2024–25 NHL season

2024–25 NHL season
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice Hockey
Duration	October 4, 2024 – June 2025
Number of games	82
Number of teams	32
TV partner(s)	Sportsnet, CBC, TVA Sports (Canada) ESPN/ABC/ESPN2, TNT/TBS (United States)
Draft
Regular season
Playoffs
Stanley Cup

The 2024–25 NHL season is the upcoming 108th season of operation (107th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). Following concerns about an indefinite timeframe on a new arena, the Arizona Coyotes franchise was deactivated and its players and personnel were transferred to a new expansion team in Utah. The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 4, 2024, when the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils are to play the first of two games in Prague, Czech Republic, as a part of the 2024 NHL Global Series. The Stanley Cup playoffs are then planned to begin in April 2025, ending with the Stanley Cup Finals in June.

League business

Utah expansion and Arizona Coyotes deactivation

On April 13, 2024, it was reported that, with the NHL's permission, the Arizona Coyotes were making efforts to relocate to Salt Lake City, Utah, following concerns about an indefinite timeframe on a new arena and the effects of continued play at the 4,600-seat Mullett Arena. The sale, which involved the NHL buying the franchise from Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo, then reselling it to Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA), was finalized on April 18, after the NHL Board of Governors voted to establish a team in Utah, with the Coyotes' hockey assets; however, rather than formally relocate, the Coyotes franchise was instead marked "inactive", with Utah considered an expansion team in a similar situation to the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Meruelo subsequently remains on the NHL Board of Governors as an observer, retaining the rights to the Coyotes brand with a five-year window to complete a new arena and "reactivate" the Coyotes as an expansion team. Of the reported US$1.2 billion sale price, 1 billion was paid to Meruelo, with $200 million paid to the NHL's other owners as a relocation fee.

The Utah Hockey Club will play home games at the Jazz's home arena, the Delta Center. Renovations will be required to make it the team's permanent home, similar to the renovations made to Climate Pledge Arena before the Kraken began play in the NHL. The team will play its inaugural season without an official name, mascot, or colors, while a full identity is developed in time for 2025–26.

Rule changes

On June 26, 2024, the league announced that following rule changes for the 2024–25 season:

• The puck-over-glass delay-of-game penalty has been added to the list of plays that can go under video review. This only applies to determine whether the puck instead deflected off a player, stick, the glass or the boards. The judgement call on how the puck left the defensive zone cannot be reviewed. A failed coach's challenge would thus essentially result in a double-minor: both the original puck-over-glass penalty and the failed coach's challenge penalty.
• The defensive team cannot make a line change after its goaltender accidentally dislodges the net.
• Following an icing, offensive centers will receive a warning for a faceoff violation, just like defensive players.
• A team that has players sitting on the boards will first receive a warning, and then be accessed an unsportsmanlike conduct bench minor penalty for subsequent violations.

Entry draft

The 2024 NHL entry draft is scheduled for June 28–29, 2024, at the Sphere in Paradise, Nevada.

Salary cap

Each individual team's salary cap was increased to US$88 million for 2024–25. This was an increase of US$4.5  million from the previous season. The salary cap floor will be increased to US$65 million.

Regular season

The regular season is planned from October 4, 2024, to April 2025.

International games

The Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils are scheduled to play their first two regular season games against each other on October 4 and 5, 2024, at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic. Then, the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers are scheduled to play two games on November 1 and 2, at Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland.

Outdoor games

The league has scheduled the following outdoor games:

• The 2025 NHL Winter Classic will be held on December 31, 2024, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, with the Chicago Blackhawks hosting the St. Louis Blues.
• One NHL Stadium Series game will be held on March 1, 2025, at Ohio Stadium on the campus of the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, with the Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the Detroit Red Wings.

4 Nations Face-Off

Main article: NHL 4 Nations Face-Off

Instead of the All-Star Game, the league will hold a new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament as a preview for the NHL's return to Olympic participation in 2026. Four teams representing NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States will play a total of seven games from February 12 to 20. Games will be held at Boston's TD Garden and Montreal's Bell Centre.

