<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Seasons </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← 2016--17 2018--19 → </Td> </Tr> <P> The 2017--18 NHL season is the 101st season of operation (100th season of play) of the National Hockey League . With the addition of a new expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights, 31 teams compete in an 82 - game regular season . The regular season began on October 4, 2017, and will end on April 7, 2018 . The 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs will then begin a few days afterwards, with the Stanley Cup Finals held in early June . </P> <P> On June 22, 2016, the NHL confirmed that it had granted an expansion franchise in the city of Las Vegas to an ownership group led by Bill Foley, whose identity was revealed as the Vegas Golden Knights on November 22 . The team plays in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference . </P>

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