There has been a lot of talk about what the AHL start date will mean for the NHL. One thing is for certain, the February start date put forth by the AHL may not align with the NHL’s aim to start in January.
Expanded rosters next NHL season
So what will the NHL do if they can’t send certain players, including prized prospects to the AHL if their season starts earlier? Very similar to the RTP plan, the NHL may opt to expand the rosters anywhere from 5-7 additional players. This will allow teams to hold on to certain players a little longer before eventually sending them down to start the season in the AHL.