The 2023–24 NHL season was the 107th season of operation (106th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season began on October 10, 2023, and ended on April 18, 2024. The 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs began on April 20. The Stanley Cup Final began on June 8, and ended on June 24, 2024, with the Florida Panthers defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games, winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
This was the final season for the Arizona Coyotes before they suspended operations. It followed the sale of the team's hockey assets to Utah businessman Ryan Smith, who was awarded an expansion team in Salt Lake City to begin play in the 2024–25 season. The Coyotes had until 2029 to construct a new arena, upon which they would have been reactivated as an expansion team with all previous team history, records, and uniforms being maintained. However, in June, the auction was canceled, and Alex Meruelo left the ownership, leading the team to cease operations. The Coyotes became the first team to suspend operations since the Brooklyn Americans in 1942.
League business
Entry draft The 2023 NHL entry draft was held on June 28–29, 2023, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Connor Bedard was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Preseason games in Australia The NHL held games in Australia for the first time in league history. The Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings played on September 23 and 24 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, best known as the main venue for the Australian Open. Since the arena was not designed for ice hockey, the league built a temporary rink akin to other NHL outdoor games, though the arena's retractable roof was closed for the games.
Sponsorships In November 2023, Penn Entertainment announced an agreement to become an official sports betting partner of the NHL in Canada and the United States; the agreement is represented in Canada via theScore Bet, and in the United States via the then-recently launched ESPN Bet.
Coaching changes + Coaching changesOff–seasonTeam2022–23 coach2023–24 coach Notes Anaheim Ducks Dallas Eakins Greg Cronin On April 14, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Ducks' season, the team announced that Eakins' contract would not be renewed. In four seasons with Anaheim, Eakins totaled a 100–147–44 record, with no playoff appearances. Cronin, most recently the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, was named head coach on June 5, 2023. Calgary Flames Darryl Sutter Ryan Huska Sutter was fired on May 1, 2023, two and a half weeks after the conclusion of the Flames' season. In just under three seasons during his second stint as the Flames' head coach, Sutter posted a 103–63–28 record, winning the Jack Adams Award in 2021–22 and reaching the playoffs as Pacific Division champions the same year; the team ultimately lost in the second round. Huska, an assistant coach for Calgary since 2018, was promoted to head coach on June 12, 2023. Columbus Blue Jackets Brad Larsen Mike Babcock (resigned)Pascal Vincent Larsen was fired on April 15, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Blue Jackets' season. In two seasons with Columbus, Larsen posted a 62–86–16 record, with no playoff appearances. Babcock, most recently head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019, was named head coach on July 1, 2023. However, after allegations of improper behavior via the Spittin' Chiclets podcast led to an NHLPA investigation into Babcock, he announced his resignation as head coach on September 17, before the start of the preseason. Associate coach Pascal Vincent was subsequently promoted to head coach, signing a two-year contract. Nashville Predators John Hynes Andrew Brunette Hynes was fired on May 30, 2023, a month and a half after the conclusion of the Predators' season. In three and a half seasons with Nashville, Hynes registered a 134–96–18 record, reaching the playoffs three times, but failing to advance past the first round. Brunette, most recently an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils, and previously interim head coach of the Florida Panthers during the 2021–22 season, was named head coach the following day. New York Rangers Gerard Gallant Peter Laviolette Gallant and the Rangers mutually agreed to part ways on May 6, 2023, five days after the Rangers' elimination from the 2023 playoffs. In two seasons with New York, Gallant led the team to a 99–46–19 record with two playoff appearances, reaching the Eastern Conference finals in 2022. Laviolette, most recently head coach of the Washington Capitals from 2020 to 2023, and who had left Washington two months prior, was named head coach on June 13, 2023. Washington Capitals Peter Laviolette Spencer Carbery On April 14, 2023, one day after the conclusion of the Capitals' season, in which they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, and with his contract expiring, the team and Laviolette mutually agreed to part ways. Laviolette posted a 115–78–27 record in three seasons with Washington, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round. Carbery, most recently an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and formerly head coach of Washington's minor league affiliates, the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays and AHL's Hershey Bears, was named head coach on May 30, 2023.In–seasonTeamOutgoing coachIncoming coach Notes Edmonton Oilers Jay Woodcroft Kris Knoblauch Woodcroft was fired on November 12, 2023, after the Oilers started the season 3–9–1. In parts of three seasons with the Oilers, Woodcroft totaled a 79–41–13 record and made the playoffs twice, including reaching the Western Conference finals in 2022. Knoblauch, formerly the head coach of the New York Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, was named head coach the same day. Los Angeles Kings Todd McLellan Jim Hiller* McLellan was fired on February 2, 2024, with the Kings holding a record of 23–15–10; despite a 20–7–4 start to the season, the team went 3–8–6 in the 17 games preceding his dismissal. In four and a half seasons with Los Angeles, McLellan posted a 164–130–44 record, reaching the playoffs twice but failing to advance past the first round. Hiller, an assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach. Minnesota Wild Dean Evason John Hynes Evason was fired on November 27, 2023, after the Wild started the season 5–10–4. In parts of five seasons with Minnesota, Evason posted a 147–77–27 record, reaching the playoffs four times but failing to advance past the first round. Hynes, most recently head coach of the Nashville Predators from 2020 to 2023, was named head coach the same day. New Jersey Devils Lindy Ruff Travis Green* Ruff was fired on March 4, 2024, after the Devils started 30–27–4. In just over three-and-a-half seasons with New Jersey, Ruff totaled a 128–125–28 record, with one playoff appearance. Green, the associate coach, and previously head coach of the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021, was promoted to interim head coach the same day. New York Islanders Lane Lambert Patrick Roy Lambert was fired on January 20, 2024, after the Islanders started the season 19–15–11. In a season and a half with New York, Lambert recorded a 61–46–20 record, making the playoffs in his only full year. Roy, most recently head coach of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2018 to 2023, and previously head coach of the Colorado Avalanche from 2013 to 2016, was named head coach the same day. Ottawa Senators D. J. Smith Jacques Martin* Smith was fired on December 18, 2023, after the Senators started the season 11–15–0. In just over four seasons with Ottawa, Smith compiled a 131–154–32 record, with no playoff appearances. Martin, a senior advisor to the coaching staff who previously served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2004, and most recently served as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens from 2009 to 2011, was promoted to interim head coach. St. Louis Blues Craig Berube Drew Bannister* Berube was fired on December 12, 2023, after the Blues started the season 13–14–1. In parts of six seasons with St. Louis, Berube compiled a 206–132–44 record with four playoff appearances, leading the franchise to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. Bannister, previously the head coach of the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, was promoted to interim head coach. Winnipeg Jets Rick Bowness(temporary, October 23 – November 24) Scott Arniel* On October 23, 2023, Bowness announced that he was taking a temporary leave of absence after his wife suffered a seizure and was admitted to the hospital. Arniel, the associate coach, took over as interim head coach, and totaled a 9–2–2 record before Bowness returned from his leave on November 24. (*) Indicates interim
Front office changes