Now that the draft has concluded and over $1 billion was dropped at the opening of free agency, we can now turn our attention to what really matters: the start of the 2024-25 hockey season.

Even though the Stanley Cup was awarded just one week ago, it's never too early to rhapsodize about the excitement that lies ahead. Thankfully, Sportsnet has you covered for some of the most tantalizing matchups and flagship hockey events, including the Winter Classic, Stadium Series and Hockey Day in Canada.

Sportsnet is also the exclusive Canadian broadcast partner of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the first international best-on-best tournament in over eight years which runs from Feb. 12 to 20.

In partnership with Amazon, Prime Video will now be the exclusive home of Monday Night Hockey games in Canada. You can find that full schedule here.

Here is a look at some of the must-see games that will be available nationally on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ this season.

Canadian Opening Night

WHEN: Oct. 9, 2024
Maple Leafs at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT | Flames at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

The off-season is only technically just beginning, yet we can already pencil in six hours worth of all-Canadian hockey just over three months away, when six of Canada's seven squads open their season on Sportsnet.

All three match-ups will provide assuredly entertaining hockey, but opening the NHL season in Canada with an Original Six, all-Canadian matchup will be can't-miss. The Maple Leafs and the Canadiens have a century-long rivalry that's culminated in 16 playoff series but just one of them has occurred in the previous four decades. That 2021 first-round series, where the Canadiens came back from a 3-1 deficit to win, is either a source of pride or an open wound. Since then, though, both clubs have taken different paths — Toronto has locked down its core and looks to be a perennial contender, while Montreal went near-scorched earth and is on the verge of completing its rebuild.

The Maple Leafs have won the past five meetings — can they do it again on Oct. 9?

100th anniversary of the Canadiens-Bruins rivalry

WHEN: Dec. 1, 2024
Canadiens at Bruins, 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.

Speaking of the Canadiens, there's another monumental game for Habs fans to look forward to at the front end of the season. The 100th anniversary of the Canadiens-Bruins rivalry takes place on Dec. 1 and the Habs will be headed to TD Garden to celebrate the occasion. The first meeting between the two Original Six franchises happened on Dec. 8 1924 — a game that the Bruins won 2-1. Since then, the two squads have met 938 times in total, including 34 playoff series.

Outdoor Games

WINTER CLASSIC
WHEN: Dec. 31, 2024
Blues at Blackhawks, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

Two Central Division rivals will meet at the iconic Wrigley Field on New Year's Eve to mark the season's first outdoor game. Though not regarded anymore as a feud with the same heat as, say, Edmonton and Calgary, the two teams were embroiled in a bitter rivalry through most of the 1980s and 1990s, when the likes of Chris Chelios and Brett Hull were wreaking havoc on one another.

With the Central Division as stacked as it is, it's tough to say whether either of these teams will be vying for a playoff position when they take the ice on New Year's Eve. That said, any chance to watch Connor Bedard compete on the biggest of stages is must-see TV.

STADIUM SERIES

WHEN: March 1, 2025
Red Wings at Blue Jackets, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT

It's fair to say the rivalry between Ohio and Michigan is played out mostly on the college football fields, so it might be good to inject some bad blood into their two NHL teams as well. They'll get the chance to do so when Columbus hosts its first outdoor hockey game on March 1.

Fun fact: While this is Columbus' first time hosting an outdoor hockey game, this is Patrick Kane's seventh time playing in one. Only James Van Riemsdyk has appeared in that many outdoor games.

Hockey Day in Canada

WHEN: Jan. 18, 2025
Bruins at Senators, 3 p.m. ET / noon PT | Maple Leafs at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Canucks, 10 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. PT

Hockey Day in Canada takes place this season in Canmore, Alta. and, much like opening night, we have over nine hours of hockey to look forward to in early 2025.

On this puck-filled afternoon, it will definitely be worth it to stay awake for the late game, as the tension between the Canucks and the Oilers never disappoints. Even pushing aside the seven-game post-season series these two played, the Oilers and Canucks have had a Pacific Division rivalry that's been heating up in recent years. Perhaps not as testy as the Oilers-Flames rivalry or even the Canucks-Flames rivalry, bitterness between the two teams and their fans has most definitely intensified.

After years of Oilers superiority at the hands of phenom Connor McDavid, the Canucks finally seem to be on equal ground, having won the Pacific Division in 2024. That'll be put to the test on Jan. 18.

4 Nations Face-Off

WHEN: Feb. 12-20 2025
Feb 12: Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Feb 13: USA vs. Finland, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Feb 15: Sweden vs. Finland, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
Feb 15: USA vs. Canada, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Feb 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT
Feb 17: USA vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Feb 20: TBD vs. TBD (Final), 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

The return of international best-on-best hockey is something that the fans have waited a long time for. After memorable Olympics in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 — and the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 — the NHL promptly put an end to league players participating in international hockey during the season, much to the players' and fans dismay.

But fret no longer — international best-on-best is back with the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will serve as a precursor to a return to the Olympics in 2026 and a World Cup of Hockey in 2028.

Though there is no shortage of elite NHL talent from Sweden and Finland, we would be remiss if we didn't highlight the much-anticipated showdown between the two hockey powerhouses — Canada and the U.S. — whose national teams look very different since we last saw them at the 2014 Olympics.

Will Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes emerge victorious over Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar? We'll find out on Feb. 15.

Hockey Night in Canada

WHEN: Nov. 16, 2024
Blackhawks at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

A broken jaw precluded Bedard from playing in his hometown for the first time as an NHLer, but, provided the Calder Trophy winner stays healthy, he'll get the chance to play his childhood team early in his sophomore campaign.

