<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> NHL seasons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 2017--18 2019--20 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2018--19 NHL season will be the 102nd season of operation (101st season of play) of the National Hockey League . 31 teams will be competing in an 82 - game regular season . The regular season is scheduled to begin on October 3, 2018, and will end on April 6, 2019 . The 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs will then begin a few days afterwards, with the Stanley Cup Finals held in early June . </P> <P> The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is in its seventh season . The NHL can chose to opt out of the CBA on September 1, 2019, or the NHLPA can choose to opt out of the CBA on September 19, 2019 . </P>

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