The Arizona Coyotes are expected to start their 2021 season on Jan. 13, with training camp slated to open Jan. 3, after the NHL and its players association on Sunday announced an agreement to play a 56-game regular season schedule.
The season would conclude May 8, followed by the Stanley Cup playoffs that would have 16 teams in the traditional best-of-seven, four-round format and end around mid-July. Then the league hopes for a return to a traditional hockey calendar for the 2021-2022 season, with a regular season to begin in October.
The league will be re-aligned into four divisions, including an all-Canadian teams division, to minimize travel as much as possible.