WHEN: Jan. 25, 2025
Maple Leafs at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

The Battle of Ontario returns to Hockey Night in Canada. The Senators have won the last two meetings between the two, can the Maple Leafs break the streak?

WHEN: Feb. 8, 2025
Senators at Panthers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

It was a heartwarming sight to see Brady Tkachuk look so unabashedly happy as his brother lifted the Stanley Cup for the Panthers — the first of the Tkachuk's to do so. Once the two hit the ice again, though, the Cup will be long forgotten and the Tkachuk Bowl is sure to be as entertaining as usual.

WHEN: March 29, 2025
Flames at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

It's tough to believe that the first Battle of Alberta matchup on Hockey Night in Canada is this late into the season, but if history has shown us, it'll be worth the wait. Can the rebuilding Flames compete with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl's Western Conference-winning Oilers?

Full schedule

OCT. 12
Penguins at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT | Senators at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT | Flyers at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT | Blackhawks at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

OCT. 19
Lightning at Senators, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT | Rangers at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Islanders, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canucks at Flyers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Kraken, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

OCT. 26
Maple Leafs at Bruins, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blues at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Flames, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Penguins at Canucks 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

NOV. 2
Maple Leafs at Blues, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Penguins 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Kraken at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canucks at Sharks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

NOV. 9
Canadiens at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Bruins, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Stars at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

NOV. 16
Oilers at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blue Jackets at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Panthers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Hurricanes, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blackhawks at Vancouver, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

NOV. 23
Canucks at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Golden Knights at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Predators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Rangers at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

NOV. 30
Maple Leafs at Lightning, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Kings, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Penguins, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Avalanche 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

DEC. 7
Maple Leafs at Penguins, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Capitals at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Predators at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blues at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

DEC. 14
Maple Leafs at Red Wings, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Penguins at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Bruins at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Panthers at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

DEC. 21
Islanders at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Red Wings at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Wild at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

DEC. 28
Capitals at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Jets, 7 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Sharks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

JAN. 4
Bruins at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Avalanche, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Predators at Flames, 7 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. PT | Oilers at Kraken, 10 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

JAN. 11
Canucks at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Stars at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Avalanche at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Blackhawks, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Kings at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

JAN. 18
Bruins at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Maple Leafs at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

JAN. 25
Maple Leafs at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Devils at Canadiens, 7 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Wild, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Capitals at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

FEB. 1
Maple Leafs at Oilers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Wild at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Capitals, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Red Wings at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

FEB. 8
Maple Leafs at Canucks, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Panthers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Kraken at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

FEB. 22
Hurricanes at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Blues, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canucks at Golden Knights, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

MARCH 1
Red Wings at Blue Jackets, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT | Oilers at Carolina, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Sabres, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Sharks at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flyers at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canucks at Kraken, 10 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

MARCH 8
Maple Leafs at Avalanche, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Flames, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Stars at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

MARCH 15
Senators at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Panthers at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blackhawks at Vancouver 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

MARCH 22
Maple Leafs at Predators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Avalanche at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Senators at Devils, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Kraken at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

MARCH 29
Maple Leafs at Kings, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Blue Jackets at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flames at Oilers, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

APRIL 5
Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Flyers at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Utah HC, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Golden Knights at Flames, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

APRIL 12
Canadiens at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Jets at Blackhawks, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Wild at Canucks, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT

Wednesday Night Hockey

WHEN: March 19, 2025
Avalanche at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Five of the best players in the world — each of whom will have represented their country at the 4 Nations Face-Off — will take to the ice in downtown Toronto. Can MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Makar emerge victorious over Matthews and William Nylander?

WHEN: March 26, 2025
Canucks at Islanders, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Former Canucks captain Bo Horvat is suited up and signed with the New York Islanders and even though Quinn Hughes took over captain duties before the 2023 season, it's always good hockey to watch the Canucks take on their former on-ice leader. An extra tidbit: The Canucks have won all three matchups against the Islanders since the Horvat trade. Can they continue that streak?

Full schedule

OCT.16
Kings at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

OCT. 23
Capitals at Flyers, 7:30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m.

OCT. 30
Jets at Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. / 4:30 p.m. PT

NOV. 6
Golden Knights at Oilers, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

NOV. 13
Maple Leafs at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

NOV. 20
Golden Knights at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

NOV. 27
Maple Leafs at Panthers, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT | Canadiens at Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

DEC. 4
Predators at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

DEC. 11
Ducks at Senators, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

DEC. 18
Maple Leafs at Stars, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

DEC. 31
Blues at Blackhawks, 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

JAN. 8
Canucks at Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

JAN. 15
Oilers at Wild, 8:30 p.m. / 5:30 p.m. PT

JAN. 22
Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

JAN. 29
Wild at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

FEB. 5
Bruins at Rangers, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT | Oilers at Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

FEB. 26
Jets at Senators, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

MARCH 5
Senators at Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

MARCH 12
Canucks at Flames, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

MARCH 19
Avalanche at Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

MARCH 29
Canucks at Islanders, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

APRIL 9
Maple Leafs at Lightning, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

APRIL 16
Hurricanes at Canadiens, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Ducks at Jets, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Mark your calendars: Highlights from Sportsnet's national NHL schedule

NHL Newsletter

Blue Jays Newsletter

Raptors Newsletter

Informative

Service Plus

Marketing

Sponsored

Contest

Event

Affiliate