Headlines

  • Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson
  • Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev
  • Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7
  • Ken Holland Accepts Kings GM Position
  • Nicklas Bäckström To Attempt Resuming Playing Career In Sweden
  • Golden Knights, Jack Eichel Have Had Preliminary Extension Talks
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

NHL Facing Major Challenges In Planning 2020-21 Season

October 24, 2020 at 3:28 pm CDT | by Zach Leach 19 Comments

The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the “bubble playoffs”, were nothing short of an immense success for the NHL. The venture may have cost the league upwards of $90MM to put on and there were a few complaints after the fact about living conditions and scheduling, but the postseason was an incredible accomplishment for the league and players’ association. In the midst of a global pandemic, the NHL hosted 24 teams in two cities over two months, fielded a workable playoff structure and competitive match-ups that yielded a fair champion, all while receiving zero positive COVID-19 results out of more than 33,000 tests. It was as close to perfect execution as anyone could have expected.

Yet, the issues faced in planning the postseason are exponentially more difficult to tackle in mapping out how the 2020-21 regular season may proceed. As Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly tells The Athletic’s Michael Russo, “it’s going to be a challenge”:

It’s a totally different challenge and requires a whole bunch of different considerations that I think probably, in some respects, are more challenging than the (postseason) return to play plans. You need to gather as much information as you can, you need to take as much time as you can, and you need to make the best decisions you can… We’re in a situation where things are evolving every day. You’re monitoring the evolution of the virus and the searches for answers on the virus. You’re monitoring travel restrictions and how we can move clubs around, if we can move clubs around. And we’re monitoring local restrictions with respect to spectators and fans. You’ve got to stay on top of everything and understand things, and they become a very relevant context for the ultimate decisions you make.

While the league is sticking with their expected start date of on or around January 1st, there are still several hurdles to beginning play and they may still be in place by that point in time. The league undoubtedly hoped and believed that the Coronavirus would have subsided somewhat by this point, but the numbers in North America are still not close to ideal. This all but rules out fans in the stands from the get-go, a tough pill to swallow for a league that relies on gate revenue, and even makes travel a struggle. The U.S.-Canada border is the largest travel issue of all, with no resolution to that closure in sight. The league can’t possibly support all 31 teams playing in just two bubbles again, but there is some thought that there could be several hubs, including one that contains all seven Canadian clubs. However, is even this format feasible for a full season or will the NHL have to shorten another year?

There are many questions the league still has to answer and Daly believes that they have the full support of the owners in figuring out some resolution to make sure the 2020-21 season happens and is as close to normal as possible. Of course, this is not a binary decision for the league though, as Daly acknowledges:

We have to work with the Players’ Association over what a return to play plan looks like for next year. And anything considered, talked about, discussed in the context of that ultimately has to be signed off on by both sides. Everybody has an interest in us having a season and awarding a Cup next year. And everybody will be pulling in the same direction in terms of getting there… The players’ perspective and the Players’ Association’s perspective and their input on whatever plan we ultimately come up with is critical to our ability to be successful.

With so many moving parts, questions without clear answers, and an ever-changing pandemic landscape, there is still nothing firm as to what next season could look like. Planning a full professional sports season right now is a daunting task – the MLB and NFL have had their fair share of issues even without fans in most cases and limited travel – so the NHL will take their time, consult their partners and stakeholders, and try to come up with some format that works. Daly believes they will find a solution, but admits that they are still far from that point:

I’m being honest when I say that there is no likely scenario. In other words, I couldn’t pick one. I could identify 10 to 12 scenarios for you right now and I wouldn’t be able to pick a likely scenario. While we have to make these decisions in a matter of weeks, I couldn’t tell you that we’re leaning any one over any other. It really is going to be a product of a whole bunch of considerations that have yet to materialize.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Coronavirus| NHL| Players Bill Daly

The Thinned-Out Free Agent Goalie Market
Main
Calgary Flames Sign Josh Leivo
View Comments (19)

Comments

  1. GoLandCrabs

    5 years ago

    Canadian government is the biggest obstical

    1
    Reply
    • goalieguy41

      5 years ago

      So trying to protect the Canadian ppl is an obstacle?

      1
      Reply
    • backhandinbaptist

      5 years ago

      Protect us from covid which only kills .06% of anyone who gets it? The same covid my sister didn’t get when she kissed a guy who had it? And the guy who had it really didn’t notice much? This stupid “pandemic” is overblown. The Spanish flu was a pandemic, this is utter nonsense.

      Reply
    • windycitykid89

      5 years ago

      Thanks for your great insight, MLBTR Comment Dr.

      2
      Reply
    • backhandinbaptist

      5 years ago

      Any time my friend ;) im detecting a mild case of sarcosis. I recommend drinking lots of water and get a good nights sleep!

      Reply
    • GoLandCrabs

      5 years ago

      There is nothing to protect from if players are forced to stay in the hotel when not at the rink. Its a fact that Canada is going to make things difficult for an NHL season. They didnt let the Blue Jays play. How about 7 teams?

