It has been far to long without the Toronto Maple Leafs or just hockey in general if I do say so myself so to get me and all of you ready for the start of the season here are some dates to look forward to as a hockey fan.
NHL training camp is scheduled from September 21st-24th. It is there where you could see some of the NHL’s top stars as well as some of their newest stars step onto the ice with their squads. Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli will all dawn their new threads these days. The Toronto Maple Leafs training camp will be extremely interesting to watch to see where each of their prospects are in their development.
Even if you aren’t a fan of the Blackhawks, Ducks or Blue Jackets, training camp is a good time to see how your team looks prior to pre season and seeing the new additions step on the ice for the first time.
Next, NHL preseason. For me it is some of the best hockey to watch. Seeing guys on the same team battle it out for a roster spot is always fun to watch and you get to see some of the big guns on your favourite teams take to the ice.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Key Dates for the 2023-24 NHL Season
Preseason action kicks off on Saturday September 23rd, but if you are a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs, they begin the following day on the 24th of September.
Now where most of us are truly hyped, the start of the regular season, seeing all 32 teams complete and ready to go.
Well, that gets underway on Tuesday October 10th, it’s so close you could almost smell the leaves falling from the trees. A triple header with the Tampa Bay Lightning facing the Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks visit Kyle Dubas’ Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights raise their 2023 Stanley Cup banner against the Seattle Kraken.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will host the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday October 11th.
The Winter Classic is one of my favourite days on the calendar year. It is a tradition in my house for me to stop whatever it is I am doing to go watch two hockey teams battle it out in some of the coldest weather for bragging rights against one another.
This year it will be a matchup between the two newest NHL teams. The Vegas Golden Knights will take on the Seattle Kraken on New Years Day at T-Mobile Park.
Now back to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The city of Toronto is set to host the NHL All-Star weekend from February 2nd-3rd, the ninth time Toronto has hosted a All-Star game and the first in Canada since 2012!
Then finally April 18th, the final day of the regular season, which only means one thing…. The battle for Lord Stanley’s mug commences!