Gary Bettman and NHL set to announce a new plan that will start the regular season much earlier

After years of complaints about the league's schedule, change may finally be on the horizon. According to Sportsnet, the NHL is seriously exploring a scenario where the regular season would begin in late September or earlier in October.

This would not only ease the current schedule crunch but also open the door for an expanded 84-game season. A shorter preseason is also being discussed, something many within the league have long supported.

Insider John Shannon weighed in with this comment:

For years, the NHL fitted 82 games into a tight calendar, often leading to injury spikes and fatigue, especially during the playoff pushes. Starting earlier would reduce the number of back-to-back games and create more breathing room throughout the season.

According to the report, this change could come into effect as early as the 2026 season. And yes, while a September start would overlap with the NFL and MLB, it's time the NHL had more confidence in its product. Hockey fans will show up regardless of the date.

As Sportsnet noted, the plan also takes into account league commitments like the Olympics and international tournaments, which tend to push the playoffs into late June. But starting earlier in the fall wouldn't necessarily change that.

This could be the last summer where we wait until mid-October to watch NHL hockey. Stay tuned for the latest updates on upcoming changes within the usual NHL regular season schedule.