The retooling/rebuilding Bruins will have their challenges to compete in the 2025-26 season, and the NHL schedule-makers gave them one right off the hop.

The B’s start the season with a back-to-back, opening on Oct. 8 in Washington, D.C., against the Capitals, kicking off what could be Alexander Ovechkin’s final season. Then the B’s come home for their own home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 9 at the Garden. They could very well get their first look at June’s No. 3 overall pick Anton Frondell, the Swedish centerman who signed with the Hawks earlier this week.

That is the first of 12 back-to-backs for the B’s in the ‘25-56 season.

One of the highlights of the schedule is on Oct. 21, when former captain Brad Marchand, health-willing, will make his in-uniform return to the Garden after being minted as a long-term Florida Panther with a whopping six-year deal with the defending Stanley Cup champions.

In November, the B’s play consecutive Saturday nights north of the border against Toronto (Nov. 8) and Montreal (Nov. 15). The surging Canadiens make their first Garden appearance on Dec. 23, the second of four meetings between the ancient rivals, with the regular season series finale being played in Montreal on St. Patrick’s Day.

With the three-week Olympic break, the B’s will play just four games in February, one of which will be at the Garden (against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 26). On Feb. 1, they will play in their first Stadium Series game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ray James Stadium.

The B’s longest homestand is a five-game stretch leading into the Christmas break when they face Utah (Dec. 16), Edmonton (Dec. 18), Ottawa (Dec. 21) and the Habs (Dec. 23). After the three-day holiday hiatus, they’ll embark on their longest road stretch when they travel to Buffalo (Dec. 27), Calgary (Dec. 29), Edmonton (Dec. 31), Vancouver (Jan. 3) and Seattle (Jan. 6).

The Garden will host five weekend matinees as well as the Black Friday day game against the New York Rangers. The league in recent years has occasionally absconded the 1 p.m. time slot for a different matchup and pushed the B’s to a later time, but the start time against the Mike Sullivan-led Blueshirts will be the traditional 1 p.m. puck drop.

If they’re in the hunt and want to make some hay, the best time to do it will be January, when they play nine of 13 games at home.

The team will hold several theme nights, including Hockey Fights Cancer Night (Oct. 23), Military Appreciation Night (Nov. 11) and Hockey is for Everyone Night (Jan. 22).