Mark your calendars for March 2025 for one of the biggest words in sports.

Slapshot, Washington Capitals Slapshot, Washington Capitals | Brian Stukes/GettyImages

Trade Deadlines are always fun but trading started early for the Washington Capitals as the Chris Patrick era began in July. We know the faces by now. We know the names of who is one the Caps and who isn’t for now at least. But when is it penclis down for the new GM in town?

To answer that question the trade deadline is set for March 7 which sets up the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 19 and lots more regular season games to be played including the Winter Classic on New Years Day from Wrigley Field between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks.

The trade deadline itself falls one day earlier than last year, March 7 at 3 p.m. eastern. There is still an NHL Board of Governors Meeting from Dec. 9-10.

Unlike prevous years there will be a pause in the season from Feb. 10-21 for the 4 Nations Face-Off which will be a substitution for the NHL All Star Game. The final day of the regular season is April 19. June 23 is the last possible day for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The following dates came from Sportsnet.

The Caps in the meantime will look to continue their magic following their impressive start to the season. That begins in ernest with a Black Friday Screaming Eagle matchup with the New York Islanders. Once again your friendly neighborhood Spiderman reminder that puck drop is at 3 p.m. on Monumental Sports Network and you can hear the game on 106.7 The Fan as well as Caps Radio 24/7.

After the Caps host the Islanders they’ll travel straight to New Jersey for their regular season finale with the Devils. Washington has yet to face the Islanders this season.

The Isles enter the game 8-10-5 while D.C. is 15-6-1 and coming off one of, if not their craziest, wins of the season on the road in Tampa by a final count of 5-4. #43 Tom Wilson provided the late game pre Thanksgiving feast heroics while Charlie Lindgren got the dub in net.

The month of November ends with yet another weekend back to back affair. The fourth time this month of November alone. Everybody pulled on the rope during the Mentors’ Trip down to Florida earlier in the week and the Caps will look to continue that same momentum as the holiday season is here.

The rule of the game is teams have until March 8 at 3 p.m. to shape up their rosters. The AHL will have theirs a week later.