Fixing the NHL Schedule & Playoffs | How to Improve the NHL's Regular Season and Postseason

The NHL has released its full 2025– 26 schedule, and it's time for a serious discussion. On today's episode of Locked On NHL, hosts Nick Zararis (Locked On Oilers) and Hunter Hodies (Locked On Penguins) break down how the league can improve both its regular season structure and its flawed playoff format. We explain how the current 82-game structure is set to expand to 84 games and what that means for rivalries, travel, and fan experience. Should we really be watching the same first-round matchups like Oilers vs. Kings year after year? And is the NHL’s dependence on gate revenue hurting the product?

0:00 NHL releases 2025-2026 season schedule

2:40 Gate revenue crucial for NHL finances

5:11 Preseason games scaling back, regular season expanding

9:36 Improving NHL schedule for better competition

13:15 Issues with current divisional game scheduling

16:40 Incentivizing divisional and conference matchups

20:13 Problems with current divisional playoff format

24:46 Making playoffs more competitive and rewarding

28:05 Potential 2-3-2 playoff series format

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