Gary Bettman to announce major changes to the Chicago Blackhawks organizations schedule

Pierre Lebrun, a known sports commentator, reveals that the 2025/26 NHL season will look different for many organizations, including the Chicago Blackhawks.

It has been revealed that fans and organizations can expect the longest NHL regular season in over two decades, as Gary Bettman has plans to extend the league's season by two games.

This suggests the league's first change by Bettman since the 1995/96 season, the year the NHL originally reduced the season by two games, and will ultimately leave the Chicago Blackhawks to endure 84 games per season rather than 82.

Although two additional games seems like a minimal adjustment, this leaves much more wiggle-room for the Chicago Blackhawks' standings and can make the difference between the organization sitting in a post-season spot or not.

The pre-season schedule would take an impact from these two additional games, which would conclude in the league being force to revise the earlier part of the season.

These games would also create fewer exhibition games and the regular season would begin slightly earlier.

Despite a slightly earlier start to the season, the league does not intend to finish in May, rather to ease congestion in the regular season and still expects the Stanley Cup to be won in the month of June.

However, the possible increase of games for next season is not quite here yet and the Chicago Blackhawks need to ensure their re-build is up to par prior the schedule adjustment, as every game counts.

Let's hope these changes improve the likelihood of the Chicago Blackhawks making their appearance at the 2025/26 NHL post-season.