The NHL will not allow players to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics, the league formally announced Wednesday, a decision that came after a surge of coronavirus cases and a wave of postponements in hockey. The announcement, while expected, still shut the door for many of the sport's brightest stars and opened a plethora of new questions.
NHL & Players Association announce plans for 2020-21 season and playoffs
Will end May 8, with 16-team playoff format to follow; deal includes Canada division by NHL Public Relations @NHLdotcom / NHL.com
The NHL and NHL Players Association reached an agreement Sunday to play a 56-game regular season starting Jan. 13, 2021 and concluding on May 8.
The 2020-21 season has been delayed due to continuing concerns surrounding the coronavirus. The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21 season, especially since the Return to Play in 2019-20 was so successful in crowning a Stanley Cup champion, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participant