      Reply
    • User 2997803866

      5 years ago

      To say this isn’t a pandemic is just morally bankrupt and irresponsible.

      3
      Reply
    • backhandinbaptist

      5 years ago

      Really? Spanish flu – 1yr 50,000,000 deaths
      Covid-19- 8 months 1.15 million worldwide
      Automobile Accident fatalities worldwide 2019 – 1.35 million
      We’d best all stop driving.

      Reply
    • backhandinbaptist

      5 years ago

      Not to mention 93% of covid deaths are due to pre-existing conditions not just to covid making that number somewhere in the ballpark of 70000 deaths from covid alone.

      Reply
  2. The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant

    5 years ago

    It’s almost like just pretending that things will solve themselves and doing nothing is keeping America from making any progress against the spread of this pandemic.

    Reply
    • Red Wings

      5 years ago

      Until there is a vaccine there is little that can be done, as seen in every nation in the world.

      Reply
    • The Mistake of Giving Eugene Melnyk a Liver Transplant

      5 years ago

      Physical distancing & mandatory masks are things that can be done. However Merica isn’t doing them, which is why they are #1 in COVID cases and deaths! Meanwhile, countries that are are flattening their curves and saving lives.

      3
      Reply
    • windycitykid89

      5 years ago

      Bingo!

      Reply
    • User 2997803866

      5 years ago

      There’s plenty that can be seen … as seen in every other nation in the world.

      Reply
    • wreckage

      5 years ago

      Eugene, mandatory masks cannot be done. It is against constitutional rights. It can be recommended, but not mandatory. Any private business in Canada can refuse service to those who refuse to wear one, but a person cannot be forced to wear one.

      I am not saying anyone should refuse to wear one, but that it cannot simply just “be done”.

      Also, “‘Merica isn’t doing them” is placing blame on just a small percentage of the world as well. Toronto and Montreal has had issues on the international stage level as well. And now Ottawa Calgary and Edmonton are catching up.

      To say in North America this is just an US issue is false.

      But at the same time, lets look at the cases of the common flu in North America….

      Last week Canada had something like 6 cases of the common flu reported since Jan 1 on their health website until it went mainstream. Now its uptrending finally.

      Not every bug is covid, and not nearly .01% cases of covid are fatal.

      We need to find a happy medium to make everyone happy. Those living in fear need some space to get out and see its not the end of the universe. And those with no fear need to accept the ones who fear it and do a little to get them thru this time.

      If we can all bend a little it will help all communities get thru this a little more easily.

      Blaming others isnt gonna help. Just grows the hatred.

      Reply
  3. roguesaw

    5 years ago

    Its not just an American issue. Canada just set its own record high for number of new cases in a single day and Europe doubled its number in a ten day span. Welcome to round two. This stuff isn’t going away any time soon.

    1
    Reply
    • Red Wings

      5 years ago

      Exactly

      Reply
  4. 66TheNumberOfTheBest

    5 years ago

    As long as 40% wear intentional ignorance and depraved indifference as a badge of honor, most businesses will continue to face major challenges, yes.

    2
    Reply
  5. Milk

    5 years ago

    On january 21st the USA and South Korea both recorded their 1st positive case of covid.
    As of today USA has 224,912 dead. (Pop. 331 mill)
    South Korea has 457. (Pop. 51 mill)
    Canada is not an obstacle to the resumption of play.
    Americas complete inability to control virus is.

    1
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson

    Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev

    Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies To Play Game 7

    Ken Holland Accepts Kings GM Position

    Nicklas Bäckström To Attempt Resuming Playing Career In Sweden

    Golden Knights, Jack Eichel Have Had Preliminary Extension Talks

    Wild Sign Danila Yurov To Entry-Level Contract

    Johnston: “Zero Reason” To Believe Mitch Marner Signs Extension With Maple Leafs

    Brad Shaw Won’t Return To Flyers

    Full 2025 NHL Draft Order

    Recent

    Nick Jensen Undergoes Surgery For A Lower-Body Injury

    Metropolitan Notes: Penguins, Chatfield, Quapp, Devils

    Sonny Milano’s Availability To Start Next Season In Question

    Submit Your Questions For The #PHRMailbag

    Nick Bonino Re-Signs In IceHL

    Islanders Hold Second Interviews With Marc Bergevin, Mathieu Darche

    Lightning Sign Harrison Meneghin To Entry-Level Contract

    Capitals Unlikely To Hold Offseason Extension Talks With John Carlson

    Offseason Checklist: Detroit Red Wings

    Sharks Sign Egor Afanasyev

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Brock Boeser Rumors
    • Scott Laughton Rumors
    • Brock Nelson Rumors
    • Rickard Rakell Rumors
    • Mikko Rantanen Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2024-25 Salary Cap Deep Dive Series
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Primers
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Arbitration-Eligible Free Agents 2025
    • Draft Order 2025
    • Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version