Coaching changes

Coaching changes

Off–season
Team	2023–24 coach	2024–25 coach	Notes
Buffalo Sabres	Don Granato	Lindy Ruff	On April 16, 2024, one day after the conclusion of their season, the Sabres fired Granato. In just over three-and-a-half seasons with Buffalo, Granato totaled a 122–125–27 record, with no playoff appearances. Ruff, who had previously coached Buffalo from 1997 to 2013, and most recently served as head coach of the New Jersey Devils from 2020 to 2024, was named head coach on April 22.
Columbus Blue Jackets	Pascal Vincent	TBD	On June 17, 2024, two months after the conclusion of the Blue Jackets' season, Vincent was fired by Columbus. In his single season as head coach, the Blue Jackets posted a 27–43–12 record, finishing last in the Metropolitan Division.
Los Angeles Kings	Todd McLellan Jim Hiller*	Jim Hiller	McLellan was fired on February 2, 2024, with the Kings holding a record of 23–15–10; despite a 20–7–4 start to the season, the team went 3–8–6 in the 17 games preceding his dismissal. In four and a half seasons with Los Angeles, McLellan posted a 164–130–44 record, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round. Hiller, an assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach, before being named full-time head coach on May 22, 2024.
New Jersey Devils	Lindy Ruff Travis Green*	Sheldon Keefe	Ruff was fired on March 4, 2024, after the Devils started 30–27–4. In just over three-and-a-half seasons with New Jersey, Ruff totaled a 128–125–28 record, with one playoff appearance. Green, the associate coach, and previously head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021, was promoted to interim head coach the same day. Green finished out the season 8–12–1, failing to make the playoffs, and was subsequently hired by the Ottawa Senators following the season. Keefe, most recently the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2019 to 2024, was named head coach on May 23, 2024.
Ottawa Senators	D. J. Smith Jacques Martin*	Travis Green	Smith was fired on December 18, 2023, after the Senators started the season 11–15–0. In just over four seasons with Ottawa, Smith compiled a 131–154–32 record, with no playoff appearances. Martin, a senior advisor to the coaching staff who previously served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2004, and most recently served as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 2009 to 2011, was promoted to interim head coach. Martin subsequently finished out the season 26–26–4, failing to reach the playoffs. Green, most recently the interim head coach of the New Jersey Devils, and previously head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021, was named head coach on May 7, 2024.
San Jose Sharks	David Quinn	Ryan Warsofsky	On April 24, 2024, one week after the conclusion of their season, the Sharks fired Quinn. In two seasons with San Jose, Quinn posted a 41–98–25 record, with no playoff appearances. Warsofsky, an assistant coach, was promoted to head coach on June 13, 2024.
Seattle Kraken	Dave Hakstol	Dan Bylsma	Hakstol was fired on April 29, 2024, a week and a half after the conclusion of Seattle's season. The franchise's first head coach, Hakstol recorded a 107–112–27 record in three seasons with the Kraken, leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance in 2023. Bylsma, most recently head coach of Seattle's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and previously head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, was promoted to head coach on May 28, 2024.
St. Louis Blues	Craig Berube Drew Bannister*	Drew Bannister	Berube was fired on December 12, 2023, after the Blues started the season 13–14–1. In parts of six seasons with St. Louis, Berube compiled a 206–132–44 record with four playoff appearances, leading the franchise to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. Bannister, previously the head coach of the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, was promoted to interim head coach, before signing a two-year contract to become the full-time head coach on May 7, 2024.
Toronto Maple Leafs	Sheldon Keefe	Craig Berube	On May 9, 2024, five days following Toronto's first-round elimination from the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, Keefe was fired after four-and-a-half seasons with the team. Under Keefe, the team went 212–97–40, winning the North Division title in 2021 and making the playoffs every season, but only reaching the second round once. Berube, most recently head coach of the St. Louis Blues from 2018 to 2023, and who played for the Maple Leafs during the 1991–92 season, was named head coach on May 17.
Utah Hockey Club	Expansion team; hockey assets transferred from Arizona Coyotes	Andre Tourigny	Alongside the other hockey assets of the Arizona Coyotes, Tourigny's contract was transferred to the new Utah Hockey Club, who retained him as head coach.
Winnipeg Jets	Rick Bowness	Scott Arniel	Bowness announced his retirement from coaching on May 6, 2024. In two seasons with Winnipeg, Bowness compiled a 98–57–9 record, with two playoff appearances. Arniel, an associate coach, and formerly head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010 to 2012, was promoted to head coach on May 24.

(*) Indicates interim

Front office changes

General managers

Off–season
Team	2023–24 general manager	2024–25 general manager	Notes
Carolina Hurricanes	Don Waddell	Eric Tulsky	Waddell announced his resignation on May 24, 2024, eight days after Carolina's elimination from the playoffs. Having joined the Hurricanes' organization in 2014 and serving as general manager since 2018, Waddell oversaw six consecutive playoff appearances, three division championships, and two trips to the Eastern Conference finals. Tulsky, the assistant GM, was named interim general manager, before being promoted to full-time general manager on June 18, 2024.
Columbus Blue Jackets	Jarmo Kekalainen John Davidson*	Don Waddell	Kekalainen was fired on February 15, 2024, after the Blue Jackets began the season 16–26–10. Kekalainen had served as general manager of the Blue Jackets since 2013, overseeing five playoff appearances, including the franchise's first playoff series win in 2019. Davidson, the president of hockey operations, was named interim general manager. Waddell, most recently general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes from 2018 to 2024, and who had resigned from the Hurricanes four days prior, was named general manager on May 28, 2024, also assuming the roles of president of hockey operations and alternate governor.
Edmonton Oilers	Ken Holland	TBD	On June 27, 2024, three days after the Oilers' loss in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, and with his contract expiring, the team and Holland mutually agreed to part ways. Holland had served as general manager since 2019, with the Oilers qualifying for the playoffs every season of his term, including two trips to the Western Conference Finals and the aforementioned Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

(*) Indicates interim

Uniforms

This will be the first season for Fanatics as the official apparel provider of the NHL under a ten-year contract, replacing Adidas, which was the official apparel provider on a seven-year contract from the 2017–18 season.

