Photo: NHL via Getty Images
On Tuesday, NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly sent a memo to each team stating that negotiations with the players’ association are continuing and that the NHL is hopeful that they will make a recommendation regarding the 2020-21 season to the owners and governors as soon as Thursday.
Daly stated that the goal remains to start the season on Friday, January 1, just 52 days away from Tuesday. The NHL is looking at short-term hubs, standings realignment for just this season, and a reduced schedule.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly sent a memo to the 31 NHL teams today saying negotiations have been continuing with the NHLPA and the league is hoping it will be able to make a recommendation to the governors Thursday. Daly wrote “the objective remains to start as early as Jan. 1.”
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) November 10, 2020
There have been rumors swirling that the 2020-21 season could be around 48-68 games long but the NHL is currently pushing for a full 82-game slate, though they know that might not be possible.
Daly added in the memo the NHL is hoping to complete the schedule before the end of April and get back on a regular schedule for 2021-21. Didn’t say how many games would be played. The league also sent out a survey asking about local conditions and restrictions. #NHL
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) November 10, 2020
Word around the hockey community has been that the NHL could realign the divisions for next season only due to the closure of the border between the United States and Canada. That could mean the seven Canadian teams (Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadians) making up one division this season. The league would have to split the 24 teams in the United States into three divisions.
“You’ll play for 10 to 12 days. You’ll play a bunch of games without traveling. You’ll go back, go home for a week, be with your family. We’ll have our testing protocols and all the other things you need.” https://t.co/QCBeSoq48X via @NHLdotcom
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) November 10, 2020
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who has previously said this season may not end the way it starts, stated that he would never ask his players to participate in a bubble format like what they did in August and September in Toronto and Edmonton for the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, he said the NHL is looking at three possibilities: each team playing at their home arena (and maybe hosting fans depending on local COVID-19 status and restrictions), in hubs, or in a hybrid system. If they play in hubs, teams will rotate in for 10-12 days and go home for a week to spend time with friends and family. The NHL would figure out COVID-19 testing before the season begins.
In any plan proposed, the NHLPA would have to sign off on it for it to come to fruition.
The Toronto Star’s Steve Simmons tweeted last week that he heard the 2020-21 season will not begin until February, but the NHL appears determined to start it on New Year’s Day.
The seven NHL teams (Senators, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, New Jersey Devils) that did not participate in the return-t0-play plan this past summer have not played since before the 2019-20 regular season paused on March 12. Those teams could get an extended training camp.
By Harrison Brown
