After yesterday’s somewhat chaotic announcement, the NHL and the NHLPA have a tentative agreement to begin play midway through January. If all goes as expected, the Edmonton Oilers (and 30 other NHL clubs) will likely be playing games in less than a month.
As of this moment, Canadian clubs have not received provincial clearance to play their home games in their respective home arenas. The league is no doubt looking to change that shortly.
There’s plenty of things that are still undecided at this time, though it’ll all likely become clearer in 48-72 hours from now.
Here’s what we know so far
- Ideally, the season gets underway on January 13th, although that’s not set it stone.
- If the season does begin on the 13th, training camp will open on January 3rd.
- Non-playoff clubs from the 2019-20 season may open camp at the end of December.
- There are no exhibition games this season.
- There will be a taxi squad of six players that will travel with the club all year, so the typical 23 player roster will be a 29 player roster for this upcoming season.
- How will opt-outs work? Good question.
Expect NHL board vote on the reached agreement with the NHLPA Sunday/Monday. Details are going to be interesting. There are players eager to learn what Opt Out specifics are. NHLPA call happening now.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 19, 2020
- The schedule is not yet complete. You can expect that to take a firmer hold once this weekend goes by and we have a better idea on the status of whether or not the Canadian clubs will play in their home arenas.
Playoffs will be top four in each division -- each division produces a champion for the Stanley Cup Semifinal
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 19, 2020
- If the proposed Canadian division holds, this ensures one Canadian club in the Conference Championships.
A boatload of information is likely to be unleashed this weekend, but you can start getting ready for next season now. It’ll be here before you know it.