, I’m probably talking crazy with that last one, but the sentiment remains.

Hopefully, the Blackhawks take a meaningful step forward while also continuing to develop a growing farm system.

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