Wholesale team changes

• The Anaheim Ducks unveiled a new logo and uniforms, introducing a modernized version of their Mighty Ducks-era primary logo previously utilized from 1993 to 2006, but re-colored in their current orange, black, and gold color scheme. Their new uniforms feature an orange base, with matching helmets and pants.
• The Los Angeles Kings unveiled a new logo, consisting of a modernized version of their Wayne Gretzky-era logo utilized from 1988 to 1998, with the crown from their original 1967 logo. The Kings also revealed new jerseys, similarly based off their 1988–98 set, and featuring a new matte black helmet.
• The Utah Hockey Club revealed their temporary logo, colors, and uniforms for their inaugural season. The logo depicts a roundel with a "Utah" wordmark in the center, ringed with "Hockey Club" and colored with mountain blue, rock black, and salt white. The home uniforms consisted of a black base with a diagonal "UTAH" wordmark across the front, with blue and white striping, with the road uniforms utilizing a white base with black and blue striping.

Broadcast rights

Canada

National

This will be the eleventh season of the twelve-year Canadian national broadcast rights deal with Sportsnet. This includes Sportsnet's sub-licensing agreements to air Saturday Hockey Night in Canada games on CBC Television and French-language broadcasts on TVA Sports. Games will be streamed on Sportsnet+, with national games available on the Standard level, out-of-market games on the Premium tier, and via authenticated streaming on participating teams.

This will be the first season of a two-year sub-license for Amazon Prime Video to air Prime Monday Night Hockey, replacing Rogers Monday Night Hockey on Sportsnet.

Local

The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers both begin an 11-year extension with Sportsnet West through the 2034–35 season.

Personnel

Prime Monday Night Hockey will feature a new broadcast team, to be announced at a later date.

The Calgary Flames will have a new TV play-by-play announcer this season after Rick Ball was hired by the Chicago Blackhawks.

United States

National

This will be the fourth season of the league's seven-year U.S. national broadcast rights deals with the ESPN family of networks and TNT Sports. ESPN's contract allows at least 25 exclusive games per season on ABC or ESPN (including ABC Hockey Saturday on selected Saturdays), up to 75 exclusive games streamed on ESPN+ (also simulcast on Hulu), out-of-market games streamed on ESPN+ (under the NHL Power Play branding), exclusive rights to the opening night games and the Stadium Series, and simulcasts/alternate broadcasts on other ESPN networks. TNT Sports' contract allows for up to 72 games per season (some may be non-exclusive broadcasts and thus blacked out in local markets), including Wednesday night games, selected Sunday games, the Winter Classic, simulcasts/alternate broadcasts on TBS and TruTV, and the rights to stream its games on Max. While ESPN and ABC would normally televise the All-Star skills competition and the All-Star Game, respectively, the eight-day 4 Nations Face-Off tournament will be split by ABC, ESPN, and TNT. As per the rotation, TNT will hold rights to the Stanley Cup Finals this season.

Local

Bally Sports will be rebranded before the start of the season.

The Chicago Blackhawks, the NBA's Chicago Bulls, MLB's Chicago White Sox, and Standard Media will launch the Chicago Sports Network, replacing NBC Sports Chicago as their regional broadcaster.

The Seattle Kraken will begin a multi-year agreement with Tegna to start airing games on Tegna's Seattle broadcast stations KING and KONG, replacing Root Sports Northwest as the Kraken's regional broadcaster, and syndicate the telecasts to other stations across the team's broadcast territory. Amazon Prime Video will also stream Tegna's Kraken games within the team's territory.

As part of the asset transfer, the Utah expansion team received the Arizona Coyotes' existing broadcasting contract with Scripps Sports. KUPX-TV in Salt Lake City, which had been televising Coyotes and Vegas Golden Knights games, will become the Utah team's new flagship station.

Personnel

The Boston Bruins will have a new TV play-by-play announcer this season following the retirement of Jack Edwards.

The Columbus Blue Jackets will have a new TV play-by-play announcer this season following the retirement of Jeff Rimer.

The Chicago Blackhawks hired Rick Ball to replace Chris Vosters as the team's TV play-by-play announcer. Ball was previously the lead TV play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames and occasional announcer of Sportsnet's national NHL broadcasts.