2016–17 NHL season

Did You Know?

• The Edmonton Oilers played their first season at Rogers Place, replacing Northlands Coliseum.
• The Detroit Red Wings' final season at Joe Louis Arena was 2016–17 before moving to Little Caesars Arena.
• The Pittsburgh Penguins' home arena was renamed from Consol Energy Center to PPG Paints Arena on October 4, 2016.

League business

Commissioner Gary Bettman initially predicted the salary cap would be at least $74.5 million for the 2016–17 season, but it ultimately landed at $73.1 million. There were no major rule changes. The 2016 entry draft was held June 24–25 at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, where the Toronto Maple Leafs picked Auston Matthews first overall. On June 22, 2016, Bettman confirmed the league had approved a new team in Las Vegas, later called the Vegas Golden Knights, set to debut in 2017–18.

On September 27, 2016, the NHL announced a series of events for its 100th anniversary in 2017, starting with the Centennial Classic outdoor game on January 1, 2017, and including a traveling museum truck tour, a Tournament of Roses Parade float, and the unveiling of the top 100 players and top 100 moments. A centennial emblem appeared on all game pucks and as shoulder patches on jerseys throughout 2017. On March 17, 2017, the league announced that the Ottawa Senators would host the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL 100 Classic outdoor game at TD Place Stadium on December 16, 2017.

Regular season

The regular season ran from October 12, 2016, to April 9, 2017, with the schedule released June 21, 2016. Each team received a five-day bye week with no practices allowed. Four outdoor games were played: the Heritage Classic on October 23, 2016, where the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3–0 at Investors Group Field; the Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017, between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field; the Winter Classic on January 2, 2017, between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium; and the Stadium Series on February 25, 2017, where the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 at Heinz Field.

The 62nd All-Star Game was held January 29, 2017, at Staples Center in Los Angeles with the same format as 2016. A December 19, 2016, game between Detroit and Carolina was postponed due to poor ice and rescheduled for March 27, 2017, causing Detroit to play three consecutive nights. A March 14, 2017, game between Winnipeg and New Jersey was postponed due to a nor'easter and rescheduled for March 28, forfeiting both teams' three-day break.

Milestones

Auston Matthews became the first player in the modern era to score four goals in his NHL debut on October 12, 2016. Marian Hossa became the 44th player to score 500 goals on October 18. Jaromir Jagr became the third player to score 750 goals on October 20. Jay Bouwmeester played his 1,000th NHL game on November 1.

Carey Price became the first goaltender to win his first 10 games of a season on November 12. Jeff Carter scored his 600th point on November 20. Chris Neil played his 1,000th game on December 10, and Jarome Iginla participated in his 1,500th game on the same day. John Tortorella won his 500th game on December 18, becoming the first American-born coach to do so.

Jagr scored his 1,888th point on December 22, surpassing Mark Messier for second in career points. Anze Kopitar scored his 700th point on December 22. Shane Doan scored his 400th goal and played his 1,500th game with the Coyotes on December 23. Henrik Lundqvist recorded his 390th win on December 31, becoming the all-time wins leader among European-born goaltenders.

Alexander Steen scored his 500th point on January 2, 2017. Joe Pavelski scored his 600th point on January 7. Alexander Ovechkin became the 84th player to score 1,000 points on January 11. John Tavares scored his 500th point on January 13. Henrik Sedin became the 85th player to score 1,000 points on January 20.

Uniforms

The Calgary Flames replaced their Western-style alternate with throwback red uniforms. The Florida Panthers unveiled a new logo and uniform set on June 2, 2016. The Los Angeles Kings introduced a special third jersey for their 50th anniversary. The Nashville Predators wore gold helmets full-time at home.

The Philadelphia Flyers released a special third jersey for their 50th anniversary with gold numbers and crest outline, plus a black Stadium Series jersey with orange detailing. The Pittsburgh Penguins returned to black and Pittsburgh gold as primary colors, debuting a new away uniform that retired Vegas gold, and a yellow Stadium Series jersey with black sleeves and a keystone-shaped City of Champions patch. The Toronto Maple Leafs unveiled a new logo on February 2, 2016, and new uniforms at the 2016 draft; for the Centennial Classic they wore jerseys recalling the Toronto Arenas and St. Patricks.

The Detroit Red Wings also unveiled Centennial Classic jerseys for January 1, 2017. Beginning January 1, 2017, all jerseys carried the NHL centennial emblem on the right sleeve. From February 15, 2017, the Red Wings wore a Mr. I patch in memory of owner Mike Ilitch, who died February 10.