Summer is over; the NHL on Thursday released its 2015-16 schedule. Here are three dates you need to know: Oct. 7: Opening Amida Brimah Jersey games of the regular season, including the Chicago Blackhawks' Stanley Cup banner raising. April 9: Final gams of the regular season, with all 30 teams in action. April 12: Probable start of the Stanley Cup playoffs. MORE: | | There's more to interest fans, but those are the biggies. Between the first two, all 30 teams will play 82 games. For the third, 16 teams will make the playoff field in the only competition that counts. OK, if you insist Christmas break: Dec. 23-25. The annual holiday hiatus includes no transactions. All-Star Break: Jan. 28-Feb. 1. Y'all come to Nashville for the music, the fun and a hockey celebration. Outdoor games: This year's Winter Cla sic returns to Boston, where the Bruins will play host to the Montreal Canadiens. That ought to be big enough to hold the ancient rivals' fan bases. The Stadium Series games will be Feb. 21, with the Minnesota Wild playing host to the Blackhawks at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium; and Feb. 27, with the Detroit Red Wings visiting Denver's Coors Field to face the Colorado Avalanche. Hello, Brooklyn: The New York Islanders will play their first game in Barclays Center on Oct. 9. Expect to hear plenty on the hoopla surround the Isles' transition from Na sau Coliseum. There's all kinds of information about how the NHL set up its season and a link to the full 2,460-game schedule. Feel free to . In the meantime, remember: The NHL Entry Draft begins Friday, and free agency starts July 1. Goga Bitadze Jersey