The NHL regular season ends Saturday, April 10, 2027, and the playoffs begin Tuesday, April 13. The Stanley Cup Final can run as late as Saturday, June 19, 2027.
These dates come from the NHL list of key dates, as of September 11, 2026. Each team plays 84 games this season, up from 82.
The list gives the playoff start and the latest Final day. It gives no round by round dates yet.
When does the NHL season end? The dates that matter
This table shows the four dates most fans look for, with the weekday.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Saturday, April 10, 2027 | Last day of the regular season. All 32 teams play. |
| Tuesday, April 13, 2027 | The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin. |
| Saturday, June 19, 2027 | Latest possible day of the Stanley Cup Final. |
| Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, 2027 | The NHL Draft. |
The NHL season end date for the regular season
The NHL season end date for the regular season is April 10, 2027. The NHL schedules 12 divisional games that day.
Opening night is September 29, 2026. That makes the regular season 194 days long, with games on 185 of them.
The playoff dates
The playoffs begin three days after the last regular season game. The NHL season end date for the playoffs is June 19 at the latest.
The NHL Draft follows on June 25 and 26.
Season end clock
Pick the NHL season end date you mean. See how far away it is and how it compares with last season.
NHL season end date: this season against last season
This table sets 2026 to 27 beside 2025 to 26, with the NHL’s own dates.
| 2026 to 27 | 2025 to 26 | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening night | September 29, 2026 | October 7, 2025 |
| Games per team | 84 | 82 |
| Trade deadline | March 1, 2027 | March 6, 2026 |
| Last regular season day | April 10, 2027 | April 16, 2026 |
| Playoffs begin | April 13, 2027 | April 18, 2026 |
| Last possible playoff day | June 19, 2027 | June 21, 2026 |
| Olympic break | None listed | February 6 to 24, 2026 |
The NHL season end date is 6 days earlier on the calendar this year. The season starts 8 days earlier, with 2 more games for each team.
The gap before the playoffs
Last season the playoffs began two days after the last regular season game. This season they begin three days after it.
The Olympic break
Last season play paused from February 6 to 24 for the Winter Olympics. The NHL’s list for 2026 to 27 shows no Olympic break.
NHL season end date, month by month
This is the NHL season end date in context, from opening night to the Draft.
September and October
Opening night is Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The NHL says it is the second September start, after 2007 to 08.
November to January
The quarter mark is November 17. The halfway mark is January 3, 2027.
The Global Series plays in Helsinki on November 12 and 14. It plays in Düsseldorf on December 18 and 20. The Winter Classic is December 31 in Utah.
The Holiday Break runs December 23 to 25. The NHL lists no scheduled practices. The last games before it are on December 22.
February and March
The All Star Break runs February 4 to 7, with no regular season games. The Skills Competition is Friday, February 5. The All Star Game is Saturday, February 6, on Long Island.
Games resume Monday, February 8. The Stadium Series is February 20 in Arlington, Texas.
The three quarter mark is February 25. The trade deadline is Monday, March 1, at 3 p.m. ET, 40 days before the last regular season day.
April
The last regular season day is Saturday, April 10. The playoffs begin Tuesday, April 13.
The NHL season end date for a team that misses the playoffs is April 10.
May and June
The Final can run through Saturday, June 19. The NHL Draft is Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26.
The NHL list has no dates for the middle rounds.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL playoffs start Tuesday, April 13, 2027. That is three days after the NHL season end date for the regular season. See how the NHL playoffs work for who plays whom.
When the playoff schedule is set
The NHL has not listed first round dates for 2027. Last season it announced Game 1 dates on April 16. That was the last regular season day, and the playoffs began April 18.
The league called that first schedule tentative. It named the full first round schedule after the regular season ended. Wait for that announcement before you book travel for a game.
How long the playoffs ran last season
Last season the playoffs began April 18 and ended June 14. That is 58 days.
The NHL’s window that year ran through June 21, which is 65 days. This season’s window runs from April 13 to June 19, which is 68 days.
Playoff overtime has its own rules. See the NHL overtime rules.
When does the Stanley Cup Final end?
When does the NHL season end for the Cup winner? The Stanley Cup Final ends no later than Saturday, June 19, 2027. The NHL has not listed the date of its first game.
Last season’s Final
Last season’s Final began on June 2. The NHL confirmed that start on May 29. Last season the NHL season end date was June 14, 2026.
The Carolina Hurricanes won the Cup on June 14, 2026. NHL.com reports they beat the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6.
After the Final
The NHL Draft follows six days after the latest day of the Final window. It is June 25 and 26, 2027.
When does the NHL season end for your team?
A team’s season ends on one of three days:
- Misses the playoffs: April 10, 2027, when every team plays its last regular season game.
- Loses a playoff series: the day of its last game in that series.
- Wins the Cup: the last game of the Final, by June 19 at the latest.
Fans of a team with a rough year can plan around April 10. Fans of a contender can plan for as late as June 19.
All 32 teams play on April 10. See the full list of 32 NHL teams.
Still curious?
How many games are in the 2026 to 27 NHL season?
Each team plays 84 games, up from 82. The league plays 1,344 regular season games in total, an all time high.
When is the NHL trade deadline?
The trade deadline is Monday, March 1, 2027, at 3 p.m. ET. It falls 40 days before the NHL season end date for the regular season.
Is there a break in the NHL season?
Yes, two short ones. The Holiday Break runs December 23 to 25. The All Star Break runs February 4 to 7.
Both come before the NHL season end date. The NHL list shows no Olympic break this season.
When is the NHL All Star Game?
The All Star Game is Saturday, February 6, 2027, at UBS Arena on Long Island. The Skills Competition is the day before, Friday, February 5.
When is the NHL Draft?
The NHL Draft is Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, 2027.
NHL free agency opens on July 1 at noon ET. Our guide on when NHL free agency starts has the time in your time zone.
How long is the NHL season from start to finish?
The regular season runs 194 days, from September 29. The NHL season end date is April 10.
The playoffs can push the season to June 19. That is 264 days from opening night.
For one night at the arena, see how long a hockey game lasts.
Take your shot
Your team misses the playoffs. On which date does its season end?
Pick one to take your shot.
Checked against NHL Dates of Interest 2026 to 27
NHL Dates of Interest 2026 to 27
NHL.com, 2026 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 recap
Checked October 2026
