BEARD Hockey Sim Schedule
Last Updated: August 11th, 2026
While the following dates are basically set, unforeseen circumstances may cause a delay or change in this schedule. All GMs will be informed if any changes are made to the dates below.
Monday, August 17th: Offseason Review Period Begins (3-5 sentences, effort; all submitting teams split $64M in cash!)
Sunday, August 23rd: Offseason Review Period Ends (monies paid that night)
TBA: Preseason schedule released!
TBA: Regular Season schedule released!
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TBA: PRESEASON FILES POSTED ON SITE!
TBA: PRESEASON BEGINS! (3 games per team over 5 nights - no rest days, no farm games)
TBA: Preseason Games Conclude 10/4
TBA: Cap Compliant Deadline (8pm ET) - NO EXCEPTIONS! 10/5
TBA: Website changeover to Reg Season mode (by 10pm ET) 10/5
TBA: Team Preview Window - articles previewing your club ($$ awarded - details on Discord!) 10/5
TBA: REGULAR SEASON BEGINS! 10/7
TBA: Team Preview Window ends (8pm ET); $$ awards given to participating clubs 10/10
TBA: NO SIM (American Thanksgiving - rest day simmed)
Tuesday, December 1st (10pm ET): All UFA No-Trade Clauses are removed!
Thursday, December 24th & Friday, December 25th: NO SIM (Christmas Break - 3 rest days simmed)
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NOW: In-Season UFA Program BEGINS! (10:00pm ET) January 9th
NOW: BEARD Hockey Bracket Challenge bracket announced
Monday, February 9th: BEARD Hockey Bracket Challenge Week 1 games
Monday, February 16th: BEARD Hockey Bracket Challenge Week 2 games
Monday, February 23rd: BEARD Hockey Bracket Challenge Loser Championship
Tuesday, February 24th: BEARD Hockey Bracket Challenge Main Championship
Wednesday, February 25th: Regular season resumes
Sunday, March 8th: BEARD Hockey Trade Deadline Day Spectacular (details to come!)
Thursday, April 16th: FINAL DAY OF REGULAR SEASON!
Friday, April 17th (8pm ET): In-Season UFA Program Ends (will return for a period of time after playoffs!)
NOW: 2026 BEARD HOCKEY PLAYOFFS BEGIN! April 20th
Sunday, May 3rd: 2026 BEARD Hockey Draft Lottery!
NOW: Limited Trading Opens!
Friday, June 5th: 2026 BEARD HOCKEY Stanley Cup & Calder Cup Finals Begin!
Thursday, June 11th: Stanley Cup & Calder Cup Finals Conclude
NOW: OFFSEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS! June 22nd
Ratings Posted and Updated, Full Trading Opens, Rulebook Updated, Initial Retirements/Deactivations, and More!
NOW: Award Voting/Exit Poll sent to all GMs June 24th
Tuesday, June 30th (11:59pm ET): Cut-off for 2026 retirements and overseas signings/other deactivations
NOW: Limited In-Season UFA period begins! July 1st
DONE! Signing Bonus Payments due to owed players (click here - see "Signing Bonus Owed" tab!) July 1st
DONE!: Awards Announced on Awards Page July 6th
NOW: Offseason Coach Re-Sign Period opens July 6th
Saturday, July 11th (12:00pm ET): Offseason Coach Re-Sign Period ends
NOW: ELC Signing Period (details will be shared via email!) July 13th
Friday, July 17th (8pm ET): All ELC offers must be submitted by this date & time!
NOW: RFA Re-signing Period begins July 17th
Tuesday, July 21st (8pm ET): RFA Re-signing Period ends
NOW: Offer Sheet Period begins (details shared via email!) July 22nd
Friday, July 24th (8pm ET): Deadline to submit Offer Sheets; Offer Sheets and RFA offers posted
Sunday, July 26th (SEE DISCORD FOR TIMES!): BEARD Hockey Entry Draft
NOW: Remaining Entry Draft picks via Discord posting July 27/28
Tuesday, July 28th (8pm ET): Deadline to respond to Offer Sheets
Thursday, July 30th: Limited In-Season UFA period ends (all UFAs removed from rosters)
NOW: Offseason UFA period begins!
NOW: Offseason Coach UFA period begins!
Games will be simulated Monday through Sunday night each calendar week. No rest days are simmed unless games cannot be simmed on a particular night - all GM's will be informed when and if this takes place.
LINES FILES and WAIVER CLAIMS: Must be submitted by 8pm ET to be actioned prior to a sim night.
SIM UPDATES POSTED: Between 8:30pm and 11pm ET (there may be some nights this is later).
