National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to members of the media on March 7 in Sunrise, Fla. Credit: AP/Wilfredo Lee
It’s not likely to be a quiet holiday week for the NHL and its Players’ Association.
When (best-case scenario) or if (worst-case) the next season will actually begin is likely to be a lot clearer over the next seven to 10 days.
The league has said — repeatedly — it is targeting around Jan. 1 to start its 2020-21 season after concluding the COVID-19 pandemic-delayed postseason in September. To do so, a financial understanding between the NHL and the NHLPA must be reached shortly in order for two-week training camps to open in mid-December since players traveling back to their team’s cities will have to quarantine for two weeks.