2016–17 NHL season
| 2016–17 NHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | National Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 12, 2016 – April 9, 2017 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| Regular season | |
| Playoffs | |
| Stanley Cup | |
The 2016–17 NHL season is the 100th season of operation (99th season of play) of the National Hockey League. Thirty teams are competing in an 82-game regular season from October 12, 2016 to April 9, 2017. The 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on April 12 and last until mid-June.
In December 2015 commissioner Gary Bettman informed teams that he projected the salary cap to be at least $74.5 million for the 2016–17 season. It could increase as much as $3.1 million. It was eventually set at $73.1 million
On June 22, 2016, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced that the league had approved an expansion team in Las Vegas, Nevada, later christened the Vegas Golden Knights, which is set to begin play in the 2017–18 season.
Canadian rightsholder Rogers Media reinstated Ron MacLean as host of Hockey Night in Canada for the 2016–17 season to replace George Stroumboulopoulos, whose introduction in the 2014–15 season was met with mixed reception by viewers. MacLean will host the early game of the weekly doubleheader, with David Amber handling the late games. MacLean will continue to host the Sunday-night Hometown Hockey games on Sportsnet.
On June 20, 2016, the Buffalo Sabres announced that it had agreed to a 10-year extension of its regional television rights deal with MSG Network, which saw the establishment of a new sub-feed of MSG Network known as MSG Western New York. MSG WNY is a joint venture between MSG Networks and Sabres owner Pegula Sports and Entertainment, and replaced MSG Network in the team's market region. It is the primary carrier of programming related to the Sabres and other Pegula-owned teams, such as the NFL's Buffalo Bills, and continues to carry selected programming from its parent network. There will be no on-air changes in staffing for Sabres telecasts.
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