With word that a deal has been reached between the NHL and the NHL Players' Association to start the 2020-21 season on January 13th, details have been slowly leaking out on how, exactly, this will play out. Here's what we know so far.
First off, there will be four divisions, with the following teams contained within each one:
Boston-Buffalo-New Jersey-New York Islanders-New York Rangers-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Washington
Carolina-Columbus-Dallas-Detroit-Chicago-Florida-Nashville-Tampa Bay
Anaheim-Arizona-Colorado-LA-Minnesota-San Jose-ST.Louis-Vegas
And, finally, all Canadian teams playing in one division.
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The league is hoping that Canadian teams will be allowed to travel to each other's arenas for games, but that depends on reaching an agreement with Health Canada and individual provinces. Another call is expected to take place Monday in an attempt to work something out.
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As it stands right now, the top four teams in each division will comprise the 16 teams that make the playoffs after a 56 game season. That means four Canadian teams to start and 12 American teams. One Canadian team will make it to the final four. Names of the divisions are to be determined. Teams will be seeded based on regular season points.
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Teams will be allowed to carry "taxi squads". That will be four-to-six players that won't count towards the team's cap unless there are injuries and the player needs to be activated. Teams have option to «toll» (carry-over) contracts of any player that opts out. There will be no pro-rating of salaries, no exhibition games, and teams that were not included in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs will get a few extra days of camp as they have not played since March.
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Due to regulations in place in Santa Clara County, the San Jose Sharks are starting their training camp in Arizona, and may have to end up playing there for at least the start of the season as well.
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Finally, the regular season is expected to end in early May, with the Stanley Cup awarded in mid-July.
There are still a few details that remain up in the air, but things should get completely worked out over the next couple of days. Expect announcement regarding signings and possibly even trades to pick up over the next couple of weeks.
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