If you’re like me and itching for the return of hockey, I have good news. Most NHL teams send their prospects to play in one of the many rookie/prospect tournaments that take place around the league before full training camps begin. Those tournaments all begin this week.
These games are a great opportunity for young players with little to no NHL experience to make a name for themselves and a great way for fans of each team to see their prospects in game action. Many of these games are available to watch via live stream on individual teams’ websites, YouTube channels, or social media accounts.
Here is a full schedule of all the rookie game action taking place over the next week or so.
NHL Prospect Tournament- September 14th to 17th
Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, and Columbus Blue Jackets
Thursday 9/14/23:
Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs 3:30 pm ET
Red Wings vs. Stars 6:30 pm ET
Friday 9/15/23:
Stars vs. Maple Leafs 6:30 pm ET
Saturday 9/16/23:
Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets 3:30 pm ET
Sunday 9/17/23:
Blue Jackets vs. Stars 11 am ET
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings 2 pm ET
Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase- September 15th to 17th
Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues
Friday 9/15/23:
Wild vs. Blues 7 pm CT
Saturday 9/16/23:
Blackhawks vs. Blues 6 pm CT
Sunday 9/17/23:
Wild vs. Blackhawks 3 pm CT
Rookie Series- September 15th to 16th
Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers
Friday 9/15/23:
Flyers vs. Rangers 7:05 pm ET
Saturday 9/16/23:
Flyers vs. Rangers 5:05 pm ET
Prospects Challenge- September 15th to 18th
Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins
Friday 9/15/23:
Senators vs. Devils 12 pm ET
Penguins vs. Bruins 3:30 pm ET
Sabres vs. Canadiens 7 pm ET
Saturday 9/16/23:
Senators vs. Penguins 12 pm ET
Bruins vs. Canadiens 3:30 pm ET
Sabres vs. Devils 7 pm ET
Monday 9/18/23:
Devils vs. Bruins 10 am ET
Canadiens vs. Senators 1:30 pm ET
Sabres vs. Penguins 5 pm ET
Rookie Faceoff- September 15th to 18th
Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, and Arizona Coyotes
Friday 9/15/23:
Sharks vs. Kings 1 pm PT
Coyotes vs. Avalanche 3:30 pm PT
Ducks vs. Golden Knights 7 pm PT
Saturday 9/16/23:
Kings vs. Coyotes 3:30 pm PT
Golden Knights vs. Sharks 7 pm PT
Sunday 9/17/23:
Avalanche vs. Ducks 1 pm PT
Monday 9/18/23:
Coyotes vs. Sharks 10 am PT
Ducks vs. Kings 12:30 pm PT
Avalanche vs. Golden Knights 3 pm PT
Young Stars Classic- September 15th to 18th
Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets
Friday 9/15/23:
Jets vs. Oilers 4 pm PT
Flames vs. Canucks 7 pm PT
Saturday 9/16/23:
Flames vs. Oilers 7:30 pm PT
Sunday 9/17/23:
Canucks vs. Jets 2 pm PT
Monday 9/18/23:
Jets vs. Flames 10 am PT
Canucks vs. Oilers 1:30 pm PT
Southeast Rookie Showcase- September 15th to 18th
Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, and Nashville Predators
Friday 9/15/23:
Predators vs. Lightning 4 pm ET
Panthers vs. Hurricanes 7 pm ET
Saturday 9/16/23:
Hurricanes vs. Lightning 3 pm ET
Panthers vs. Predators 6 pm ET
Monday 9/18/23:
Predators vs. Hurricanes 10 am ET
Lightning vs. Panthers 1 pm ET
As far as I know, the Seattle Kraken, New York Islanders, and Washington Capitals are the only teams not participating in some sort of rookie game or tournament. Every other team is playing at some point this week/weekend.
I have watched many of these games over the last few years, and they are very fun to watch. It may not be the big names playing, but the prospects are fighting for recognition and usually put on a good show. It’s a great taste of hockey as the NHL season gets closer and closer. Hopefully, you’re able to catch a game or two. Again, most, if not all, of these games are available to live stream on team websites, social media, or YouTube.
