The Dallas Stars will have the most grueling travel schedule in the 2024-25 NHL season, covering 56,700 miles, while the Pittsburgh Penguins will have the lightest, with just 31,500 miles. The impact of these travel distances on the teams remains to be seen.
According to B/R Open Ice via Thomas Nestico, the Dallas Stars will face the longest travel distances in the league this season. This is typical for the Stars due to their location in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, the introduction of the Utah Hockey Club will add to their travel miles.
The extensive travel could contribute to wear and tear similar to what they experienced last season. The Stars reached the Western Conference Final in 2024 but were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in six games. The travel distance of 1,655 miles per trip in that series, while significant, was still less than the 2,540 miles between the Oilers and Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, which could lead to fatigue and jet lag.
The Florida Panthers will be the second most-traveled team with 51,100 miles. The Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the only Eastern Conference teams in the top ten for travel distances due to changes in the Western Conference geography.
The Pittsburgh Penguins will travel the least, with an expected 31,700 miles, which is 25,000 miles fewer than the Stars.
Last season, the Stars had a 52-21-9 record, leading both the Central Division and the Western Conference. Forward Jason Robertson topped their scoring with 80 points (29 goals and 51 assists), though this was a decrease of 29 points from the previous season.
The Stars are expected to perform well this season, but it remains to be seen how the increased travel will affect them both in the short and long term.
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