The upcoming NHL playoffs will be best-of-seven series, with a new postseason salary cap requiring teams to field a 20-man roster each game that complies with the full regular-season cap to prevent salary cap circumventions.

The 2025-26 NHL season will expand to an 84-game schedule, starting on October 7, with minimal rule changes but significant updates from a new collective bargaining agreement.

The regular season kicks off with a tripleheader on October 7, featuring teams like the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, and others, marking the start of a busy hockey calendar.

In the playoffs, home-ice advantage in the first two rounds goes to the higher-seeded team, while in the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final, it is awarded to the team with the better regular-season record.

The Stanley Cup playoffs will include 16 teams—top three from each division plus two wild cards per conference—maintaining a format similar to previous years.

Key rule changes this season include restrictions on the use of long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to prevent salary cap circumventions, allowing only full-season cap relief for players unable to participate for the entire season and playoffs.

All playoff series will be best-of-seven, with a new salary cap rule requiring teams to have a 20-man roster that is cap-compliant for each game.

The collective bargaining agreement also relaxes dress code requirements, removing the mandate for jackets and ties during games and travel, and makes slight adjustments to in-game rules like high-sticking and offside calls involving skate blades.

Referees are now empowered with more discretion to interpret rules using 'common sense' in situations not explicitly covered in the rule book.