It’s the Start of the 2023-24 NHL Season

‍The 2023-24 NHL season gets off to a flying start with a star-studded tripleheader featuring the much-awaited debut of the No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard. Opening night will see the Blackhawks go toe-to-toe with one of Bedard’s idols, Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Not to forget, the Golden Knights will raise their first-ever Stanley Cup banner.

Kick-starting the NHL Season

The 2023-24 NHL season will see a matchup between the Predators and the Lightning. The game will feature NHL Awards winners, including two Norris Trophy winners, Victor Hedman and Roman Josi, and two Conn Smythe Trophy winners, Ryan O’Reilly and Hedman again. This game will also mark the start of the Barry Trotz era in Nashville, as he takes over from David Poile as the franchise’s second general manager.

Connor Bedard: The New Face of NHL

After an impressive preseason performance, Connor Bedard makes his much-anticipated regular season debut against his childhood idol, Sidney Crosby. Bedard and Crosby share a lot more than just the title of No. 1 overall pick.

Bedard, like Crosby, will make his NHL debut at 18 years of age, following a season in which they won gold at the World Junior Championship and earned CHL Player of the Year and CHL Top Scorer honors. In his final junior season, Crosby averaged 2.71 points per game while Bedard averaged 2.51.

Interestingly, Bedard’s NHL debut is against Crosby, a three-time Stanley Cup winner. Crosby himself had debuted against a three-time Stanley Cup winner, goaltending legend Martin Brodeur.

In his debut season, Crosby posted 39-63–102 in 81 games. The Blackhawks hope for similar results from Bedard, who will be supported by veteran additions like Stanley Cup champion Corey Perry, 2010 No. 1 overall pick Taylor Hall, and veteran Nick Foligno.

If Bedard scores a point in his debut, he would become the fifth-youngest active player to record a point in his NHL debut.

Golden Knights: Celebrating the First Stanley Cup Win

The Golden Knights will start their seventh season with a bang, raising their first Stanley Cup banner before their game against the Kraken. The team clinched its first title with a historic 9-3 victory against the Panthers in Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final.

The team, including playoff points leader Jack Eichel, Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jonathan Marchessault and captain Mark Stone, is aiming to become the third team in the last 20 years to repeat as champions.

The team’s next meeting with the Kraken will be at the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

NHL Face-Off Opening Week: 18 National Games

The opening week of the 2023-24 regular season will see 18 games carried nationally. This includes tonight’s tripleheader and Wednesday’s NHL doubleheader and Sportsnet’s first Scotiabank Wednesday Night Hockey telecast.

NHL Announces Opening-Day Rosters for 2023-24 Season

Click here to see Opening Day rosters for all NHL teams.