The Toronto Maple Leafs regular season will begin in less than a month. It's a perfect time to look at key dates in the 2024-25 NHL season schedule.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will play their first pre-season game on Sunday, September 22nd, against the Ottawa Senators. They will play six pre-season games, with two against the Senators, two against the Montreal Canadiens, and two against the Detroit Red Wings. The Leafs sixth and final pre-season game will be on October 5th against the Detroit Red Wings.
Key dates in the NHL schedule are December 20th to 27th is the holiday roster freeze. February 10th to 21st is the Four Nations Face-Off. The NHL trade deadline will be 3:00 pm on Friday, March 7th. Thursday, April 17th will be the last day of the regular season, and the 2025 playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 19th. The last possible day for the Stanley Cup final is June 23rd.
On October 4th, and 5th, the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils will kickoff the NHL regular season with back-to-back games at the O2 Arena in London, England. The NHL season in North America will start on October 8th with three games. As for the Leafs, they will have their first regular season game on Wednesday, October 9th in Montreal against the Canadiens.
Other key dates in the Toronto Maple Leafs schedule
The Leafs will be in Boston on Saturday, October 26th, for the first time since the Bruins eliminated them from the first round of the 2024 NHL playoffs, with a 2-1 win in Game 7 on May 4th, 2024. It's a game that fans from both teams get excited about. The Leafs and Bruins will play each other four times this season.
On Thursday, October 24th, the Leafs will host the St. Louis Blues. It will be the first time new Leafs head coach Craig Berube will coach against the Blues since they fired him in December 2023. Hopefully, the Leafs can win this one for their coach. The Leafs and Blues will play again on November 2nd in St. Louis. It will be Berube's first time back in St. Louis since being fired. There will be some emotions there, I'm sure.
The Leafs and Ottawa Senators will renew the Battle of Ontario on Tuesday, November 12th, in Toronto. As the Senators look to establish themselves as a playoff contender this season, the game against the Leafs will not lack drama.
Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers will be in Toronto on Tuesday, November 12th. Who doesn't like watching a showdown between McDavid and Auston Matthews? Two of the NHL's best players battling each other is a must-see.
The Chicago Blackhawks will be in Toronto on Monday, December 2nd. It will be a chance for Leafs fans to see Connor Bedard in action, and it will also be the return of Tyler Bertuzzi, who signed with the Blackhawks in free agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs key dates in 2025
The Leafs first game of 2025 will be on Thursday, January 2nd against the New York Islanders in New York. The same team the Leafs will play in their final game of 2024 on New Year's Eve (December 31st).
From February 1st to February 8th will be the Leafs longest road trip. They will play in four games, starting with the Oilers on February 1st, the Calgary Flames on February 4th, Seattle Kraken on February 6th, and ending with a game against the Vancouver Canucks on February 8th.
On Monday, March 10th, the Leafs will play their first game inside the Delta Center, which is the new home of the Utah Hockey Club.
The Leafs will have their annual California trip from March 27th to March 30th against the San Jose Sharks (March 27th), Los Angeles Kings (March 29th), and Anaheim Ducks (March 30th).
On April 8th (Florida Panthers) and April 9th (Tampa Bay Lightning) will be the Leafs trip through Florida which is usually the team's annual Father's trip. These two games against Atlantic Division rivals this late in the season could impact the divisional standings heading into the playoffs.
Thursday, April 17th will be the Leafs last game of the regular season. They will be hosting the Detroit Red Wings.