NHL and NHLPA agree to 56-game 2021 season. (1 Viewer)

[SystemShock]

Tentatively to start on January 13th.

NHL season to start Jan. 13, play 56 games in agreement with NHLPA

The NHL and NHL Players' Association reached an agreement Sunday to play a 56-game regular season starting Jan. 13, 2021, and ending May 8.

www.nhl.com

One important tidbit:

Games will be within realigned divisions only, including a division of the seven teams based in Canada.

I take it this will/would be a temporary measure to create as many bubbles as possible for the teams.

 

[SystemShock]

... and as excited as I was for the talk of the puck dropping on Jan 1st (which was the original proposal), and see The King minding the Caps' net, this hits me in the gut:

Heart Condition Forces Lundqvist to Step Away

Ten weeks after signing with Caps, veteran goaltender Henrik Lundqvist pauses hockey career to deal with urgent medical issue

www.nhl.com

With Holtby in Canada now, the Caps still have Ilya Samsonov, and while he has shown promise, he's very young (23).

On a side note, ama gonna treat myself to one of these bad boys:

 

[Marty_Graw]

Man, that East Division is scary. I fear the Pens will have a difficult time making the playoffs, much less winning a divisional playoff series. Playing each of those opponents 10-11 times each during the regular season will be grueling.

EAST: Bos-Buf-NJ-NYI-NYR-Phi-Pgh-Was
CENTRAL: Car-CBJ-Dal-Det-Chi-Fla-Nas-TB
WEST: Ana-Ari-Col-LA-Min-SJ-STL-VGK
NORTH: Cgy-Edm-Mtl-Ott-Tor-Van-Wpg

Sorry to hear about Lundqvist. At least they caught it before something really bad happened.

 

[Treybad]

Shorten season sounds exciting , especially after MLB season was pretty cool with a shorten season, cant wait GEAUX STARS

 

[SystemShock]

Sorry to hear about Lundqvist. At least they caught it before something really bad happened.

Yeah, it was a letdown to see Holtby go to the Canucks, but I got really excited with the prospect of Lundqvist coming in and maybe pulling a 2018 Fleury and go on a tear all the way to the Cup, and finally win one. But, hey, can't mess around with a heart condition.

 

[CowtownSaint]

The North Division is going to be wild!

 

[SystemShock]

So, the Capitals released their 2021 schedule. They start Jan 14th @ Buffalo. The realigned East division sounds like it is going to be delicious: Sabres, Bruins, Devils, Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Penguins, and Caps.

 

[SystemShock]

This upcoming season will also see the advent of helmet ads. Mercifully, the company associated with the Caps is Capital One, which already owns the rights to the arena. While the other teams are going to have logos for corporations like Prudential and Bridgestone, the Caps will at least have something that says "Capital" in the name, and the logo is red, white and blue, like the Caps' uniforms.

 

[gboudx]

So, Zdena Chara. Will it be easy to root for him or will it feel weird? I never really warmed up to Corey Perry with the Stars last year. Rivalries with specific players can be tough.

 

[Marty_Graw]

Chara looked like a shell of himself last season/postseason. Curious to see how the Caps use him and how effective he'll be.

 

[SystemShock]

So, Zdena Chara. Will it be easy to root for him or will it feel weird? I never really warmed up to Corey Perry with the Stars last year. Rivalries with specific players can be tough.

I hate the Bruins, but you have to respect Chara's game and toughness, especially since he's our elder On one side, that's a big body to put between the puck and the net. On the other, he's 73 years old. Like @Marty_Graw says, last year wasn't a good year for him.

He was the captain of the Bruins for some time, and he's a legend in Boston, but he's coming into a team that belongs to a much bigger legend. We'll see how that plays out. The deal isn't a blockbuster, so if problems arise, he can be shown the door without much issues.

 

[SystemShock]

Love is in the air, in the shaving of the iiiiice...

 

[Marty_Graw]

Pens v Flyers about to drop the puck.

Glad to have hockey back...

 

[gboudx]

It was nice to watch a little hockey last night. Unfortunately, it looks like the Stars employed the, "let's get this over early" strategy, as 17 players tested positive and 1st 3 games are postponed.

 

[Marty_Graw]

Aren't the Mavs also dealing with Covid issues? What's going on in the DFW?

Philly looked good last night and the Pens did not. Jarry looked really sluggish in net. I fear it's going to be a long season for Pittsburgh.

 

[gboudx]

Mavs have 4 players out with Covid. But they got Porzingis back in limited minutes last night in Charlotte.