NHL Calendar

Oct. 4-5 - NHL Premiere. Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins at Stockholm, Sweden; New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning at Prague, Czech Republic.

Oct. 9 - 2008-09 NHL regular season begins in North America.

Nov. 8 - Hockey Hall of Fame Game, Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nov. 10. - Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Toronto.

Dec. 1 - Signing deadline for Group 2 free agents.

Dec. 19-27 - Holiday roster freeze in effect. No waivers, trades and loans permitted.

Dec. 26-Jan. 5 - IIHF World Under 20 Championship, Ottawa.

Jan. 1 - NHL Winter Classic 2009. Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks, Wrigley Field, Chicago.

Jan 22-26 - All-Star break.

Jan. 24 - NHL SuperSkills Competition, Montreal.

Jan. 25 - NHL All-Star Game, Montreal.

March 3 - Trade deadline, 3 p.m. EST.

April 9-19 - IIHF Under 18 World Championship, Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn.