NHL Preseason: Learn from the Pros

Watching NHL preseason hockey can provide lessons for all hockey players

The NHL preseason is often overlooked by casual fans who see it as little more than a warm-up before the real action begins. For aspiring hockey players though, it is one of the most valuable times of the year to learn from the best. 

Hockey fans are eagerly anticipating the action as the 2025-26 NHL preseason gets underway on Saturday, September 20, and will wrap up on October 4. 

Over the span of 15 days, 104 games will be played in 40 venues across North America, including several neutral sites that bring hockey to fans outside of NHL markets. 

While the games don’t count in the standings, they carry weight for players fighting for roster spots, coaches testing strategies, and teams preparing for the grind of the regular season. 

For players in local leagues or competitive amateur settings, watching these preseason contests provides valuable lessons that can elevate personal performance. Closely focusing on the details can transform preseason hockey into a masterclass in player development and team building.

Player Evaluation: Learning from Roster-Hungry Rookies 

Each September, rookies and hopeful players lace up knowing that every shift counts. Training camps and preseason games serve as proving grounds where prospects are evaluated on skill, conditioning, hockey sense, and adaptability to a coach’s system. A rookie fighting for a third-line roster spot must prove he can play within a system, maintain intensity, and make smart decisions under pressure.

Hockey players should watch how these budding athletes handle the demands of evaluation. Coaches aren’t just looking for highlight-reel plays but also subtle habits such as backchecking, positioning, and shift management. These small details often separate players who stick from those sent down.

For players outside the NHL, the lesson is clear: preparation and adaptability matter as much as raw skill. Fitness, mental toughness, and a willingness to embrace feedback all determine success. 

Fans and analysts track these performances closely, shaping early projections for the season. Those projections are reflected in the latest odds, which shift as rookies make the grade or the cut. The connection between performance and perception offers these and every player a reminder: Every detail has a potential impact on outcomes.

Treat the preseason as a classroom. Each shift offers something to study, imitate, or apply in your next game. The lessons learned in September can make you a smarter, stronger, and more reliable hockey player.

System Implementation: Introducing New Coaching Strategies

The preseason is not just about individual evaluation. It’s also the “laboratory” where coaches roll out new systems and tactical adjustments. Whether it’s a new forechecking scheme, an experimental power play, or testing defensive structures, coaches use these games to see how players adapt in live situations.

You can learn by observing how quickly both NHL veterans and rookies adjust to new assignments. Watch how a forward transitions into a breakout pattern or how a defense pair communicates when executing a neutral zone trap. These are real-time lessons in adaptability and teamwork.

At the rec hockey level, system awareness can make the difference between a group of individuals and a cohesive unit. Understanding your role within a structure helps you anticipate plays, support teammates, and reduce mistakes. Even if your own team does not run advanced systems, adopting simple concepts like consistent forechecking or structured line changes can boost performance.

Pay attention while viewing preseason games when coaches discuss their strategies. The ability to adapt, communicate, and execute a plan translates into success at every level of hockey, from beer league to elite amateur play.

Positional Awareness: Small Details that Make a Big Difference

Positioning is one of the most overlooked aspects of the game. Preseason games highlight it because rosters are fluid, and chemistry is still developing. Defensemen are often paired with new partners, and forwards find themselves on unfamiliar lines. In these conditions, awareness becomes even more critical.

Motivated hockey players should focus on how professionals use body positioning to gain advantages. A defenseman might angle a puck carrier into a less dangerous lane rather than throwing a big hit or blocking. A forward might time a backdoor cut perfectly to be ready for a pass without drifting out of scoring areas. Even off the puck, players constantly make micro-adjustments to maintain spacing.

Watching preseason games with a focus on positional play can be eye-opening. Take one position group, for instance: centers. Study their behavior in different situations. Notice how they drop back to support defense, pivot on face-offs, and anticipate rebounds. Then apply those lessons in your own games.

Strong positional play may not make the highlight reel, but it is often the difference between winning and losing. Players who master these details earn lasting trust from coaches and teammates.

Skill Development and Recovery: Training Like the Pros

Another clear takeaway from the preseason is that even the world’s best athletes return to fundamentals. Watch any practice or warm-up, and you will see pros drilling skating edges, passing accuracy, and simple shot repetition. These basics are reinforced each year because they remain the foundation of great hockey.

Every player should never view fundamentals as basic or optional. Consistent practice of skating mechanics, stickhandling, and passing accuracy pays off in real games. The preseason is a reminder that professionals respect these basics enough to revisit them constantly.

Another crucial lesson is recovery. The NHL preseason comes after long summers of conditioning, yet athletes still prioritize rest between games and practices. Trainers design schedules that balance work with downtime. 

For recreational players juggling jobs, families, and hockey, rest is often overlooked. Recovery prevents injuries and maximizes performance at the rink just as much as in NHL arenas.

Integrating recovery into a training plan does not require professional resources. Simple stretching, hydration, and sleep can make a big difference. Building these habits ensures sustained performance through the grind of a season, whether it is 82 NHL games or a 20-game local league schedule.

Using NHL Preseason Lessons for Your Own Growth

The NHL preseason is more than a tune-up for the professionals. It is a showcase of evaluation, strategy, positioning, fundamentals, and recovery. For hockey players, these two weeks of exhibition games provide a rich set of lessons that can be applied at any level of play.

When you watch rookies battle for roster spots, learn to value preparation and adaptability. When coaches introduce new systems, see how communication and quick learning fuel success. 

As positioning defines outcomes, recognize how awareness and anticipation improve your own play. When pros return to fundamentals and emphasize recovery, remember that these basics sustain excellence over the long haul.

Treat the preseason as a classroom. Each shift on the ice offers something to study, imitate, or apply in your next game. Use it as both inspiration and instruction. The lessons learned in September can make you a smarter, stronger, and more reliable hockey player when your own season begins.