NHL Prepares for the 2025-26 Season: What the Stars Are Saying
HENDERSON, Nev. – With training camps opening this week, the NHL is about to return to action for the 2025-26 season. The summer was full of events, including a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players.
During the NHL Player Media Tour near Las Vegas, dozens of stars were interviewed to get their opinions on the new collective bargaining agreement, the relaxed dress code, the playoff format, their favorite foods, pre-game pump-up songs, and curiosities about their equipment.
Favorite Cheat Meals
Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins): “A huge plate of chicken wings on Sunday to watch American football.”
Mathew Barzal (New York Islanders): “A burger from 7th Street in New York.”
Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks): “Probably a burger and fries.”
Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche): “Probably a burger, something like that. There are good places in Denver for burgers. The Cherry Cricket has a good burger.”
Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers): “Shake Shack. Burger, fries, and a chocolate shake.”
Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning): “Pizza. Pineapple and ham.”
Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks): “Pizza with prosciutto. The thin Italian pizza. Prosciutto with burrata.”
Brady Skjei (Nashville Predators): “Nachos. Tacos. Something Mexican, for sure.”
Jake Oettinger (Dallas Stars): “Chick-fil-a. Or a burger from Culver’s, fries, and a chocolate shake.”
Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks): “A burger. From anywhere. I’m easy.”
The Best of the New Collective Agreement
Seth Jarvis: “I appreciate the training camp being a little shorter.”
Jake Oettinger: “The relaxed dress code is great. I think our Finnish players will definitely take advantage of it.”
Jack Hughes: “I guess the shorter preseason is probably the biggest thing.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois: “No more suits. That’s pretty good.”
Charlie McAvoy: “I think the salary cap compliance topic for the playoffs was great.”
Clayton Keller: “I think maybe the medical care they added.”
Victor Hedman: “No dress code. I like guys expressing their fashion.”
Lukas Dostal: “The dress code. You can express yourself a little more.”
Jordan Eberle: “Not having physical tests was good.”
Robert Thomas: “I like the pension and medical care for retirees.”
Connor Hellebuyck: “I like the dress code being a little more lenient.”
Caption: A relaxed dress code in the NHL could result in captivating looks from players entering the arena. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Who Will Benefit from the New Dress Code?
Charlie McAvoy: “Pasta (David Pastrnak) will be the one who benefits the most. He has the best style, so I think he will be quite eccentric. Also Morgan Geekie.”
Jack Hughes: “Myself. Timo Meier, Luke Hughes, Jesper Bratt too.”
Jordan Eberle: “Probably Vince Dunn.”
Songs to Get Motivated Before the Game
Seth Jarvis: “I don’t have one.”
Brady Skjei: “I like 90s music, like Matchbox 20, Dave Matthews.”
Jake Oettinger: “I like old school Drake. Like ‘Headlines’ Drake.”
Jack Hughes: “My most motivational song is probably ‘Best of You,’ Foo Fighters.”
Travis Sanheim: “Just country music. I like Morgan Wallen, so probably his new album right now.”
Victor Hedman: “There’s a lot of country music. And then there’s motivational music before we go out on the ice.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois: “I listen to French rap, so that’s what I like at the moment.”
Cale Makar: “I listen to a bit of everything. I like some old ones to start.”
Playoffs Format: Change it or Leave it the Same?
Alex DeBrincat: “I think it’s fine the way it is.”
Victor Hedman: “I would do 1 to 8 again.”
Lukas Dostal: “I would probably change it.”
Brady Skjei: “I think we could go back to 1 to 8.”
Jordan Eberle: “I like it the way it is. I would probably go 1 to 8 instead.”
Travis Sanheim: “I like the way it is now.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois: “I wouldn’t expand it.”
Seth Jarvis: “I’m happy with 16 teams right now.”
Jack Hughes: “I liked 1 to 8, but the divisions were a little different too.”
Cale Makar: “If you’re from Edmonton or L.A., I’d say yes.”
Legend: The current playoff format has resulted in the Oilers and Kings facing each other in the first round for the last four years. Jason Franson/AP
Equipment Trivia
Sam Reinhart: “Move the helmet all the time before a faceoff.”
Brady Skjei: “I use foam donuts on the front of my skates.”
Jordan Eberle: “I’m very particular about my gloves.”
Travis Sanheim: “I get a new stick before every game.”
Jake Oettinger: “I always tap my stick on my glove.”
Pierre-Luc Dubois: “I cut the laces on my skates.”
Additional Declarations
Quinn Hughes on the new Canucks coach, Adam Foote: “He’s been really good. He brought structure, competitiveness, he’s a good guy.”Zach Werenski on confidence in Columbus: “We were there. We were in the playoff mix until game 82. We know we’re a good team.”Patrick Kane on the invitation to the Olympic development camp: “I think I was talking to my agent about the possibility of being part of the team and that I was under consideration.”Robert Thomas on his goals for this season: “I would like to get 100 points.”Connor Hellebuyck on learning from the 4 Nations Face-Off: “The emotional routine of the 4 Nations was definitely a learning experience.”Sam Reinhart on the Florida free agent re-signings: “It’s a testament to what we have there.”Patrick Kane, after Sidney Crosby interrupted an interview to say hello: “That would be a good center to play with.”
