The NHL released its 2025-26 schedule Wednesday, with the Ducks returning to the ice Oct. 9 for their opener in Seattle against the Kraken.
Here’s a quick peek at the six games that aren’t to be missed this season.
Oct. 14: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
After a quick swing through Seattle and San Jose, the Ducks will kick off their campaign on Katella Avenue against the Pittsburgh Penguins and perhaps the greatest player of his generation, Sidney Crosby. Crosby’s Pens have missed the playoffs three years in a row – the Ducks’ drought is seven seasons – but won Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017. Those three Cups were equaled in the post-lockout era only by the Chicago Blackhawks, who won championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015 under new Ducks coach Joel Quenneville.
Oct. 19: at Chicago Blackhawks
This early-season visit to the Madhouse on Madison was already significant thanks to the showdown between 2023’s top two picks, Chicago’s Connor Bedard and the Ducks’ Leo Carlsson. Now, the plot thickened as Quenneville joined the Ducks. He’d returned to Chicago previously with the Florida Panthers, though only once outside the crowdless conditions of the COVID pandemic. Quenneville hoisted the Stanley Cup in Chicago three times, but his tenure was later marred by what the NHL deemed inadequate action to a sexual assault scandal, leaving him barred from the league for nearly three years.
Dec. 15: at New York Rangers
It’ll be the first game back in the Big Apple for a pair of players who wore letters for the Rangers, former captain Jacob Trouba and former alternate captain Chris Kreider. Trouba was traded to the Ducks last season after they’d already played at Madison Square Garden and Kreider was sent west over the summer. Both were not only critical contributors on the ice for the Blue Shirts, but pillars of the community as well. While Kreider’s departure was handled with care, Trouba was less than thrilled about how the Rangers pushed their Mark Messier Leadership Award winner out the door.
Jan. 6: at Philadelphia Flyers; March 18: vs Philadelphia Flyers
What instantaneously became the biggest interconference rivalry in the league today only deepened its intrigue over the summer. Last season, the Philadelphia crowd went insane while welcoming Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier, who had refused to sign with the Flyers after they drafted him fifth overall, sparking a 6-0 romp by Philly. This year, not only will Gauthier hear the hate on Broad Street, but former Duck Trevor Zegras should feel the love inside the Honda Center. The former team leader in scoring was dealt unceremoniously to the Flyers this offseason and will make his return to Anaheim in March.
Feb. 6-24: Winter Olympics in Milan
It’s another campaign with a compressed schedule for 2025-26, this time for the first Winter Olympics since 2014 that will feature NHL pros in the ultimate best-on-best tournament. Carlsson was the only Duck to participate in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, but should he go to Milan as well he will likely be joined by goalie Lukáš Dostál (Czechia), captain Radko Gudas (Czechia), newcomer Mikael Granlund (Finland) and other hopefuls, including Kreider (USA).
April 16: at Nashville Predators
Will Game 82 carry real significance for the Ducks this season? As they visit one of the freshly acquired Granlund’s former teams, the Ducks could be playing for a postseason berth or playoff position. They haven’t been in such a position since 2018, when they were swept by San Jose in the first round. With the O.C. Vibe complex opening, Quenneville arriving and Ducks ownership opening its checkbook wide, ambition has returned to Orange County.
DUCKS 2025-26 SCHEDULE
Oct. 9 at Seattle, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 at San Jose, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Chicago, 4 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Nashville, 5 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Boston, 4 p.m.
Oct. 25 at Tampa Bay, 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 at Florida, 4 p.m.
Oct. 31 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.
Nov. 2 vs. New Jersey, 5 p.m.
Nov. 4 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 at Dallas, 5 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Vegas, 7 p.m.
Nov. 9 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 at Colorado, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Detroit, 4 p.m.
Nov 15 at Minnesota, 3 p.m.
Nov. 17 vs. Utah, 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 vs. Boston, 7 p.m.
Nov. 20 vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Nov 22 vs. Vegas, 7 p.m.
Nov. 26 vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Nov 28 vs. Kings, 1 p.m.
Nov. 30 at Chicago, 12:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 at St. Louis, 5 p.m.
Dec. 3 vs. Utah, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7 vs. Chicago, 5 p.m.
Dec. 9 at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.
Dec. 11 at New York Islanders, 4 p.m.
Dec. 13 at New Jersey, 9:30 a.m.
Dec. 15 at New York Rangers, 4 p.m.
Dec. 16 at Columbus, 4 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22 vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Kings, 6 p.m.
Dec. 29 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.
Dec. 31 vs. Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.
Jan. 2 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5 at Washington, 4 p.m.
Jan. 6 at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Carolina, 4 p.m.
Jan. 10 at Buffalo, 4 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Kings, 7:30 p.m.
Jan 17 vs. Kings, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19 vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 at Colorado, 6 p.m.
Jan 23 at Seattle, 7 p.m.
Jan. 25 at Calgary, 5 p.m.
Jan. 26 at Edmonton, 5:30 p.m.
Jan. 29 at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
Feb. 1 vs. Vegas, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 vs. Seattle, 7 p.m.
Feb. 25 vs. Edmonton, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 27 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
March 1 vs. Calgary, 5 p.m.
March 3 vs. Colorado, 7 p.m.
March 4 vs. New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
March 6 vs. Montreal, 6 p.m.
March 8 vs. St. Louis, 6 p.m.
March 10 at Winnipeg, 5:30 p.m.
March 12 at Toronto, 4 p.m.
March 14 at Ottawa, 10 a.m.
March 15 at Montreal, 4 p.m.
March 18 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
March 20 at Utah, 7 p.m.
March 22 vs. Buffalo, 5 p.m.
March 24 at Vancouver, 7 p.m.
March 26 at Calgary, 6 p.m.
March 28 at Edmonton, 12:30 p.m.
Mar 30 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
April 1 at San Jose, 7 p.m.
April 3 vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
April 4 vs. Calgary, 7 p.m.
April 7 vs. Nashville, 7 p.m.
April 9 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.
April 12 vs. Vancouver, 5 p.m.
April 14 at Minnesota, 5 p.m.
April 16 at Nashville, 5 p.m.