The 23/24 NHL season is nearing an end with the playoffs all but finished. We are at the conference finals stage with the Panthers and New York Rangers going at it in the East, and the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers battling it out in the west.
We can’t wait to see how these series conclude, which teams progress to the Stanley Cup final, and who ultimately lofts the trophy. However, while the playoffs unfold, we can turn our attention to the 24/25 season, as it looks to be an incredible one for hockey fans and sports betting enthusiasts alike.
For sports betting fans, now could be the time to discover licensed Ontario sportsbooks listed on renowned review site GambleOntario.ca in preparation for the new season. You will have plenty of betting opportunities once the action starts. Remember that you can place bets on more than just the moneyline too. There is usually a range of props for things like over/under on goals, and individual goal scorers. We expect a new set of bets for the 4 Nations Face-Off too and we are interested to see how sportsbooks promote this competition.
That’s not all though, sports betting aside, we already have a range of details about the 24/25 season schedule. This includes a range of European matches, outdoor games, and the new 4 Nations Face-Off which is set to replace the traditional All Star game. Read on to find out what we have in store!
24-25 NHL Season – Prague Opening and More
We have no details as of yet about most of the regular season schedule. However, the NHL has already released details about some European games, outdoor games, and the new 4 Nations Face-Off.
Sabres vs Devils – Season Opener in Prague
The NHL appears to be trying to make further inroads into Europe and has scheduled a range of season matches to be played overseas. This is similar to events the NBA holds such as the annual Paris and Abu Dhabi games. Indeed, for the 24-25 season, the opened is being held in Prague, the Czech Republic between the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
As with the NBA overseas games, we note that the NHL has chosen to feature some of the lower-ranked teams as opposed to the top contenders. The Sabres finished 6th in the Atlantic Division, while the Devils were 2nd from bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
Nonetheless, European fans should be in for a treat, and we are excited to see that atmosphere in the stadium for this match.
Panthers vs Stars – November in Finland
Surprisingly, the NHL has chosen to up the stakes a little by placing potential Stanley Cup champions the Florida Panthers against the Dallas Stars in Tampere in Finland. This is a series of games that are slated to take place on the 1st and 2nd of November.
This should be a more entertaining battle for European fans, and we are excited to see how the Florida players manage with the cold weather conditions in Finland! Currently, we can’t see that the Calgary Flames are taking part in any European games for the 24-25 season.
Outdoor Games
We are excited to see a return to more outdoor games for the 24/25 season. These always put an entertaining spin on the hockey matches and provide an additional layer of intrigue. How will the players cope with the different environment and conditions?
Currently, two outdoor games are scheduled:
- 2025 NHL Winter Classic: This will be held on the 31st of December at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues will face off in the freezing temperatures of the Windy City!
- NHL Stadium Series: One of these games will be held on the 1st of March 2025 at Ohio State University and will feature the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings.
4 Nations Face-Off
As we know, the NHL decided to scrap the All Star game and this is a trend we think the NBA should follow too! Instead, they have come up with the brand new concept of the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off.
This will take place between the 12th and 20th of February 2025. The participating nations are Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. Only NHL players are allowed to be picked for the team. During the tournament, seven games will be played in a round-robin format.
Each team will play three games, and then the two teams with the most points will face off in the tournament final. Standard NHL rules and rink specifications will be used, and each team will be allowed to pick 20 skaters and 3 goalkeepers.
We are incredibly excited for this new tournament and as of yet, it looks to be one of the major highlights of the upcoming 24/25 season.
The 24/25 NHL Season is Set to be Magnificent
This is just a taster of what’s to come for the new season and we can’t wait! We already have so much detail that it can only get better from here. Once the playoffs have concluded and the Stanley Cup has been lifted, we should hopefully get more details about the regular season fixtures so make sure you stay tuned for updates!
