Following a fantastic 2019-20 Stanley Cup playoff run, which ended three and half months ago, NHL action returns tonight. With a normal 82-game schedule planned for the 2021-22 season, each team is slated to play 56 games this year. The conference setup has been eliminated and the four divisions have been realigned based on geographic location. The regular season is scheduled to end on May 8 and playoffs are slated to begin on May 11.
There is a lot to like about the 2021 NHL set up. Many long-standing rivalries remain in place and the short season projects to be a playoff-style sprint from start to finish.