56-Game Season?

[RGM81]

What are everybody's thoughts about the latest developments for a 2021 season? This is a summary of a Sportsnet panel discussion:

There does seem to be a renewed sense of optimism the past couple days, and the rumour mill has it that a 56-game schedule has been circulated among the 31 teams.
One setup has the season starting January 15th, season ends May 1st and then the playoffs would be running until early July. Two versions of this: a 52-game season and a 56-game schedule. There's also some flexibility built into dates in the event some games need to be bumped should COVID cases arise.
As long as the NHL and the PA aren't talking about $$$ and the players' share of salaries to be pro-rated, things seem to be progressing.
Obviously the pandemic looms over everything--things are so badly out of control in the US (and Canada is now seeing a surge in cases as well), and there is talk of bubbles. I can't see this being embraced. Players going a full season without seeing their families....that's an awfully big ask, especially considering the $$ imapcts too.
Presently Montreal and Winnipeg can't even access their practice facilities.
San Jose might have to follow suit with the 49ers and relocate to Arizona.
If the vaccine is made readily available early enough, there is the possibility of fans in arenas by the end of the season.

[volkov956]

Ill say this allow in game audiences. Not just for NHL but other leagues as well. I hate masks but i would wear one to watch a game even if it means a sore throat and lungs after wish I never burned my lungs and throat during a Machine Gun drill in Wainright that caused a grass fire we had to fight makes masks a issue.

In audience would solve money issue and the issue at hand between both parties

[subban7677]

Ill say this allow in game audiences. Not just for NHL but other leagues as well. I hate masks but i would wear one to watch a game even if it means a sore throat and lungs after wish I never burned my lungs and throat during a Machine Gun drill in Wainright that caused a grass fire we had to fight makes masks a issue.

In audience would solve money issue and the issue at hand between both parties

That would help the financial issues, but could very well be a public health nightmare. Either way, I'd be shocked to see fans this year. I think there's a very good chance we'll have at least partial capacity to start the following year. The vaccine isn't too far away.

[creasecollector]

I'd like a 56-game season. As much as I would like fans, I don't think it's worth the risk letting them inside a bubble.

[mooneyes]

The UK begins vaccinations next week. Supposed to have 95% success rate...
Who knows...by the time it rolls out in North America it maybe too late for a season. Can't see how players can stay away from their families for 4-6 months.
Fans? No chance.

[morasha7]

I agree that the bubbles likely won't happen. It was pretty hard on some of the players the last time and they probably won't want to do it again, especially for a whole (even if shortened) season.

I think it's more likely they will try to get through a season like the MLB managed to do. There's two issues that come to my mind though. First, the COVID-19 landscape is a lot different now. The MLB played a lot of their season during a bit of a downturn in cases but cases are way higher now and continuing to climb. I doubt they'd be able to finish the season but then again, I was surprised by the MLB, haha.

The second thing to consider is that the US teams likely won't be allowed to enter Canada regularly. The Blue Jays couldn't get the exemption and with surging cases on both sides of the border, I can't see the NHL getting one either. It was hard enough to move 1 MLB team, and finding appropriate homes for 7 NHL teams on short notice.... Yikes. I wouldn't want that job, haha.

[30ranfordfan]

The NHL is much more complicated to get going again, vs the NFL (all in the USA), or MLB & NBA (one Canadian team each). There is no reason to expect that sports teams are going to be allowed to travel across the boarder whenever the schedule calls for it.

I think that has more to do with optics than reality.... the measures that sports teams will take, vs the general public, will be quite significant. I'd be far more confident that the Tampa Bay Lightning are not bringing COVID with them to Toronto, vs most people getting off planes in Toronto. The government is going to let them do it though.... people will correctly point out that nothing about the NHL is essential, so they're not going to get any exemption on quarantines.

My confidence, and what I think would actually make sense, has even less to do with any of this than what the NHL wants - so it doesn't really matter though :)

I think in an ideal as possible world, the NHL would end up with a 56 game (or so) schedule, and teams would move around as normal as can be.

I think what's more realistic to expect is that they'll put the teams into four newly aligned divisions. One will be all-Canadian, and the other three will be based on geography within the USA.... something like this:

NYR, NYI, BOS, NJ, BUF, DET, CHI, STL
TB, FLA, NSH, CAR, WSH, PHI, PIT, CLB
SJ, LA, ANA, ARI, DAL, VEG, COL, MIN

The regular season will end being games ONLY played within your own division. They're going to be stuck doing this with the Canadian teams anyway, so they'll just apply it everywhere. This will dramatically reduced travel costs for teams, which will be a big help in overall finances.

I'm also betting that by the time they get this all ironed out, it's a Feb 1st (ish) start date, and not January 15th. Maybe even a bit later. The season won't be 56 games, it will be 42. Why 42? It's almost too perfect of a number - especially if you're going to play exclusively within your division:

The three American divisions will play each of their 7 opponents 6 times each. The Canadian teams will play each other 7 times each.

With 42 games, the NHL will ask players to take a 50% pay cut, pay 20% (of the remaining 50%) into escrow, and defer some of the salaries owed. Actual monies going to the players will end up being somewhere around a third of what's written in their contracts - they'll get some of that back in the future.... but the teams worried about running deeply in the red this year will be able to float things.

When playoffs starts, they could do it one of several ways. If they want to keep the divisions in "bubbles" as long as possible, they could simple take the top 4 (or 5?) in each division, have a divisional playoff - and there would be no cross divisional games until the semi finals. They could introduce a more typical "conference" style bracket - or depending on logistics.... they could even move to a league wide playoff (which would makes a bit of sense, since they're likely going to throw normal divisions and conferences out for the year) and just do a 1-through-16 bracket... or possibly a 13-through-20 "play in" to get the last four spots in a 1-through-16.

[cardscardscards]

Ill say this allow in game audiences. Not just for NHL but other leagues as well. I hate masks but i would wear one to watch a game even if it means a sore throat and lungs after wish I never burned my lungs and throat during a Machine Gun drill in Wainright that caused a grass fire we had to fight makes masks a issue.

In audience would solve money issue and the issue at hand between both parties

One day, one day. The problem with that is that even you reduce attendance, you still get these funnels where people start crowding together. Entry and exit would be a nightmare.

[RGM81]

One day, one day. The problem with that is that even you reduce attendance, you still get these funnels where people start crowding together. Entry and exit would be a nightmare.

Plus the lineups for those sorely-missed $15 beers!!!

[mooneyes]

I found watching NHL games without fans not so great, kinda like a scrimmage...but winter is getting long so a half season and playoffs will be welcome. The saving grace could be an all Canadian division combined with the intensity of a shorter season. As a Jets fan I have grown to pretty much hate all the other Canadian teams so there is that also. It should be exciting hockey and maybe even a bit of blood loss. lol