The deadline has now passed for players to opt out of the 2020-21 season and just one of them has decided to do so. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, Casey Nelson of the Buffalo Sabres is the only player to inform the NHL he won't play in the upcoming season. No specific reason has been given.
The 28-year-old defenceman played in the American Hockey League with the Rochester Americans last season after appearing in 38 games with the Buffalo Sabres in 2018-19. He did not play in the NHL at all last year.
Nelson was never drafted. He signed an entry-level deal with the Buffalo Sabres in 2016. In 93 NHL games so far in his career, Nelson has four goals and 18 points. According to the Buffalo News, Nelson was likely to at least make the Sabres taxi squad for 2020-21. That report also states "teams are responsible to pay any player who is opting out because of a pre-existing condition that could worsen as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Teams have the option of carrying the contract of a player who opts out over to the 2021-22 season."
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