NHL training camps typically start in mid‑September, about 3–4 days before each team’s first preseason game, and roughly two to three weeks before the regular season begins. For the 2025‑26 season, the NHL preseason starts on September 20, 2025, so most training camps are expected to open around September 16–18, 2025.

Quick Scoop: When does NHL training camp start?

For a fan asking “when does NHL training camp start,” the most useful way to think about it is as a window , not a single fixed league-wide date.

  • Camps usually open 2–3 weeks before opening night of the regular season.
  • Teams generally begin camp 3–4 days before their first preseason game.
  • For 2025‑26, the NHL preseason runs from Sept. 20 to Oct. 4, 2025.
  • The 2025‑26 regular season opens on Oct. 7, 2025.

Putting that together, most NHL training camps will open in the mid‑September range (roughly Sept. 16–18, 2025) for the 2025‑26 season.

How the timing works

Teams don’t all step on the ice at the exact same hour, but they follow a similar rhythm.

  1. Rookie camp and prospect tournaments
    • Many clubs bring in prospects a few days before main camp for a separate rookie camp or a mini‑tournament against nearby teams.
 * This can start about a week before veterans report.
  1. Main camp reporting day
    • Players report for medicals and fitness testing first, then on‑ice sessions begin the next day.
 * This “Day 1” is what most fans mean by “training camp starts.”
  1. Preseason overlap
    • Practice days quickly blend into preseason games, usually 6–8 per team across about two weeks.
 * Roster cuts happen in waves throughout this period.

Typical calendar snapshot (example year like 2025‑26)

Exact dates vary by team, but the pattern stays pretty consistent season to season.

  • Early Sept: Informal captain’s skates, players trickle back to town.
  • Mid‑Sept (around 16–18): Main training camps open league‑wide.
  • Sept. 20 – Oct. 4: Official NHL preseason schedule.
  • Oct. 7: Regular season puck drop.

Short answer you can quote

  • For search and SEO: “NHL training camps usually start in mid‑September, roughly 2–3 weeks before the regular season, and a few days before each team’s first preseason game.”

Forum / discussion angle

On hockey forums and fan chats, people asking “when does NHL training camp start” are usually:

  • Planning trips to watch open practices.
  • Tracking when new signings or PTO players will first be on the ice.
  • Watching camp battles for roster spots, especially after big off‑season moves or a Cup run.

You’ll often see replies along the lines of:

“Figure on mid‑September—teams post their camp schedule once the preseason dates are out. Check your team’s site once the preseason slate drops.”

That advice holds up well: once you know your team’s first preseason game , assume camp opens about 3–4 days before it.

TL;DR: NHL training camp starts mid‑September most years, about 2–3 weeks before the regular season and a few days before each team’s first preseason game; for 2025‑26, expect openings around Sept. 16–18, 2025.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.