The 2016 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 24–25, 2016, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

On June 22, 2016, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced that the league had approved an expansion team in Las Vegas, Nevada, later christened the Vegas Golden Knights, who were set to begin play in the 2017–18 season.

The campaign began with the NHL Centennial Classic outdoor game on January 1, 2017, and continued throughout the calendar year, including documentaries and a daily "Time Capsule" feature across NHL media properties, a "Centennial Truck Tour" of all NHL cities with a traveling museum and other activities, a 2017 Winter Classic-themed float appearing during the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the unveiling of the top 100 players during the weekend of the All-Star Game, and the top 100 moments of the league's history later in the year.

[4] A centennial emblem was designed, which was displayed on all game pucks and as shoulder patches on all jerseys throughout 2017.

[28] Each team will receive a five-day "bye week" and no practices can be held during the time period.

The Winnipeg Jets hosted the Heritage Classic against the Edmonton Oilers at Investors Group Field on October 23, 2016.

[31] The Toronto Maple Leafs hosted the Centennial Classic at BMO Field on January 1, 2017, against the Detroit Red Wings.

[32] The following day, January 2, 2017, the St. Louis Blues hosted the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium against the Chicago Blackhawks.

[33] On February 25, 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4–2 at Heinz Field during the 2017 NHL Stadium Series.

The following players led the league in regular season points at the conclusion of games played on April 9, 2017.

The following is a list of players of note who played their last NHL game in 2016–17, listed with their team: This was the sixth season under the NHL's ten-year U.S. rights deal with NBC Sports, and the third season of its twelve-year Canadian rights deals with Rogers Media to show games on Sportsnet, Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television, and TVA Sports.

Alongside HNIC, MacLean continues to host the travelling, Sunday-night Hometown Hockey games on Sportsnet.